Purpose: Improvement for HDFFV-10004

Description:
    When adding wrappers for H5Lexists, a new class, LinkAccPropList, was
    added to the C++ API, triggered complicated circular dependencies.  Thus,
    some improvement was made to resolve the problems.
    - Replaced existing functions openXxxType with individual type constructors
      + Added individual XxxType constructors to replace the existing functions
        openXxxType because it's rather awkward to use these functions.
      + Moved openXxxType from H5Location back to CommonFG
      + Put back CommonFG as a baseclass of Group for openXxxType functions.
      + This replacement should improve usability and prevent the problem of
        circular dependencies.
    - Removed overloaded constructor that takes an Attribute when there is
        already one that takes H5Location because Attribute inherits from
        H5Location now.
Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    Darwin (osx1010test)
    Linux/64 (platypus)

36 files changed, 909 insertions, 410 deletions

diff --git a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
index 0bdd09c..46ac021 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,42 @@ ArrayType::ArrayType(const DataType& base_type, int ndims, const hsize_t* dims)
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	ArrayType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an ArrayType instance by opening an HDF5 array datatype
+///		given its name, provided as a C character string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Array type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openArrayType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ArrayType::ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	ArrayType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an ArrayType instance by opening an HDF5 array datatype
+///		given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Array type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openArrayType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ArrayType::ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	ArrayType::operator=
 ///\brief	Assignment operator
 ///\param	rhs - IN: Reference to the existing array datatype
diff --git a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
index 0e9ef46..42e1c2b 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP ArrayType : public DataType {
 	// Assignment operator
 	ArrayType& operator=(const ArrayType& rhs);
 
+	// Constructors that opens a named array datatype, given a location.
+	ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Returns the number of dimensions of this array datatype.
 	int getArrayNDims() const;
 	//int getArrayNDims(); // removed 1.8.18 and 1.10.1
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
index 4daf174..74d246f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
 #include "H5DataType.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
-#include "H5Group.h"
-#include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5Attribute.h"
 #include "H5private.h"		// for HDfree
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Classes.h b/c++/src/H5Classes.h
index bed0cae..a1525cc 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Classes.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Classes.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace H5 {
 	class PropList;
 	class FileCreatPropList;
 	class FileAccPropList;
+	 /* class LinkAccPropList;
+ */ 
 	class DSetCreatPropList;
 	class DSetMemXferPropList;
 	class DTypePropList;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
index a1e0c3f..018d3a2 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
@@ -16,24 +16,20 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #include "H5Include.h"
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDstrcpy
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
+#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
-#include "H5FaccProp.h"
-#include "H5FcreatProp.h"
-#include "H5OcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DxferProp.h"
+#include "H5OcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5Location.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
-#include "H5CommonFG.h"
-#include "H5Group.h"
+#include "H5Alltypes.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
-#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
-#include "H5File.h"
-#include "H5Alltypes.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDstrcpy
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 
 // There are a few comments that are common to most of the functions
 // defined in this file so they are listed here.
@@ -43,28 +39,346 @@
 //   to call the right getId() - although, as the structure of the
 //   library at this time, getId() is basically the IdComponent::getId()
 // - when a failure returned by the C API, the functions will call
-//   throwwException, which is a pure virtual function and is implemented
+//   throwException, which is a pure virtual function and is implemented
 //   by H5File to throw a FileIException and by Group to throw a
 //   GroupIException.
 // December 2000
 
 namespace H5 {
+using namespace std;
 
