New overloaded functions and tests

Description:
    - Added VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType& base_type)
    - Marked VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType* base_type) deprecated
    - Added a static wrapper for H5Tdetect_class for PredType
        static bool DataType::detectClass(const PredType& pred_type, ...)
    - Removed the deprecated function Exception::printError() from code
    - Miscellaneous improvements in comments
    - Added test functions test_detect_type_class() and test_vltype()
Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    Linux/64 (jelly)
    Darwin (osx1010test)

19 files changed, 416 insertions, 109 deletions

diff --git a/c++/src/H5AbstractDs.h b/c++/src/H5AbstractDs.h
index 73a18b8..16bef66 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5AbstractDs.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5AbstractDs.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class DataSpace;
      and DataSet.
 
     It provides a collection of services that are common to both Attribute
-    and DataSet.  AbstractDs inherits from H5Object.
+    and DataSet.
 */
 class H5_DLLCPP AbstractDs {
    public:
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
index 3cbad76..68e3f19 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
@@ -24,10 +24,9 @@ class ArrayType;
 class VarLenType;
 
 /*! \class CommonFG
-    \brief \a CommonFG is an abstract base class of H5File and H5Group.
-
-    It provides common operations of H5File and H5Group.
+    \brief \a CommonFG is an abstract base class of H5Group.
 */
+/* Note: This class is being deprecated gradually. */
 class H5_DLLCPP CommonFG {
    public:
         // Opens a generic named datatype in this location.
@@ -87,3 +86,12 @@ class H5_DLLCPP CommonFG {
 
 #endif // __CommonFG_H
 
+/***************************************************************************
+                                Design Note
+                                ===========
+
+September 2017:
+
+        This class used to be base class of H5File as well, until the
+        restructure that moved H5File to be subclass of H5Group.
+*/
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
index da7e3e2..d357fbc 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@ int CompType::getMemberIndex(const H5std_string& name) const
 ///             respect to the beginning of the compound data type datum.
 ///\param       member_num - IN: Zero-based index of the member
 ///\return      Byte offset
-///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 // Description
 ///             Members are stored in no particular order with numbers 0
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
index 28a670e..90211b9 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
@@ -797,6 +797,28 @@ bool DataType::detectClass(H5T_class_t cls) const
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::detectClass (static)
+///\brief       Checks whether a predtype is a certain class of datatype.
+///\return      true if this predtype is the specified type class, and false,
+///             otherwise.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - August, 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool DataType::detectClass(const PredType& pred_type, H5T_class_t cls)
+{
+    htri_t ret_value = H5Tdetect_class(pred_type.getId(), cls);
+    if (ret_value > 0)
+        return true;
+    else if (ret_value == 0)
+        return false;
+    else
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("detectClass on PredType",
+            "H5Tdetect_class returns negative value");
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    DataType::isVariableStr
 ///\brief       Check whether this datatype is a variable-length string.
 ///\return      true if this datatype is a variable-length string, and
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.h b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
index 50d2fc1..6833a06 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 
         // Checks whether this datatype contains (or is) a certain type class.
         bool detectClass(H5T_class_t cls) const;
+        static bool detectClass(const PredType& pred_type, H5T_class_t cls);
 
         // Checks whether this datatype is a variable-length string.
         bool isVariableStr() const;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DcreatProp.h b/c++/src/H5DcreatProp.h
index 5d5714a..ebd2678 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DcreatProp.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DcreatProp.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 namespace H5 {
 
+// Class forwarding
 class DataType;
 class DataSpace;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DxferProp.h b/c++/src/H5DxferProp.h
index 4a38bd0..4a66671 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DxferProp.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DxferProp.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace H5 {
     \brief Class DSetCreatPropList inherits from PropList and provides
     wrappers for the HDF5 dataset memory and transfer property list.
 
