Adding new C++ wrappers

Description:
    Added wrappers for H5Tencode to class DataType and H5Tdecode to
    classes DataType and its subclasses.

        // Creates a binary object description of this datatype.
        void DataType::encode()

        // Returns the decoded type from the binary object description.
        virtual DataType* DataType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* ArrayType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* CompType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* DataType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* EnumType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* FloatType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* IntType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* StrType::decode() const;
        virtual DataType* VarLenType::decode() const;

Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    Linux/64 (platypus)
    Darwin (osx1010test)

17 files changed, 309 insertions, 12 deletions

diff --git a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
index 9d4a973..c39ef35 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.cpp
@@ -139,6 +139,27 @@ ArrayType& ArrayType::operator=(const ArrayType& rhs)
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    ArrayType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an ArrayType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* ArrayType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_arrtype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_arrtype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    ArrayType *encoded_arrtype = new ArrayType;
+    encoded_arrtype->p_setId(encoded_arrtype_id);
+    return(encoded_arrtype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    ArrayType::getArrayNDims
 ///\brief       Returns the number of dimensions for an array datatype.
 ///\return      Number of dimensions
diff --git a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
index ffb8712..e3709cd 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5ArrayType.h
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP ArrayType : public DataType {
         ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         ArrayType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns an ArrayType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // 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/H5Classes.h b/c++/src/H5Classes.h
index f0f6359..8b1e6ed 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Classes.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Classes.h
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ namespace H5 {
         class DataSpace;
         class AtomType;
         class PredType;
-        class EnumType;
         class IntType;
         class FloatType;
         class StrType;
+        class EnumType;
         class CompType;
         class AbstractDs;
         class DataSet;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
index f7862c9..95fddc1 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5CompType.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,27 @@ CompType::CompType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : Data
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    CompType::decode
+///\brief       Returns a CompType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this datatype.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* CompType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_cmptype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_cmptype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    CompType *encoded_cmptype = new CompType;
+    encoded_cmptype->p_setId(encoded_cmptype_id);
+    return(encoded_cmptype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 018d875..bf687de 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CompType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5CompType.h
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP CompType : public DataType {
         CompType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         CompType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns a CompType object via DataType* by decoding the binary
+        // object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // 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/H5DataType.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
index 57f9361..11b30cc 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ using std::endl;
 ///\brief       Default constructor: Creates a stub datatype
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType() : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
+DataType::DataType() : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0) {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    DataType overloaded constructor
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ DataType::DataType() : H5Object(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
 //              Removed second argument, "predefined", after changing to the
 //              new ref counting mechanism that relies on C's ref counting.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), id(existing_id)
+DataType::DataType(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), id(existing_id), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object(), id(existing_id)
 ///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const H5T_class_t type_class, size_t size) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const H5T_class_t type_class, size_t size) : H5Object(), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     // Call C routine to create the new datatype
     id = H5Tcreate(type_class, size);