-#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG default constructor
-///\brief	Default constructor.
+// Function:	CommonFG::openDataType
+///\brief	Opens the named generic datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the datatype to open
+///\return	DataType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CommonFG::CommonFG() {}
+DataType CommonFG::openDataType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openDataType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the DataType object
+   DataType data_type(type_id);
+   return(data_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openDataType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType CommonFG::openDataType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openDataType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openArrayType
+///\brief	Opens the named array datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the array datatype to open
+///\return	ArrayType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ArrayType CommonFG::openArrayType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openArrayType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the ArrayType object
+   ArrayType array_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&array_type, type_id);
+   return(array_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openArrayType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ArrayType CommonFG::openArrayType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openArrayType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openCompType
+///\brief	Opens the named compound datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the compound datatype to open
+///\return	CompType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CompType CommonFG::openCompType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openCompType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the CompType object
+   CompType comp_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&comp_type, type_id);
+   return(comp_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openCompType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CompType CommonFG::openCompType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openCompType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openEnumType
+///\brief	Opens the named enumeration datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the enumeration datatype to open
+///\return	EnumType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+EnumType CommonFG::openEnumType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openEnumType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the EnumType object
+   EnumType enum_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&enum_type, type_id);
+   return(enum_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openEnumType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+EnumType CommonFG::openEnumType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openEnumType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openIntType
+///\brief	Opens the named integer datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the integer datatype to open
+///\return	IntType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IntType CommonFG::openIntType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openIntType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the IntType object
+   IntType int_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&int_type, type_id);
+   return(int_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openIntType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IntType CommonFG::openIntType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openIntType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openFloatType
+///\brief	Opens the named floating-point datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the floating-point datatype to open
+///\return	FloatType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+FloatType CommonFG::openFloatType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openFloatType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the FloatType object
+   FloatType float_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&float_type, type_id);
+   return(float_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openFloatType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+FloatType CommonFG::openFloatType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openFloatType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openStrType
+///\brief	Opens the named string datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the string datatype to open
+///\return	StrType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+StrType CommonFG::openStrType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openStrType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the StrType object
+   StrType str_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&str_type, type_id);
+   return(str_type);
+}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG destructor
-///\brief	Noop destructor.
+// Function:	CommonFG::openStrType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+StrType CommonFG::openStrType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openStrType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openVarLenType
+///\brief	Opens the named variable length datatype at this location.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the variable length datatype to open
+///\return	VarLenType instance
+///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+VarLenType CommonFG::openVarLenType( const char* name ) const
+{
+   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
+   // given either the file or group id
+   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getLocId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
+   if( type_id < 0 )
+      throwException("openVarLenType", "H5Topen2 failed");
+
+   // No failure, create and return the VarLenType object
+   VarLenType varlen_type;
+   f_DataType_setId(&varlen_type, type_id);
+   return(varlen_type);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CommonFG::openVarLenType
+///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+VarLenType CommonFG::openVarLenType( const H5std_string& name ) const
+{
+   return( openVarLenType( name.c_str()) );
+}
+
+#ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    CommonFG default constructor
+///\brief       Default constructor.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CommonFG::CommonFG() {}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    CommonFG destructor
+///\brief       Noop destructor.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CommonFG::~CommonFG() {}
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    f_DataType_setId - friend
+// Purpose:     This function is friend to class H5::DataType so that it
+//              can set DataType::id in order to work around a problem
+//              described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
+//              Applications shouldn't need to use it.
+// param        dtype   - IN/OUT: DataType object to be changed
+// param        new_id - IN: New id to set
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void f_DataType_setId(DataType* dtype, hid_t new_id)
+{
+    dtype->p_setId(new_id);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    f_DataSet_setId - friend
+// Purpose:     This function is friend to class H5::DataSet so that it
+//              can set DataSet::id in order to work around a problem
+//              described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
+//              Applications shouldn't need to use it.
+// param        dset   - IN/OUT: DataSet object to be changed
+// param        new_id - IN: New id to set
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void f_DataSet_setId(DataSet* dset, hid_t new_id)
+{
+    dset->p_setId(new_id);
+}
+
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
 }
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
index a68d586..59f425c 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
@@ -19,16 +19,60 @@
 
 namespace H5 {
 
+// Class forwarding
+class Group;
+class H5File;
+class ArrayType;
+class VarLenType;
+
 /*! \class CommonFG
-    \brief \a CommonFG was an abstract base class of H5File and H5Group.
+    \brief \a CommonFG is an abstract base class of H5File and H5Group.
 
-    It provided common operations of H5File and H5Group.
-    In release 1.10.1, the class structure is modified.
-    As a result, member functions of CommonFG are moved to Group.
+    It provides common operations of H5File and H5Group.
 */
 class H5_DLLCPP CommonFG {
    public:
+	// Opens a generic named datatype in this location.
+	DataType openDataType(const char* name) const;
+	DataType openDataType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named array datatype in this location.
+	ArrayType openArrayType(const char* name) const;
+	ArrayType openArrayType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named compound datatype in this location.
+	CompType openCompType(const char* name) const;
+	CompType openCompType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named enumeration datatype in this location.
+	EnumType openEnumType(const char* name) const;
+	EnumType openEnumType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named integer datatype in this location.
+	IntType openIntType(const char* name) const;
+	IntType openIntType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named floating-point datatype in this location.
+	FloatType openFloatType(const char* name) const;
+	FloatType openFloatType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named string datatype in this location.
+	StrType openStrType(const char* name) const;
+	StrType openStrType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+	// Opens a named variable length datatype in this location.
+	VarLenType openVarLenType(const char* name) const;
+	VarLenType openVarLenType(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
+	/// For subclasses, H5File and Group, to return the correct
+	/// object id, i.e. file or group id.
+	virtual hid_t getLocId() const = 0;
+
+
+	/// For subclasses, H5File and Group, to throw appropriate exception.
+	virtual void throwException(const H5std_string& func_name, const H5std_string& msg) const = 0;
+
 	// Default constructor.
 	CommonFG();
 