-    Inheritance: ObjCreatPropList -> PropList -> IdComponent
+    Inheritance: PropList -> IdComponent
 */
 class H5_DLLCPP DSetMemXferPropList : public PropList {
    public:
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp b/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
index c9a1323..c52a279 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
@@ -317,11 +317,12 @@ void Exception::printErrorStack(FILE* stream, hid_t err_stack)
 //              This function can be removed in next major release.
 //              -BMR, 2014/04/24
 //              Removed from documentation. -BMR, 2016/03/23
+//              Removed from code. -BMR, 2017/08/11 1.8.20 and 1.10.2
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void Exception::printError(FILE* stream) const
-{
-    Exception::printErrorStack(stream, H5E_DEFAULT);
-}
+//void Exception::printError(FILE* stream) const
+//{
+//    Exception::printErrorStack(stream, H5E_DEFAULT);
+//}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    Exception destructor
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Exception.h b/c++/src/H5Exception.h
index 2cc2dd6..cb14a4c 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Exception.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Exception.h
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ class H5_DLLCPP Exception {
         // Prints the error stack in a default manner.
         static void printErrorStack(FILE* stream = stderr,
                                     hid_t err_stack = H5E_DEFAULT);
-        virtual void printError(FILE* stream = NULL) const;
+        // Deprecated in favor of printErrorStack.
+        // Removed from code. -BMR, 2017/08/11 1.8.20 and 1.10.2
+        // virtual void printError(FILE* stream = NULL) const;
 
         // Default constructor
         Exception();
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
index 284c6c5..fe2d27e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
@@ -368,8 +368,10 @@ IdComponent::IdComponent()
 // Exception:   H5::IdComponentException
 // Description:
 //              This function is protected so that the user applications can
-//              only have access to its code via allowable classes, namely,
-//              Attribute and H5Location subclasses.
+//              only have access to its code via H5Location subclasses.
+//      September 2017
+//              This function should be moved to H5Location now that Attribute
+//              inherits from H5Location.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5std_string IdComponent::p_get_file_name() const
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
index 9f2d7d5..35a4828 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ bool H5Location::exists(const char* name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl) const
         return false;
     else // Raise exception when H5Lexists returns a negative value
     {
-        throwException("exists", "H5Lexists failed");
+        throw LocationException(inMemFunc("exists"), "H5Lexists failed");
     }
 }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ bool H5Location::exists(const H5std_string& name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl) c
 ///             which can be either of these values:
 ///             \li \c H5F_SCOPE_GLOBAL - Flushes the entire virtual file
 ///             \li \c H5F_SCOPE_LOCAL - Flushes only the specified file
-///\exception   H5::Exception
+///\exception   H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             This location is used to identify the file to be flushed.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2012
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ H5std_string H5Location::getFileName() const
     try {
       return(p_get_file_name());
     }
-    catch (LocationException& E) {
-        throw FileIException(inMemFunc("getFileName"), E.getDetailMsg());
+    catch (IdComponentException& E) {
+        throw LocationException(inMemFunc("getFileName"), E.getDetailMsg());
     }
 }
 
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ hid_t H5Location::p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_ty
     hid_t temp_id = H5Rdereference2(loc_id, plist_id, ref_type, ref);
     if (temp_id < 0)
     {
-        throw ReferenceException(inMemFunc(from_func), "H5Rdereference failed");
+        throw ReferenceException(inMemFunc(from_func), "H5Rdereference2 failed");
     }
 