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const H5T_class_t type_class, size_t size) : H5Object()
 //        Jul, 2008
 //              Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object(), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     id = H5Location::p_dereference(loc.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "constructor - by dereference");
 }
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ 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), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     id = H5Location::p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist, "constructor - by dereference");
 }
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type,
 ///\brief       Copy constructor: makes a copy of the original DataType object
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const DataType& original) : H5Object(), id(original.id)
+DataType::DataType(const DataType& original) : H5Object(), id(original.id), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const DataType& original) : H5Object(), id(original.id)
 //              unnecessarily and will produce undefined behavior.
 //              -BMR, Apr 2015
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const PredType& pred_type) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const PredType& pred_type) : H5Object(), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     // Call C routine to copy the datatype
     id = H5Tcopy(pred_type.getId());
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const PredType& pred_type) : H5Object()
 //              improve usability.
 //              -BMR, Dec 2016
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : H5Object(), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name);
 }
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const char *dtype_name) : H5Object()
 //              improve usability.
 //              -BMR, Dec 2016
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : H5Object(), encoded_buf(NULL), buf_size(0)
 {
     id = p_opentype(loc, dtype_name.c_str());
 }
@@ -248,6 +248,102 @@ void DataType::copy(const DataSet& dset)
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::p_decode
+// Purpose      Returns an id of a type by decoding the binary object
+///             description of this datatype.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+hid_t DataType::p_decode() const
+{
+    // Make sure that the buffer can be decoded
+    if (encoded_buf == NULL)
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("DataType::p_decode", "No encoded buffer");
+    }
+
+    // Call C function to decode the binary object description
+    hid_t encoded_dtype_id = H5Tdecode(encoded_buf);
+
+    // If H5Tdecode fails, raise exception
+    if (encoded_dtype_id < 0)
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("DataType::p_decode", "H5Tdecode failed");
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return(encoded_dtype_id);
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::decode
+///\brief       Returns a DataType instance by decoding the binary object
+///             description of this datatype.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* DataType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_dtype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_dtype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    DataType *encoded_dtype = new DataType;
+    encoded_dtype->p_setId(encoded_dtype_id);
+    return(encoded_dtype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::encode
+///\brief       Creates a binary object description of this datatype.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void DataType::encode()
+{
+    // Call H5Tencode passing in null to determine the size of the buffer
+    herr_t ret_value = H5Tencode(id, NULL, &buf_size);
+    if (ret_value < 0)
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("DataType::encode", "Failed to get buf_size");
+    }
+
+    // Allocate buffer and call C function again to encode
+    if (buf_size > 0)
+    {
+        encoded_buf = (unsigned char *)HDcalloc((size_t)1, buf_size);
+        ret_value = H5Tencode(id, encoded_buf, &buf_size);
+        if (ret_value < 0)
+        {
+            throw DataTypeIException("DataType::encode", "H5Tencode failed");
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        throw DataTypeIException("DataType::encode", "Failed to allocate buffer for encoding");
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    DataType::hasBinaryDesc
+///\brief       Determines whether this datatype has a binary object
+///             description.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool DataType::hasBinaryDesc() const
+{
+    if (encoded_buf != NULL)
+        return true;
+    else
+        return false;
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    DataType::operator=
 ///\brief       Assignment operator
 ///\param       rhs - IN: Reference to the existing datatype
@@ -827,8 +923,15 @@ void DataType::close()
         {
             throw DataTypeIException(inMemFunc("close"), "H5Tclose failed");
         }
-        // reset the id
+        // Reset the id
         id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+
+        // Free and reset buffer of encoded object description if it's been used
+        if (encoded_buf != NULL)
+        {
+            HDfree(encoded_buf);
+            buf_size = 0;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.h b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
index 32a79fa..50d2fc1 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
         // Copies the datatype of dset to this datatype object.
         void copy(const DataSet& dset);
 