@@ -41,6 +85,9 @@ class H5_DLLCPP CommonFG {
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
 }; // end of CommonFG declaration
+
+#ifndef H5_NO_NAMESPACE
 }
+#endif
 #endif // __CommonFG_H
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
index 784d171..887151e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,42 @@ CompType::CompType( const DataSet& dataset ) : DataType()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CompType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an CompType instance by opening an HDF5 compound
+///		given its name, provided as a C character string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Compound type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openCompType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CompType::CompType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	CompType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an CompType instance by opening an HDF5 compound
+///		datatype given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Compound type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openCompType(const H5Location&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CompType::CompType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	CompType::getNmembers
 ///\brief	Returns the number of members in this compound datatype.
 ///\return	Number of members
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CompType.h b/c++/src/H5CompType.h
index 6552f9e..879e4f1 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CompType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5CompType.h
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP CompType : public DataType {
 	// Copy constructor - makes a copy of original object
 	CompType( const CompType& original );
 
+	// Constructors that opens a compound datatype, given a location.
+	CompType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	CompType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Returns the type class of the specified member of this compound
 	// datatype.  It provides to the user a way of knowing what type
 	// to create another datatype of the same class
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Cpp.h b/c++/src/H5Cpp.h
index 800eb90..967f689 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Cpp.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Cpp.h
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "H5OcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DxferProp.h"
+ /* #include "H5LaccProp.h"
+ */ 
 #include "H5Location.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "H5ArrayType.h"
 #include "H5VarLenType.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 #include "H5Group.h"
 #include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5Library.h"
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
index 749a933..d3bf017 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #endif
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDfree
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
@@ -34,11 +35,8 @@
 #include "H5DataType.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
-#include "H5Group.h"
-#include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5Attribute.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDfree
 
 namespace H5 {
 using std::cerr;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
index 7dcd343..3955ebf 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
+#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
 #include "H5FaccProp.h"
 #include "H5FcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5OcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5DxferProp.h"
-#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5Location.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
 #include "H5DataType.h"
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@
 #include "H5private.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
-#include "H5Group.h"
-#include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5Attribute.h"
 
 namespace H5 {
@@ -122,10 +120,11 @@ DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type,
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
+ /* DataType::DataType(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
 {
     id = H5Location::p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "constructor - by dereference");
 }
+ */ 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataType copy constructor
@@ -152,13 +151,49 @@ DataType::DataType(const DataType& original) : H5Object(), id(original.id)
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DataType::DataType(const PredType& pred_type) : H5Object()
 {
-    // call C routine to copy the datatype
+    // Call C routine to copy the datatype
     id = H5Tcopy( pred_type.getId() );
     if (id < 0)
 	throw DataTypeIException("DataType constructor", "H5Tcopy failed");
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType overloaded constructor
+///\brief       Creates a DataType instance by opening an HDF5 datatype given
+///		its name as a char*.
+///\param       dtype_name - IN: Datatype name
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openDataType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : H5Object()
+{
+    id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates a DataType instance by opening an HDF5 datatype given
+///		its name as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param       dtype_name - IN: Datatype name
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openDataType(const H5std_string&) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : H5Object()
+{
+    id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataType::copy
 ///\brief	Copies an existing datatype to this datatype object
 ///\param	like_type - IN: Datatype to be copied
@@ -264,6 +299,27 @@ bool DataType::operator==(const DataType& compared_type ) const
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::p_opentype (private)
+///\brief       Opens an HDF5 datatype given its name
+///\param       dtype_name - IN: Datatype name
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		This function was introduced in 1.10.1 to be used by the new
+//		XxxType constructors that were introduced to replace the
+//		existing functions CommonFG::openXxxType(), which is awkward
+//		to use.  -BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+hid_t DataType::p_opentype(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) const
+{
+    // Call C function to open the named datatype at this location
+    hid_t ret_value = H5Topen2(loc.getId(), dtype_name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (ret_value < 0)
+	throw DataTypeIException("DataType constructor", "H5Topen2 failed");
+    return(ret_value);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataType::p_commit (private)
 //\brief	Commits a transient datatype to a file, creating a new
 //		named datatype
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.h b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
index 9ac6ecf..7036836 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 
 	// Creates a datatype by way of dereference.
 	DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
-	DataType(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
+//	DataType(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
 
 	// Closes this datatype.
 	virtual void close();
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 	// a named datatype which can be accessed from the location.
 	void commit(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
 	void commit(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// These two overloaded functions are kept for backward compatibility
 	// only; they missed the const - removed from 1.8.18 and 1.10.1
 	//void commit(H5Location& loc, const char* name);
@@ -118,6 +119,13 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 	///\brief Returns this class name.
 	virtual H5std_string fromClass () const { return("DataType"); }
 