     return(temp_id);
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ void H5Location::dereference(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t
 ///             \li \c H5G_TYPE Object - is a named datatype
 ///             \li \c H5G_LINK  - Object is a symbolic link.
 ///             \li \c H5G_UDLINK  - Object is a user-defined link.
-///\exception   H5::ReferenceException
+///\exception   H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 // Modification
 //      Sep 2012: Moved up from H5File, Group, DataSet, and DataType
@@ -717,19 +717,21 @@ DataSpace H5Location::getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 //   ***Updated: after HDFFV-9920, methods in classes H5Location and Group
 //   use throwException to distinguish the FileIException and GroupIException.
 //   CommonFG is no longer used in the library.  Aug 18, 2016 -BMR
+//   H5Location::throwException is changed to throw LocationException for any
+//   subclass that is not H5File or Group.  Aug 14, 2017 -BMR
 //   ***Note: following the changes in HDFFV-9920, some of the methods could
 //   throw different exceptions, but for backward-compatibility, throwException
 //   is kept in those methods as well. Sep 17, 2016 -BMR
+//
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::createGroup
-///\brief       Creates a new group at this location which can be a file
-///             or another group.
+///\brief       Creates a new group at this location.
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the group to create
 ///\param       size_hint - IN: Indicates the number of bytes to reserve for
 ///             the names that will appear in the group
 ///\return      Group instance
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             The optional \a size_hint specifies how much file space to
 ///             reserve for storing the names that will appear in this new
@@ -793,7 +795,7 @@ Group H5Location::createGroup(const H5std_string& name, size_t size_hint) const
 ///             or another group.
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the group to open
 ///\return      Group instance
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Group H5Location::openGroup(const char* name) const
@@ -834,7 +836,7 @@ Group H5Location::openGroup(const H5std_string& name) const
 ///\param       data_space - IN: Dataspace for the dataset
 ///\param       create_plist - IN: Creation properly list for the dataset
 ///\return      DataSet instance
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DataSet H5Location::createDataSet(const char* name, const DataType& data_type, const DataSpace& data_space, const DSetCreatPropList& create_plist) const
@@ -874,7 +876,7 @@ DataSet H5Location::createDataSet(const H5std_string& name, const DataType& data
 ///\brief       Opens an existing dataset at this location.
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the dataset to open
 ///\return      DataSet instance
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DataSet H5Location::openDataSet(const char* name) const
@@ -915,7 +917,7 @@ DataSet H5Location::openDataSet(const H5std_string& name) const
 ///\param       curr_name - IN: Name of the existing object if link is a hard
 ///             link; can be anything for the soft link
 ///\param       new_name - IN: New name for the object
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             Note that both names are interpreted relative to the
 ///             specified location.
@@ -968,7 +970,7 @@ void H5Location::link(H5L_type_t link_type, const H5std_string& curr_name, const
 // Function:    H5Location::unlink
 ///\brief       Removes the specified name at this location.
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the object to be removed
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 // Modification
 //      2007: QAK modified to use H5L APIs - BMR
@@ -997,7 +999,7 @@ void H5Location::unlink(const H5std_string& name) const
 ///\brief       Renames an object at this location.
 ///\param       src - IN: Object's original name
 ///\param       dst - IN: Object's new name
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\note
 ///             Exercise care in moving groups as it is possible to render
 ///             data in a file inaccessible with H5Location::move. Please refer
@@ -1033,7 +1035,7 @@ void H5Location::move(const H5std_string& src, const H5std_string& dst) const
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the object
 ///\param       follow_link - IN: Link flag
 ///\param       statbuf - OUT: Buffer to return information about the object
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             For more information, please refer to the C layer Reference
 ///             Manual at:
@@ -1093,7 +1095,7 @@ void H5Location::getObjinfo(const H5std_string& name, H5G_stat_t& statbuf) const
 ///\param       name  - IN: Symbolic link to the object
 ///\param       size - IN: Maximum number of characters of value to be returned
 ///\return      Name of the object
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5std_string H5Location::getLinkval(const char* name, size_t size) const
@@ -1219,7 +1221,7 @@ void H5Location::mount(const H5std_string& name, const H5File& child, const Prop
 // Function:    H5Location::unmount
 ///\brief       Unmounts the specified file.
 ///\param       name  - IN: Name of the file to unmount
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void H5Location::unmount(const char* name) const
@@ -1255,7 +1257,7 @@ void H5Location::unmount(const H5std_string& name) const
 ///\return      The return value of the first operator that returns non-zero,
 ///             or zero if all members were processed with no operator
 ///             returning non-zero.
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 int H5Location::iterateElems(const char* name, int *idx, H5G_iterate_t op , void* op_data)
@@ -1304,7 +1306,7 @@ hsize_t H5Location::getNumObjs() const
 ///             object's index.
 ///\param       idx  -     IN: Transient index of the object
 ///\return      Object name
