Improvement of class hierarchy

Description:
    - Moved class Attribute to be derived from class H5Location instead of
      IdComponent because an attribute id can be used as loc_id in C APIs.
    - Copied wrappers of H5A APIs in H5Location into H5Object because H5A
      functions do not take an attribute id as loc_id.  The original wrappers
      will be deprecated in future releases.
    - Revised comments
Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    Linux/64 (platypus)
    Darwin (osx1010test)

7 files changed, 286 insertions, 43 deletions

diff --git a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
index cb0186a..55ccfe7 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ namespace H5 {
 ///\brief       Default constructor: Creates a stub attribute
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Attribute::Attribute() : AbstractDs(), IdComponent(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
+Attribute::Attribute() : AbstractDs(), H5Location(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    Attribute copy constructor
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Attribute::Attribute() : AbstractDs(), IdComponent(), id(H5I_INVALID_HID) {}
 ///\param       original  - IN: Original Attribute object to copy
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Attribute::Attribute(const Attribute& original) : AbstractDs(), IdComponent(), id(original.id)
+Attribute::Attribute(const Attribute& original) : AbstractDs(), H5Location(), id(original.id)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Attribute::Attribute(const Attribute& original) : AbstractDs(), IdComponent(), i
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Attribute::Attribute(const hid_t existing_id) : AbstractDs(), IdComponent(), id(existing_id)
+Attribute::Attribute(const hid_t existing_id) : AbstractDs(), H5Location(), id(existing_id)
 {
     incRefCount(); // increment number of references to this id
 }
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Attribute.h b/c++/src/H5Attribute.h
index 10f46ae..33145bc 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Attribute.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Attribute.h
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ namespace H5 {
     inherits from IdComponent because an attribute is an HDF5 component that
     is identified by an identifier.
 */
-//  Inheritance: multiple IdComponent/AbstractDs
-class H5_DLLCPP Attribute : public AbstractDs, public IdComponent {
+//  Inheritance: multiple H5Location/AbstractDs
+class H5_DLLCPP Attribute : public AbstractDs, public H5Location {
    public:
 
         // Copy constructor: makes a copy of an existing Attribute object.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.h b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.h
index 0f83168..e9d0c84 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.h
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 
 namespace H5 {
 
-//class DataSpace;
-
 /*! \class IdComponent
     \brief Class IdComponent provides wrappers of the C functions that
      operate on an HDF5 identifier.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
index 855e6d2..60f9c3b 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
@@ -84,9 +84,19 @@ H5Location::H5Location() : IdComponent() {}
 