+// From CommonFG then H5Location
+	// Constructors to open a generic named datatype at a given location.
+	DataType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	DataType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
+// End of From CommonFG then H5Location
+
 	// Creates a copy of an existing DataType using its id
 	DataType( const hid_t type_id );
 
@@ -136,6 +144,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 
 	// Sets the datatype id.
 	virtual void p_setId(const hid_t new_id);
+
+	// Opens a datatype and returns the id.
+	hid_t p_opentype(const H5Location& loc, const char* dtype_name) const;
+
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
    private:
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DxferProp.cpp b/c++/src/H5DxferProp.cpp
index 7d9b943..8746d35 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DxferProp.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DxferProp.cpp
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
 #include "H5DxferProp.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 
 namespace H5 {
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp b/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
index 2b614a9..a9f0b41 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"			// for HDmemset
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@
 #include "H5AtomType.h"
 #include "H5IntType.h"
 #include "H5EnumType.h"
-#include "H5private.h"			// for HDmemset
 
 namespace H5 {
 
@@ -109,6 +109,42 @@ EnumType::EnumType( const IntType& data_type ) : DataType()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	EnumType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an EnumType instance by opening an HDF5 enum datatype
+///		given its name, provided as a C character string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Enum datatype name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openEnumType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+EnumType::EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	EnumType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an EnumType instance by opening an HDF5 enum datatype
+///		given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Enum datatype name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openEnumType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+EnumType::EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	EnumType::insert
 ///\brief	Inserts a new member to this enumeration datatype.
 ///\param	name  - IN: Name of the new member
diff --git a/c++/src/H5EnumType.h b/c++/src/H5EnumType.h
index 1f96552..b4ffe43 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5EnumType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5EnumType.h
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP EnumType : public DataType {
 	// Creates a new enum datatype based on an integer datatype
 	EnumType( const IntType& data_type );  // H5Tenum_create
 
+	// Constructors that opens an enum datatype, given a location.
+	EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Returns the number of members in this enumeration datatype.
 	int getNmembers () const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp b/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
index 2e23587..9c383a2 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Exception.cpp
@@ -424,6 +424,30 @@ DataTypeIException::DataTypeIException(const H5std_string& func, const H5std_str
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DataTypeIException::~DataTypeIException() throw() {}
 
+ /* //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Subclass:	ObjHeaderIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	ObjHeaderIException default constructor
+///\brief	Default constructor.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ObjHeaderIException::ObjHeaderIException():Exception(){}
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	ObjHeaderIException overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an ObjHeaderIException with the name of the function,
+///		in which the failure occurs, and an optional detailed message.
+///\param	func - IN: Name of the function where failure occurs
+///\param	message   - IN: Message on the failure
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ObjHeaderIException::ObjHeaderIException(const H5std_string& func, const H5std_string& message) : Exception(func, message) {}
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	ObjHeaderIException destructor
+///\brief	Noop destructor.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ObjHeaderIException::~ObjHeaderIException() throw() {}
+ */ 
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Subclass:	PropListIException
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Exception.h b/c++/src/H5Exception.h
index da9066a..81068f5 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Exception.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Exception.h
@@ -120,6 +120,14 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataTypeIException : public Exception {
 	virtual ~DataTypeIException() throw();
 };
 
+ /* class H5_DLLCPP ObjHeaderIException : public Exception {
+   public:
+	ObjHeaderIException(const H5std_string& func_name, const H5std_string& message = DEFAULT_MSG);
+	ObjHeaderIException();
+	virtual ~ObjHeaderIException() throw();
+};
+ */ 
+
 class H5_DLLCPP PropListIException : public Exception {
    public:
 	PropListIException(const H5std_string& func_name, const H5std_string& message = DEFAULT_MSG);
diff --git a/c++/src/H5File.cpp b/c++/src/H5File.cpp
index ff897d7..79f5471 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5File.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5File.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "H5DcreatProp.h"
 #include "H5Location.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 #include "H5Group.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
diff --git a/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp b/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
index 9ce06f7..abc382d 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,42 @@ FloatType::FloatType( const DataSet& dataset ) : AtomType()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	FloatType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an FloatType instance by opening an HDF5 float datatype
+///		given its name, provided as a C character string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Float type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openFloatType(const char*)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+FloatType::FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+    id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	FloatType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an FloatType instance by opening an HDF5 float datatype
+///		given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Float type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openFloatType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+FloatType::FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	FloatType::getFields
 ///\brief	Retrieves floating point datatype bit field information.
 ///\param	spos  - OUT: Retrieved floating-point sign bit
diff --git a/c++/src/H5FloatType.h b/c++/src/H5FloatType.h
index c0119eb..1f3b409 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5FloatType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5FloatType.h
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP FloatType : public AtomType {
 	// Gets the floating-point datatype of the specified dataset.
 	FloatType( const DataSet& dataset );
 