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             The value of idx can be any nonnegative number less than the
 ///             total number of objects in the group, which is returned by
@@ -1346,7 +1348,7 @@ H5std_string H5Location::getObjnameByIdx(hsize_t idx) const
 ///\param       name - IN/OUT: Retrieved name of the object
 ///\param       size -     IN: Length to retrieve
 ///\return      Actual size of the object name or 0, if object has no name
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///\par Description
 ///             The value of idx can be any nonnegative number less than the
 ///             total number of objects in the group, which is returned by
@@ -1402,7 +1404,7 @@ ssize_t H5Location::getObjnameByIdx(hsize_t idx, H5std_string& name, size_t size
 ///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE
 ///             Refer to the C API documentation for more details:
 ///             http://www.hdfgroup.org/HDF5/doc/RM/RM_H5O.html#Object-GetInfo
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///             Exception will be thrown when:
 ///             - an error returned by the C API
 ///             - object type is not one of the valid values above
@@ -1443,7 +1445,7 @@ H5O_type_t H5Location::childObjType(const char* objname) const
 ///\brief       Returns the type of an object in this group, given the
 ///             object's name.
 ///\param       objname - IN: Name of the object (H5std_string&)
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - April, 2014
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5O_type_t H5Location::childObjType(const H5std_string& objname) const
@@ -1468,7 +1470,7 @@ H5O_type_t H5Location::childObjType(const H5std_string& objname) const
 ///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE
 ///             Refer to the C API documentation for more details:
 ///             http://www.hdfgroup.org/HDF5/doc/RM/RM_H5O.html#Object-GetInfo
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///             Exception will be thrown when:
 ///             - an error returned by the C API
 ///             - object type is not one of the valid values above
@@ -1519,7 +1521,7 @@ H5O_type_t H5Location::childObjType(hsize_t index, H5_index_t index_type, H5_ite
 ///\return      Object version, which can have the following values:
 ///             \li \c H5O_VERSION_1
 ///             \li \c H5O_VERSION_2
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 ///             Exception will be thrown when:
 ///             - an error returned by the C API
 ///             - version number is not one of the valid values above
@@ -1553,7 +1555,7 @@ unsigned H5Location::childObjVersion(const char* objname) const
 ///\brief       Returns the type of an object in this group, given the
 ///             object's name.
 ///\param       objname - IN: Name of the object (H5std_string&)
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - April, 2014
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 unsigned H5Location::childObjVersion(const H5std_string& objname) const
@@ -1571,7 +1573,7 @@ unsigned H5Location::childObjVersion(const H5std_string& objname) const
 ///             object's index.
 ///\param       idx - IN: Transient index of the object
 ///\return      Object type
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - January, 2003
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjTypeByIdx(hsize_t idx) const
@@ -1591,7 +1593,7 @@ H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjTypeByIdx(hsize_t idx) const
 ///\param       idx       - IN: Transient index of the object
 ///\param       type_name - OUT: Object type in text
 ///\return      Object type
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2010
 // Modification
 //              Modified to use the other function. -BMR, 2016/03/07
@@ -1609,7 +1611,7 @@ H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjTypeByIdx(hsize_t idx, char* type_name) const
 ///\param       idx       - IN: Transient index of the object
 ///\param       type_name - OUT: Object type in text
 ///\return      Object type
-///\exception   H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+///\exception   H5::FileIException/H5::GroupIException/H5::LocationException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - January, 2003
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjTypeByIdx(hsize_t idx, H5std_string& type_name) const
@@ -1642,10 +1644,15 @@ H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjTypeByIdx(hsize_t idx, H5std_string& type_name) cons
 ///\param       msg       - Message describing the failure
 ///\exception   H5::GroupIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+// Modification
+//      August 2017 - BMR
+//              Keep Group::throwException and H5File::throwException to
+//              maintain backward compatibility.  For other subclasses, throw
+//              LocationException.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void H5Location::throwException(const H5std_string& func_name, const H5std_string& msg) const
 {
-    throwException(func_name, msg);
+    throw LocationException(inMemFunc(func_name.c_str()), msg);
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.h b/c++/src/H5Location.h
index 3dfa5d5..f9c5a47 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.h
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ namespace H5 {
     Inheritance: IdComponent
 */
 // Class forwarding
-class H5_DLLCPP ArrayType;
-class H5_DLLCPP LinkAccPropList;
-class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType;
+//class H5_DLLCPP ArrayType;
+//class H5_DLLCPP LinkAccPropList;
+//class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType;
 class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
    public:
         // Checks if a link of a given name exists in a location
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
index 81e61e8..3eed168 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ void H5Object::renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& newna
     renameAttr (oldname.c_str(), newname.c_str());
 }
 