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
+/***************************************************************************
+                           Notes for H5A wrappers
+                           ======================
+May, 2017 (1.8.19)
+        These H5A wrappers are copied from H5Object to prevent an attribute
+        id being passed in to H5A APIs.  The original H5A wrapper functions
+        here will be deprecated in future releases.
+
+***************************************************************************/
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::createAttribute
-///\brief       Creates an attribute for a group, dataset, or named datatype.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Creates an attribute for a group, dataset, or named datatype.
 ///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute
 ///\param       data_type - IN: Datatype for the attribute
 ///\param       data_space - IN: Dataspace for the attribute - only simple
@@ -125,7 +135,7 @@ Attribute H5Location::createAttribute(const char* name, const DataType& data_typ
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::createAttribute
-///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///\brief       Deprecated - This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
 ///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
 ///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -137,7 +147,7 @@ Attribute H5Location::createAttribute(const H5std_string& name, const DataType&
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::openAttribute
-///\brief       Opens an attribute given its name.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Opens an attribute given its name.
 ///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute
 ///\return      Attribute instance
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
@@ -160,7 +170,7 @@ Attribute H5Location::openAttribute(const char* name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::openAttribute
-///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///\brief       Deprecated - This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
 ///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
 ///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -172,7 +182,7 @@ Attribute H5Location::openAttribute(const H5std_string& name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::openAttribute
-///\brief       Opens an attribute given its index.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Opens an attribute given its index.
 ///\param       idx - IN: Index of the attribute, a 0-based, non-negative integer
 ///\return      Attribute instance
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
@@ -196,7 +206,7 @@ Attribute H5Location::openAttribute(const unsigned int idx) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::iterateAttrs
-///\brief       Iterates a user's function over all the attributes of an H5
+///\brief       Deprecated - Iterates a user's function over all the attributes of an H5
 ///             object, which may be a group, dataset or named datatype.
 ///\param       user_op - IN: User's function to operate on each attribute
 ///\param       _idx - IN/OUT: Starting (IN) and ending (OUT) attribute indices
@@ -241,7 +251,7 @@ int H5Location::iterateAttrs(attr_operator_t user_op, unsigned *_idx, void *op_d
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::getNumAttrs
-///\brief       Returns the number of attributes attached to this HDF5 object.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Returns the number of attributes attached to this HDF5 object.
 ///\return      Number of attributes
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -258,7 +268,7 @@ int H5Location::getNumAttrs() const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::attrExists
-///\brief       Checks whether the named attribute exists at this location.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Checks whether the named attribute exists at this location.
 ///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute to be queried
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2013
@@ -279,7 +289,7 @@ bool H5Location::attrExists(const char* name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::attrExists
-///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///\brief       Deprecated - This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
 ///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
 ///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -291,7 +301,7 @@ bool H5Location::attrExists(const H5std_string& name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::removeAttr
-///\brief       Removes the named attribute from this object.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Removes the named attribute from this object.
 ///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute to be removed
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -305,7 +315,7 @@ void H5Location::removeAttr(const char* name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::removeAttr
-///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///\brief       Deprecated - This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
 ///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
 ///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
@@ -317,7 +327,7 @@ void H5Location::removeAttr(const H5std_string& name) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::renameAttr
-///\brief       Renames the named attribute from this object.
+///\brief       Deprecated - Renames the named attribute from this object.
 ///\param       oldname - IN: Name of the attribute to be renamed
 ///\param       newname - IN: New name ame of the attribute
 ///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
@@ -332,7 +342,7 @@ void H5Location::renameAttr(const char* oldname, const char* newname) const
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    H5Location::renameAttr
-///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///\brief       Deprecated - This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
 ///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
 ///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for the names.
 // Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Mar, 2005
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.h b/c++/src/H5Location.h
index c49b23b..edc2b53 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.h
@@ -36,33 +36,26 @@ class UserData4Aiterate { // user data for attribute iteration
 };
 
 /*! \class H5Location
-    \brief H5Location is an abstract base class, added in version 1.8.12.
-
-    It provides a collection of wrappers for the C functions that take a
-    location identifier to specify the HDF5 object.  The location identifier
-    can be either file, group, dataset, attribute, or named datatype.
+    \brief H5Location is an abstract base class, providing a collection of
+    wrappers of the C functions that take a location identifier, which can be
+    either file, group, dataset, attribute, or named datatype.
 */
 //  Inheritance: IdComponent
-
-// Most of these methods were in H5Object but are now moved here because
-// a location can be a file, group, dataset, or named datatype. -BMR, 2013-10-1
-// Wrappers for H5A functions that operate existing attributes are in H5Object.
-// -BMR, 2017-05-04
 class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
    public:
         // Creates an attribute for the specified object at this location
         // PropList is currently not used, so always be default.
-        Attribute createAttribute(const char* name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
-        Attribute createAttribute(const H5std_string& name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
+        virtual Attribute createAttribute(const char* name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
+        virtual Attribute createAttribute(const H5std_string& name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
 
         // Given its name, opens the attribute that belongs to an object at
         // this location.
-        Attribute openAttribute(const char* name) const;
-        Attribute openAttribute(const H5std_string& name) const;
+        virtual Attribute openAttribute(const char* name) const;
+        virtual Attribute openAttribute(const H5std_string& name) const;
 
         // Given its index, opens the attribute that belongs to an object at
         // this location.
-        Attribute openAttribute(const unsigned int idx) const;
+        virtual Attribute openAttribute(const unsigned int idx) const;
 
         // Flushes all buffers associated with this location to disk.
         void flush(H5F_scope_t scope) const;
@@ -84,19 +77,19 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
         // misleading, so getRefObjType is used in the new function instead.
 