+	// Constructors that opens an HDF5 float datatype, given a location.
+	FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Retrieves the exponent bias of a floating-point type.
 	size_t getEbias() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Group.cpp b/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
index 20f14a3..fa0a206 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #endif
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDstrcpy
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
@@ -34,11 +35,11 @@
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 #include "H5Attribute.h"
 #include "H5Group.h"
 #include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5Alltypes.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDstrcpy
 
 namespace H5 {
     using std::cerr;
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ namespace H5 {
 ///\brief	Default constructor: creates a stub Group.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group() : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
+Group::Group() : H5Object(), CommonFG(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	Group copy constructor
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ Group::Group() : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
 ///\param	original - IN: Original group to copy
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(const Group& original) : H5Object(), id(original.id)
+Group::Group(const Group& original) : H5Object(), CommonFG(), id(original.id)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ hid_t Group::getLocId() const
 ///\param	existing_id - IN: Id of an existing group
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), id(existing_id)
+Group::Group(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), CommonFG(), id(existing_id)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ Group::Group(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), id(existing_id)
 ///		is a datatype that has been named by DataType::commit.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
+Group::Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), CommonFG(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
 {
     id = H5Location::p_dereference(loc.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "constructor - by dereference");
 }
@@ -117,10 +118,11 @@ Group::Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const
 ///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
+ /* Group::Group(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID)
 {
     id = H5Location::p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "constructor - by dereference");
 }
+ */ 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    Group::getId
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Group.h b/c++/src/H5Group.h
index 5f4b0f3..0a9e975 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Group.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Group.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace H5 {
 class ArrayType;
 class VarLenType;
 
-class H5_DLLCPP Group : public H5Object {
+class H5_DLLCPP Group : public H5Object, public CommonFG {
    public:
 	// Group constructor to create a group or file (aka root group).
 	Group(const char* name, size_t size_hint = 0);
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP Group : public H5Object {
 
 	// Creates a group by way of dereference.
 	Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
-        Group(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
+//        Group(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
 
 	// default constructor
 	Group();
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
index d869b07..f3d916a 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"			// for HDmemset
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5Library.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
-#include "H5private.h"			// for HDmemset
 
 namespace H5 {
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp b/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
index 69fbedb..a60bcf3 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,42 @@ IntType::IntType( const DataSet& dataset ) : AtomType()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	IntType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates a IntType instance by opening an HDF5 integer datatype
+///		given its name as a char*.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Integer type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openIntType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IntType::IntType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+    id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	IntType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates a IntType instance by opening an HDF5 integer datatype
+///		given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Integer type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openArrayType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IntType::IntType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+    id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	IntType::getSign
 ///\brief	Retrieves the sign type for an integer type.
 ///\return	Valid sign type
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IntType.h b/c++/src/H5IntType.h
index 54c0d57..09a311f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IntType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5IntType.h
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP IntType : public AtomType {
 	// Gets the integer datatype of the specified dataset
 	IntType(const DataSet& dataset);
 
+	// Constructors that opens an HDF5 integer datatype, given a location.
+	IntType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	IntType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Retrieves the sign type for an integer type
 	H5T_sign_t getSign() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Library.cpp b/c++/src/H5Library.cpp
index 1726121..30be367 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Library.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Library.cpp
@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@ void H5Library::initH5cpp()
     if (ret_value != 0)
         throw LibraryIException("H5Library::initH5cpp", "Registrating PropList::deleteConstants failed");
 
+      /* ret_value = std::atexit(LinkAccPropList::deleteConstants);
+    if (ret_value != 0)
+        throw LibraryIException("H5Library::initH5cpp", "Registrating LinkAccPropList::deleteConstants failed");
+ */ 
+
      ret_value = std::atexit(FileAccPropList::deleteConstants);
     if (ret_value != 0)
         throw LibraryIException("H5Library::initH5cpp", "Registrating FileAccPropList::deleteConstants failed");
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
index cb4fd12..91de0f5 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
+#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
 #include "H5FaccProp.h"
 #include "H5FcreatProp.h"
@@ -26,14 +28,12 @@
 #include "H5DxferProp.h"
 #include "H5Location.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
+#include "H5DataType.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
-#include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
-#include "H5Attribute.h"
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 #include "H5Group.h"
 #include "H5File.h"
-#include "H5Alltypes.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 
 namespace H5 {
 