-#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    getObjName
 ///\brief       Given an id, returns the type of the object.
@@ -503,6 +502,7 @@ ssize_t H5Object::getObjName(H5std_string& obj_name, size_t len) const
     return(name_size);
 }
 
+#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Object destructor
 ///\brief       Noop destructor.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.h b/c++/src/H5Object.h
index fdaead2..ba32b3e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.h
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@ namespace H5 {
 
     Inheritance: H5Location -> IdComponent
 */
-// Class forwarding
-class H5_DLLCPP H5Object;
-class H5_DLLCPP Attribute;
 
 // Define the operator function pointer for H5Aiterate().
 typedef void (*attr_operator_t)(H5Object& loc/*in*/,
@@ -96,13 +93,14 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Object : public H5Location {
         // Returns an identifier.
         virtual hid_t getId() const = 0;
 
-#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
         // Gets the name of this HDF5 object, i.e., Group, DataSet, or
-        // DataType.  These should have const but are retiring anyway.
+        // DataType.
         ssize_t getObjName(char *obj_name, size_t buf_size = 0) const;
         ssize_t getObjName(H5std_string& obj_name, size_t len = 0) const;
         H5std_string getObjName() const;
 
+#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
+
    protected:
         // Default constructor
         H5Object();
diff --git a/c++/src/H5PropList.h b/c++/src/H5PropList.h
index 154d7b2..e1fe5b8 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5PropList.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5PropList.h
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 
 namespace H5 {
 
-//! Class PropList provides operations for generic property lists.
 /*! \class PropList
     \brief Class PropList inherits from IdComponent and provides wrappers for
     the HDF5 generic property list.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
index b5ca9c4..5b29682 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
@@ -51,13 +51,14 @@ VarLenType::VarLenType(const VarLenType& original) : DataType(original) {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    VarLenType overloaded constructor
-///\brief       Creates a new variable-length datatype based on the specified
-///             \a base_type.
+///\brief       Deprecated - will be removed after 1.10.2
 ///\param       base_type - IN: Pointer to existing datatype
 ///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
 // Description
 //              DataType passed by pointer to avoid clashing with copy
 //              constructor.
+//              Updated: this is unnecessary.
+//              -BMR, Sep, 2017
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType* base_type) : DataType()
@@ -72,6 +73,24 @@ VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType* base_type) : DataType()
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    VarLenType overloaded constructor
+///\brief       Creates a new variable-length datatype based on the specified
+///             \a base_type.
+///\param       base_type - IN: An existing datatype
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType& base_type) : DataType()
+{
+    id = H5Tvlen_create(base_type.getId());
+    if (id < 0)
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("VarLenType constructor",
+                "H5Tvlen_create returns negative value");
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    VarLenType overloaded constructor
 ///\brief       Creates an VarLenType instance by opening an HDF5 variable
 ///             length datatype given its name, provided as a C char*.
 ///\param       loc        - IN: Location of the type
diff --git a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
index 17d812f..2524cf8 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType : public DataType {
    public:
         // Constructor that creates a variable-length datatype based
         // on the specified base type.
+        VarLenType(const DataType& base_type);
+
+        // Deprecated - will be removed after 1.10.2
         VarLenType(const DataType* base_type);
 