+        // Returns a DataType instance by decoding the binary object
+        // description of this datatype.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
+        // Creates a binary object description of this datatype.
+        void encode();
+
         // Returns the datatype class identifier.
         H5T_class_t getClass() const;
 
@@ -130,6 +137,9 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
         // Default constructor
         DataType();
 
+        // Determines whether this datatype has a binary object description.
+        bool hasBinaryDesc() const;
+
         // Gets the datatype id.
         virtual hid_t getId() const;
 
@@ -140,6 +150,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
         hid_t id;    // HDF5 datatype id
 
+        // Returns an id of a type by decoding the binary object
+        // description of this datatype.
+        hid_t p_decode() const;
+
         // Sets the datatype id.
         virtual void p_setId(const hid_t new_id);
 
@@ -149,6 +163,11 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
    private:
+        // Buffer for binary object description of this datatype, allocated
+        // in DataType::encode and used in DataType::decode
+        unsigned char *encoded_buf;
+        size_t buf_size;
+
         // Friend function to set DataType id.  For library use only.
         friend void f_DataType_setId(DataType* dtype, hid_t new_id);
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp b/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
index a96239c..f9046be 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5EnumType.cpp
@@ -146,6 +146,27 @@ EnumType::EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : Data
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    EnumType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an EnumType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* EnumType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_cmptype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_cmptype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    EnumType *encoded_cmptype = new EnumType;
+    encoded_cmptype->p_setId(encoded_cmptype_id);
+    return(encoded_cmptype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 fc8089e..6468bf7 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5EnumType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5EnumType.h
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP EnumType : public DataType {
         EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         EnumType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns an EnumType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // Returns the number of members in this enumeration datatype.
         int getNmembers () const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp b/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
index 6bb3fd6..66a7466 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5FloatType.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ FloatType::FloatType(const hid_t existing_id) : AtomType( existing_id ) {}
 FloatType::FloatType(const FloatType&  original) : AtomType( original ){}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    EnumType overloaded constructor
+// Function:    FloatType overloaded constructor
 ///\brief       Gets the floating-point datatype of the specified dataset
 ///\param       dataset - IN: Dataset that this floating-point datatype
 ///             associates with
@@ -128,6 +128,27 @@ FloatType::FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : At
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    FloatType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an FloatType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* FloatType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_flttype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_flttype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    FloatType *encoded_flttype = new FloatType;
+    encoded_flttype->p_setId(encoded_flttype_id);
+    return(encoded_flttype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 e84f50b..4f277c3 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5FloatType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5FloatType.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP FloatType : public AtomType {
         FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         FloatType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns an FloatType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // Retrieves the exponent bias of a floating-point type.
         size_t getEbias() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp b/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
index fb7e476..8408732 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IntType.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,27 @@ IntType::IntType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : AtomTy
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    IntType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an IntType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* IntType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_inttype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_inttype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    IntType *encoded_inttype = new IntType;
+    encoded_inttype->p_setId(encoded_inttype_id);
+    return(encoded_inttype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 82a7cfd..54a4975 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IntType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5IntType.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP IntType : public AtomType {
         IntType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         IntType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns an IntType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // Retrieves the sign type for an integer type
         H5T_sign_t getSign() const;
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp b/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
index d5fb744..cbb2103 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5StrType.cpp
@@ -181,6 +181,27 @@ StrType::StrType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) : AtomTy
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    StrType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an StrType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* StrType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_strtype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_strtype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    StrType *encoded_strtype = new StrType;
+    encoded_strtype->p_setId(encoded_strtype_id);
+    return(encoded_strtype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 abac8de..fd0402e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5StrType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5StrType.h
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP StrType : public AtomType {
         StrType(const H5Location& loc, const char* name);
         StrType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& name);
 
+        // Returns an StrType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         // 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 22e1a66..fcea8cd 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.cpp
@@ -109,6 +109,27 @@ VarLenType::VarLenType(const H5Location& loc, const H5std_string& dtype_name) :
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    VarLenType::decode
+///\brief       Returns an VarLenType object via DataType* by decoding the
+///             binary object description of this type.
+///\exception   H5::DataTypeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Aug 2017
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+DataType* VarLenType::decode() const
+{
+    hid_t encoded_vltype_id;
+    try {
+        encoded_vltype_id = p_decode();
+    }
+    catch (DataTypeIException &err) {
+        throw;
+    }
+    VarLenType *encoded_vltype = new VarLenType;
+    encoded_vltype->p_setId(encoded_vltype_id);
+    return(encoded_vltype);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // 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 4048a4e..17d812f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5VarLenType.h
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP VarLenType : public DataType {
         // on the specified base type.
         VarLenType(const DataType* base_type);
 
+        // Returns an VarLenType object via DataType* by decoding the
+        // binary object description of this type.
+        virtual DataType* decode() const;
+
         ///\brief Returns this class name.
         virtual H5std_string fromClass () const { return("VarLenType"); }