@@ -76,6 +76,45 @@ H5Location::H5Location() : IdComponent() {}
 
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
+ /* //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::exists
+///\brief	Checks if a link of a given name exists in a location
+///\param	name - IN: Searched name
+///\param	lapl - IN: Link access property list
+///\exception	H5::LocationException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Nov, 2016
+// Modification
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool H5Location::exists(const char* name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl) const
+{
+    htri_t ret_value = H5Lexists(getId(), name, lapl.getId());
+    if (ret_value > 0)
+	return true;
+    else if (ret_value == 0)
+	return false;
+    else // Raise exception when H5Lexists returns a negative value
+    {
+	throwException("exists", "H5Lexists failed");
+    }
+    return false; // warning: control reaches end of non-void function
+}
+ */ 
+
+ /* //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::exists
+///\brief	Checks if a link of a given name exists in a location
+///\param	name - IN: Searched name
+///\param	lapl - IN: Link access property list
+///\exception	H5::LocationException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec, 2016
+// Modification
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool H5Location::exists(const H5std_string& name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl) const
+{
+    return(exists(name.c_str(), lapl));
+}
+ */ 
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Location::flush
 ///\brief	Flushes all buffers associated with a location to disk.
@@ -498,10 +537,11 @@ void H5Location::dereference(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t
 //	May, 2008
 //		Corrected missing parameters. - BMR
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::dereference(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
+ /* void H5Location::dereference(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
 {
    p_setId(p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "dereference"));
 }
+ */ 
 
 #ifndef H5_NO_DEPRECATED_SYMBOLS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1206,294 +1246,6 @@ void H5Location::unmount( const H5std_string& name ) const
    unmount( name.c_str() );
 }
 
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openDataType
-///\brief	Opens the named generic datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the datatype to open
-///\return	DataType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType H5Location::openDataType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openDataType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the DataType object
-   DataType data_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&data_type, type_id);
-   return(data_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openDataType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType H5Location::openDataType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openDataType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openArrayType
-///\brief	Opens the named array datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the array datatype to open
-///\return	ArrayType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-ArrayType H5Location::openArrayType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openArrayType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the ArrayType object
-   ArrayType array_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&array_type, type_id);
-   return(array_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openArrayType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-ArrayType H5Location::openArrayType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openArrayType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openCompType
-///\brief	Opens the named compound datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the compound datatype to open
-///\return	CompType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CompType H5Location::openCompType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openCompType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the CompType object
-   CompType comp_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&comp_type, type_id);
-   return(comp_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openCompType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-CompType H5Location::openCompType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openCompType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openEnumType
-///\brief	Opens the named enumeration datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the enumeration datatype to open
-///\return	EnumType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-EnumType H5Location::openEnumType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openEnumType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the EnumType object
-   EnumType enum_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&enum_type, type_id);
-   return(enum_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openEnumType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-EnumType H5Location::openEnumType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openEnumType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openIntType
-///\brief	Opens the named integer datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the integer datatype to open
-///\return	IntType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-IntType H5Location::openIntType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openIntType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the IntType object
-   IntType int_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&int_type, type_id);
-   return(int_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openIntType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-IntType H5Location::openIntType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openIntType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openFloatType
-///\brief	Opens the named floating-point datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the floating-point datatype to open
-///\return	FloatType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-FloatType H5Location::openFloatType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openFloatType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the FloatType object
-   FloatType float_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&float_type, type_id);
-   return(float_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openFloatType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-FloatType H5Location::openFloatType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openFloatType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openStrType
-///\brief	Opens the named string datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the string datatype to open
-///\return	StrType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-StrType H5Location::openStrType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openStrType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the StrType object
-   StrType str_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&str_type, type_id);
-   return(str_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openStrType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-StrType H5Location::openStrType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openStrType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openVarLenType
-///\brief	Opens the named variable length datatype at this location.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the variable length datatype to open
-///\return	VarLenType instance
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-VarLenType H5Location::openVarLenType( const char* name ) const
-{
-   // Call C function H5Topen2 to open the named datatype in this group,
-   // given either the file or group id
-   hid_t type_id = H5Topen2(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // If the datatype's opening failed, throw an exception
-   if( type_id < 0 )
-      throwException("openVarLenType", "H5Topen2 failed");
-
-   // No failure, create and return the VarLenType object
-   VarLenType varlen_type;
-   f_DataType_setId(&varlen_type, type_id);
-   return(varlen_type);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::openVarLenType
-///\brief	This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
-///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///		\c H5std_string for \a name.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2005
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-VarLenType H5Location::openVarLenType( const H5std_string& name ) const
-{
-   return( openVarLenType( name.c_str()) );
-}
-
 #ifndef H5_NO_DEPRECATED_SYMBOLS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Location::iterateElems
@@ -1899,51 +1651,20 @@ void H5Location::throwException(const H5std_string& func_name, const H5std_strin
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    f_DataType_setId - friend
-// Purpose:     This function is friend to class H5::DataType so that it
-//              can set DataType::id in order to work around a problem
-//              described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
-//              Applications shouldn't need to use it.
-// param        dtype   - IN/OUT: DataType object to be changed
-// param        new_id - IN: New id to set
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
+// Function:	f_DataSet_setId - friend
+// Modification:
+//		Moved to H5CommonFG.cpp after the rearrangement of classes
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void f_DataType_setId(DataType* dtype, hid_t new_id)
-{
-    dtype->p_setId(new_id);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    f_DataSet_setId - friend
-// Purpose:     This function is friend to class H5::DataSet so that it
-//              can set DataSet::id in order to work around a problem
-//              described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
-//              Applications shouldn't need to use it.
-// param        dset   - IN/OUT: DataSet object to be changed
-// param        new_id - IN: New id to set
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void f_DataSet_setId(DataSet* dset, hid_t new_id)
-{
-    dset->p_setId(new_id);
-}
 