         // Returns an VarLenType object via DataType* by decoding the
diff --git a/c++/test/titerate.cpp b/c++/test/titerate.cpp
index f75d92e..5c760f3 100644
--- a/c++/test/titerate.cpp
+++ b/c++/test/titerate.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
 
 /*****************************************************************************
-   FILE
-   titerate.cpp - HDF5 C++ testing iterate related functionality
+    FILE
+        titerate.cpp - HDF5 C++ testing iterate related functionality
 
  ***************************************************************************/
 #ifdef OLD_HEADER_FILENAME
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ int iter_strcmp(const void *s1, const void *s2)
 **
 ****************************************************************/
 static herr_t
-liter_cb(hid_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *link_info,
-    void *op_data)
+liter_cb(hid_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *link_info, void *op_data)
 {
     iter_info *info = (iter_info *)op_data;
     static int count = 0;
@@ -208,7 +207,7 @@ static void test_iter_group(FileAccPropList& fapl)
         H5std_string obj_name;
         for (i = 0; i < nobjs; i++)
         {
-            //H5O_info_t oinfo;               /* Object info */
+            //H5O_info_t oinfo;                /* Object info */
 
             obj_name = root_group.getObjnameByIdx(i);
         //ret = (herr_t)H5Lget_name_by_idx(root_group, ".", H5_INDEX_NAME, H5_ITER_INC, (hsize_t)i, dataset_name, (size_t)NAMELEN, H5P_DEFAULT);
@@ -380,23 +379,11 @@ void printelems(const Group& group, const H5std_string& dsname, const H5std_stri
 
         a1.close();
   }
-   // catch failure caused by the DataSpace operations
-   catch( DataSpaceIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
-
-   // catch failure caused by the Group operations
-   catch( GroupIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
-
-   // catch failure caused by the DataSet operations
-   catch( DataSetIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
+    // Catch all exceptions and rethrow so caller can handle
+    catch (Exception& E)
+    {
+        throw;
+    }
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -413,11 +400,11 @@ void printelems(const Group& group, const H5std_string& dsname, const H5std_stri
  */
 static void test_HDFFV_9920()
 {
-   int attr_data[2] = { 100, 200};
-   hsize_t dims[1] = { DIM1 };
-   
-   try
-   {
+    int attr_data[2] = { 100, 200};
+    hsize_t dims[1] = { DIM1 };
+    
+    try
+    {
         // Create a new file and a group in it
         H5File file( FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC );
 
@@ -448,31 +435,13 @@ static void test_HDFFV_9920()
         printelems(file, FDATASET_NAME, FATTR_NAME);
         printelems(gr1, GDATASET_NAME, GATTR_NAME);
 
-   }  // end of try block
-
-   // catch failure caused by the H5File operations
-   catch( DataSpaceIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
-
-   // catch failure caused by the H5File operations
-   catch( AttributeIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
-
-   // catch failure caused by the H5File operations
-   catch( FileIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
-
-   // catch failure caused by the DataSet operations
-   catch( DataSetIException error )
-   {
-        error.printError();
-   }
+    }  // end of try block
+
+    // Catch all failures for handling in the same way
+    catch (Exception& E)
+    {
+        issue_fail_msg("test_HDFFV_9920()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -503,9 +472,9 @@ void test_iterate()
 
     test_iter_group(fapl);    // Test iterating groups
     test_HDFFV_9920();        // Test the fix of HDFFV-9920
-    //test_iter_attr(fapl);   // Test iterating attributes
+    //test_iter_attr(fapl);    // Test iterating attributes
 
-}   // test_iterate
+}    // test_iterate
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    cleanup_iterate
diff --git a/c++/test/ttypes.cpp b/c++/test/ttypes.cpp
index ec644a8..3cf0920 100644
--- a/c++/test/ttypes.cpp
+++ b/c++/test/ttypes.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ const char *FILENAME[] = {
     "dtypes1.h5",
     "dtypes2.h5",
     "dtypes3.h5",
+    "dtypes4.h5",
     NULL
 };
 
@@ -183,6 +184,279 @@ static void test_copy()
 
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Function:    test_detect_type_class
+ *
+ * Purpose      Test DataType::detectClass()
+ *
+ * Return       None
+ *
+ * Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler (using C version)
+ *              August, 2017
+ *
+ * Modifications:
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+typedef struct {     /* Struct with atomic fields */
+        int i;
+        float f;
+        char c;
+        double d;
+        short s;
+} atomic_typ_t;
+
+typedef struct {    /* Struct with complex fields */
+        hobj_ref_t arr_r[3][3];
+        int i;
+        hvl_t vl_f;
+        hvl_t vl_s;
+        char c;
+        short s;
+} complex_typ_t;
+
+static void test_detect_type_class()
+{
+
+    SUBTEST("DataType::detectClass()");
+    try {
+        bool in_class = false;      // indicates whether a datatype is in a class
+
+        /*
+         * Test class of some atomic types.
+         */
+
+        // Native integers should be in the integer class
+        in_class = DataType::detectClass(PredType::NATIVE_INT, H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "DataType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Native integers should _not_ be in other classes
+        in_class = DataType::detectClass(PredType::NATIVE_INT, H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "DataType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = DataType::detectClass(PredType::NATIVE_INT, H5T_ARRAY);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "DataType::detectClass() with H5T_ARRAY", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = DataType::detectClass(PredType::NATIVE_INT, H5T_ENUM);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "DataType::detectClass() with H5T_ENUM", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of a compound type with some atomic types as fields.
+         */
+
+        // Create a compound datatype and insert some atomic types
+        CompType atom_cmpd(sizeof(atomic_typ_t));
+        atom_cmpd.insertMember("i", HOFFSET(atomic_typ_t, i), PredType::NATIVE_INT);
+        atom_cmpd.insertMember("f", HOFFSET(atomic_typ_t, f), PredType::NATIVE_FLOAT);
+        atom_cmpd.insertMember("c", HOFFSET(atomic_typ_t, c), PredType::NATIVE_CHAR);
+        atom_cmpd.insertMember("d", HOFFSET(atomic_typ_t, d), PredType::NATIVE_DOUBLE);
+        atom_cmpd.insertMember("s", HOFFSET(atomic_typ_t, s), PredType::NATIVE_SHORT);
+
+        // Make certain that atom_cmpd is a compound type,
+        in_class = atom_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_COMPOUND);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_COMPOUND", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        // and that it contains a field of type integer
+        in_class = atom_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        // and a field of type float,
+        in_class = atom_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        // and that it doesn't contain any field of variable-length
+        in_class = atom_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of array datatype
+         */
+
+        // Create an array datatype with an atomic base type
+        unsigned rank = 2;          // Rank for array datatype
+        hsize_t dims[2] = {3,3};    // Dimensions for array datatype
+        ArrayType atom_arr(PredType::STD_REF_OBJ, rank, dims);
+
+        // Make certain that the correct classes can be detected
+        in_class = atom_arr.detectClass(H5T_ARRAY);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_ARRAY", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_arr.detectClass(H5T_REFERENCE);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_REFERENCE", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Make certain that an incorrect class is not detected
+        in_class = atom_arr.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_arr.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_arr.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of VL datatype
+         */
+
+        // Create a VL datatype with an atomic base type of float
+        VarLenType atom_vlf(PredType::NATIVE_FLOAT);
+
+        // Make certain that the correct classes can be detected
+        in_class = atom_vlf.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_vlf.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Make certain that an incorrect class is not detected
+        in_class = atom_vlf.detectClass(H5T_COMPOUND);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_COMPOUND", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_vlf.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of VL datatype
+         */
+
+        // Create a VL datatype with an atomic base type of char.  It should be a VL
+        // but not a string class.
+        VarLenType atom_vlc(PredType::NATIVE_CHAR);
+
+        // Make certain that the correct classes can be detected
+        in_class = atom_vlc.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = atom_vlc.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Make certain that an incorrect class is not detected
+        in_class = atom_vlc.detectClass(H5T_STRING);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_STRING", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of VL string datatype
+         */
+
+        // Create a VL string.  It should be a string, not a VL class.
+        StrType atom_vls(0, H5T_VARIABLE);
+
+        // Make certain that the correct classes can be detected