 // end of From H5CommonFG.cpp
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	f_Attribute_setId - friend
-// Purpose:	This function is friend to class H5::Attribute so that it
-//		can set Attribute::id in order to work around a problem
-//		described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
-//		Applications shouldn't need to use it.
-// param	attr   - IN/OUT: Attribute object to be changed
-// param	new_id - IN: New id to set
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
+// Modification:
+//		Moved to H5Object.cpp after the rearrangement of classes
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void f_Attribute_setId(Attribute* attr, hid_t new_id)
-{
-    attr->p_setId(new_id);
-}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	f_DataSpace_setId - friend
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.h b/c++/src/H5Location.h
index 647904b..795e7a7 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.h
@@ -33,9 +33,16 @@ namespace H5 {
 */
 // Class forwarding
 class H5_DLLCPP ArrayType;
+ /* class H5_DLLCPP LinkAccPropList; // remove when done
+ */ 
 class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType;
 class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
    public:
+ /* 	// Checks if a link of a given name exists in a location
+	bool exists(const char* name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl = LinkAccPropList::DEFAULT) const;
+	bool exists(const H5std_string& name, const LinkAccPropList& lapl = LinkAccPropList::DEFAULT) const;
+ */ 
+
 	// Flushes all buffers associated with this location to disk.
 	void flush( H5F_scope_t scope ) const;
 
@@ -81,7 +88,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 	// Open a referenced object whose location is specified by either
 	// a file, an HDF5 object, or an attribute.
 	void dereference(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
-	void dereference(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
+	//void dereference(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
 
 	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
 	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
@@ -172,38 +179,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 	void move(const char* src, const char* dst) const;
 	void move(const H5std_string& src, const H5std_string& dst) const;
 
-	// Opens a generic named datatype in this location.
-	DataType openDataType(const char* name) const;
-	DataType openDataType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named array datatype in this location.
-	ArrayType openArrayType(const char* name) const;
-	ArrayType openArrayType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named compound datatype in this location.
-	CompType openCompType(const char* name) const;
-	CompType openCompType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named enumeration datatype in this location.
-	EnumType openEnumType(const char* name) const;
-	EnumType openEnumType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named integer datatype in this location.
-	IntType openIntType(const char* name) const;
-	IntType openIntType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named floating-point datatype in this location.
-	FloatType openFloatType(const char* name) const;
-	FloatType openFloatType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named string datatype in this location.
-	StrType openStrType(const char* name) const;
-	StrType openStrType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
-	// Opens a named variable length datatype in this location.
-	VarLenType openVarLenType(const char* name) const;
-	VarLenType openVarLenType(const H5std_string& name) const;
-
 // end From CommonFG
 
 	/// For subclasses, H5File and Group, to throw appropriate exception.
@@ -240,7 +215,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 
         // Sets the identifier of this object to a new value. - this one
         // doesn't increment reference count
-        virtual void p_setId(const hid_t new_id) = 0;
+        //virtual void p_setId(const hid_t new_id);
 
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
index ab79d9d..66699d4 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
@@ -29,11 +30,11 @@
 #include "H5DataType.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
+#include "H5CommonFG.h"
 #include "H5Group.h"
 #include "H5File.h"
 #include "H5DataSet.h"
 #include "H5Attribute.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDmemset
 