+        in_class = atom_vls.detectClass(H5T_STRING);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_STRING", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Make certain that an incorrect class is not detected
+        in_class = atom_vls.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        /*
+         *  Test class of a compound type with some complex types as fields.
+         */
+
+        // Create a compound datatype with complex type fields
+        CompType cplx_cmpd(sizeof(complex_typ_t));
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("arr_r", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, arr_r), atom_arr);
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("i", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, i), PredType::NATIVE_INT);
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("vl_f", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, vl_f), atom_vlf);
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("vl_s", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, vl_s), atom_vls);
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("c", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, c), PredType::NATIVE_CHAR);
+        cplx_cmpd.insertMember("s", HOFFSET(complex_typ_t, s), PredType::NATIVE_SHORT);
+
+        // Make certain that the correct classes can be detected
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_COMPOUND);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_COMPOUND", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_ARRAY);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_ARRAY", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_REFERENCE);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_REFERENCE", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_STRING);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_STRING", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Make certain that an incorrect class is not detected
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_TIME);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_TIME", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = cplx_cmpd.detectClass(H5T_ENUM);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "CompType::detectClass() with H5T_ENUM", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        PASSED();
+    }
+    catch (Exception& E)
+    {
+        issue_fail_msg("test_detect_type_class", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
+}
+
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Function:    test_vltype
+ *
+ * Purpose      Tests VarLenType class
+ *
+ * Return       None
+ *
+ * Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
+ *              August, 2017
+ *
+ * Modifications:
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static void test_vltype()
+{
+    // Output message about test being performed
+    SUBTEST("VarLenType functions");
+    try
+    {
+        VarLenType vltype(PredType::NATIVE_INT);
+        
+        bool in_class = vltype.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = vltype.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Test copy constructor
+        VarLenType vltype2(vltype);
+
+        // Verify that the copied type has a valid id
+        bool is_valid = IdComponent::isValid(vltype2.getId());
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "isValid on vltype2", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        in_class = vltype2.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN for vltype2", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = vltype2.detectClass(H5T_INTEGER);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_INTEGER for vltype2", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = vltype2.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, false, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT for vltype2", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        // Create a new file to use in this test
+        H5File file(FILENAME[3], H5F_ACC_TRUNC);
+
+        // Create a group in the file, to hold some varlentype
+        Group top_group(file.createGroup("top group"));
+
+        // Create a variable-length type
+        VarLenType first_vlt(PredType::NATIVE_FLOAT);
+
+        // Commit the type to the group
+        first_vlt.commit(top_group, "first variable-length type");
+
+        // Close it
+        first_vlt.close();
+
+        // Reopen it
+        VarLenType first_vlt_again(top_group, "first variable-length type");
+
+        // Trying to detect H5T_VLEN and H5T_FLOAT classes on this type,
+        // should both be true
+        in_class = vltype2.detectClass(H5T_VLEN);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_VLEN for vltype2", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+        in_class = first_vlt_again.detectClass(H5T_FLOAT);
+        verify_val(in_class, true, "VarLenType::detectClass() with H5T_FLOAT for first_vlt_again", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+        PASSED();
+    }   // end of try block
+    catch (Exception& E)
+    {
+        issue_fail_msg("test_vltype", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
+}   // test_vltype
+
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    test_query
  *
  * Purpose      Tests query functions of compound and enumeration types.
@@ -785,6 +1059,8 @@ void test_types()
     // Test basic datatypes
     test_classes();
     test_copy();
+    test_detect_type_class();
+    test_vltype();
     test_query();
     test_transient();
     test_named();