 namespace H5 {
 
@@ -86,6 +87,21 @@ H5Object::H5Object() : H5Location() {}
 // H5Object::H5Object(const H5Object& original) : H5Location() {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    f_Attribute_setId - friend
+// Purpose:     This function is friend to class H5::Attribute so that it
+//              can set Attribute::id in order to work around a problem
+//              described in the JIRA issue HDFFV-7947.
+//              Applications shouldn't need to use it.
+// param        attr   - IN/OUT: Attribute object to be changed
+// param        new_id - IN: New id to set
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2015
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void f_Attribute_setId(Attribute* attr, hid_t new_id)
+{
+    attr->p_setId(new_id);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Object::createAttribute
 ///\brief	Creates an attribute for a group, dataset, or named datatype.
 ///\param	name - IN: Name of the attribute
@@ -241,6 +257,40 @@ int H5Object::iterateAttrs( attr_operator_t user_op, unsigned *_idx, void *op_da
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::objVersion
+///\brief       Returns the header version of this HDF5 object.
+///\return      Object version, which can have the following values:
+///             \li \c H5O_VERSION_1
+///             \li \c H5O_VERSION_2
+///\exception   H5::ObjHeaderIException
+///             Exception will be thrown when:
+///             - an error returned by the C API
+///             - version number is not one of the valid values above
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - December, 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ /* unsigned H5Object::objVersion() const
+{
+    H5O_info_t objinfo;
+    unsigned version = 0;
+
+    // Use C API to get information of the object
+    herr_t ret_value = H5Oget_info(getId(), &objinfo);
+
+    // Throw exception if C API returns failure
+    if (ret_value < 0)
+        throw Exception(inMemFunc("objVersion"), "H5Oget_info failed");
+    // Return a valid version or throw an exception for invalid value
+    else
+    {
+        version = objinfo.hdr.version;
+        if (version != H5O_VERSION_1 && version != H5O_VERSION_2)
+            throw ObjHeaderIException("objVersion", "Invalid version for object");
+    }
+    return(version);
+}
+ */ 
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Object::getNumAttrs
 ///\brief	Returns the number of attributes attached to this HDF5 object.
 ///\return	Number of attributes
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.h b/c++/src/H5Object.h
index 72a9f50..70acda9 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.h
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Object : public H5Location {
 	// Iterate user's function over the attributes of this object.
 	int iterateAttrs(attr_operator_t user_op, unsigned* idx = NULL, void* op_data = NULL);
 
+	// Returns the object header version of an object
+	 /* unsigned objVersion() const;
+ */ 
+
 	// Determines the number of attributes belong to this object.
 	int getNumAttrs() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5OcreatProp.cpp b/c++/src/H5OcreatProp.cpp
index 3cda945..397a96f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5OcreatProp.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5OcreatProp.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
 #include "H5OcreatProp.h"
-#include "H5FaccProp.h"
 
 namespace H5 {
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp b/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
index b6f7c15..42c9b83 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include "H5private.h"		// for HDfree
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"
 #include "H5IdComponent.h"
 #include "H5PropList.h"
-#include "H5private.h"		// for HDfree
 
 
 namespace H5 {
diff --git a/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp b/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
index 962a5dc..ca0ad56 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
@@ -144,6 +144,42 @@ StrType::StrType( const DataSet& dataset ) : AtomType ()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	StrType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an StrType instance by opening an HDF5 string datatype
+///		given its name, provided as a C character string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: String type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openStrType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+StrType::StrType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	StrType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an StrType instance by opening an HDF5 string datatype
+///		given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: String type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openStrType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+StrType::StrType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : AtomType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	StrType::getCset
 ///\brief	Retrieves the character set type of this string datatype.
 ///\return	Character set type, which can be:
diff --git a/c++/src/H5StrType.h b/c++/src/H5StrType.h
index 5d223b3..5ff88b6 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5StrType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5StrType.h
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP StrType : public AtomType {
         // Gets the string datatype of the specified dataset
 	StrType(const DataSet& dataset);
 
+	// Constructors that opens an HDF5 string datatype, given a location.
+	StrType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	StrType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Retrieves the character set type of this string datatype.
 	H5T_cset_t getCset() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
index fa3a18f..e14e1ce 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,42 @@ VarLenType::VarLenType(const DataType* base_type) : DataType()
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// 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	dtype_name - IN: Variable length type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openVarLenType(const char*) to
+//		improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+VarLenType::VarLenType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	VarLenType overloaded constructor
+///\brief	Creates an VarLenType instance by opening an HDF5 variable
+///		length datatype given its name, provided as an \c H5std_string.
+///\param	dtype_name - IN: Variable length type name
+///\exception	H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Dec 2016
+// Description
+//		In 1.10.1, this constructor was introduced and will replace the
+//		existing function CommonFG::openVarLenType(const H5std_string&)
+//		to improve usability.
+//		-BMR, Dec 2016
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+VarLenType::VarLenType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : DataType()
+{
+   id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	VarLenType destructor
 ///\brief	Properly terminates access to this datatype.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
diff --git a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
index d7141b0..accb13e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType : public DataType {
 	// Constructor that takes an existing id
 	VarLenType( const hid_t existing_id );
 
+	// Constructors that opens a variable-length datatype, given a location.
+	VarLenType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
+	VarLenType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
+
 	// Noop destructor
 	virtual ~VarLenType();