         // Iterate user's function over the attributes at this location.
-        int iterateAttrs(attr_operator_t user_op, unsigned* idx = NULL, void* op_data = NULL);
+        virtual int iterateAttrs(attr_operator_t user_op, unsigned* idx = NULL, void* op_data = NULL);
 
         // Checks whether the named attribute exists at this location.
-        bool attrExists(const char* name) const;
-        bool attrExists(const H5std_string& name) const;
+        virtual bool attrExists(const char* name) const;
+        virtual bool attrExists(const H5std_string& name) const;
 
         // Renames the named attribute to a new name.
-        void renameAttr(const char* oldname, const char* newname) const;
-        void renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& newname) const;
+        virtual void renameAttr(const char* oldname, const char* newname) const;
+        virtual void renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& newname) const;
 
         // Removes the named attribute from this location.
-        void removeAttr(const char* name) const;
-        void removeAttr(const H5std_string& name) const;
+        virtual void removeAttr(const char* name) const;
+        virtual void removeAttr(const H5std_string& name) const;
 
         // Sets the comment for an HDF5 object specified by its name.
         void setComment(const char* name, const char* comment) const;
@@ -177,3 +170,13 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 } // namespace H5
 
 #endif // __H5Location_H
+
+// Modification
+//      Oct 1, 2013 -BMR
+//          H5Location is added in version 1.8.12.
+//          Most of these methods were in H5Object but are now moved here
+//          because a location can be a file, group, dataset, or named datatype.
+//      May 04, 2017 -BMR
+//          Wrappers for H5A functions are copied to H5Object because H5A
+//          functions do not take an attribute id as loc_id.  The original
+//          wrappers will be deprecated in future releases.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
index 60e7afb..933e8ec 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 #include "H5PropList.h"
 #include "H5DataSpace.h"
 #include "H5AbstractDs.h"
-#include "H5Attribute.h"
 #include "H5Location.h"
+#include "H5Attribute.h"
 #include "H5Object.h"
 #include "H5DataType.h"
 
@@ -64,6 +64,214 @@ H5Object::H5Object() : H5Location() {}
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // H5Object::H5Object(const H5Object& original) : H5Location() {}
 
+/***************************************************************************
+                           Notes for H5A wrappers
+                           ======================
+May, 2017 (1.8.19)
+        These H5A wrappers are copied from H5Location to prevent an attribute
+        id being passed in to H5A APIs.  The original H5A wrapper functions
+        in H5Location will be deprecated in future releases.
+
+***************************************************************************/
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::createAttribute
+///\brief       Creates an attribute for a group, dataset, or named datatype.
+///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute
+///\param       data_type - IN: Datatype for the attribute
+///\param       data_space - IN: Dataspace for the attribute - only simple
+///             dataspaces are allowed at this time
+///\param       create_plist - IN: Creation property list - default to
+///             PropList::DEFAULT
+///\return      Attribute instance
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+///\par Description
+///             The attribute name specified in \a name must be unique.
+///             Attempting to create an attribute with the same name as an
+///             existing attribute will raise an exception, leaving the
+///             pre-existing attribute intact. To overwrite an existing
+///             attribute with a new attribute of the same name, first
+///             delete the existing one with \c H5Object::removeAttr, then
+///             recreate it with this function.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Attribute H5Object::createAttribute(const char* name, const DataType& data_type, const DataSpace& data_space, const PropList& create_plist) const
+{
+    hid_t type_id = data_type.getId();
+    hid_t space_id = data_space.getId();
+    hid_t plist_id = create_plist.getId();
+    hid_t attr_id = H5Acreate2(getId(), name, type_id, space_id, plist_id, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    // If the attribute id is valid, create and return the Attribute object
+    if (attr_id > 0)
+    {
+        Attribute attr;
+        f_Attribute_setId(&attr, attr_id);
+        return(attr);
+    }
+    else
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("createAttribute"), "H5Acreate2 failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::createAttribute
+///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
+///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Attribute H5Object::createAttribute(const H5std_string& name, const DataType& data_type, const DataSpace& data_space, const PropList& create_plist) const
+{
+    return(createAttribute(name.c_str(), data_type, data_space, create_plist));
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::openAttribute
+///\brief       Opens an attribute given its name.
+///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute
+///\return      Attribute instance
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Attribute H5Object::openAttribute(const char* name) const
+{
+    hid_t attr_id = H5Aopen(getId(), name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (attr_id > 0)
+    {
+        Attribute attr;
+        f_Attribute_setId(&attr, attr_id);
+        return(attr);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("openAttribute"), "H5Aopen failed");
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::openAttribute
+///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
+///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Attribute H5Object::openAttribute(const H5std_string& name) const
+{
+    return(openAttribute(name.c_str()));
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::openAttribute
+///\brief       Opens an attribute given its index.
+///\param       idx - IN: Index of the attribute, a 0-based, non-negative integer
+///\return      Attribute instance
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Attribute H5Object::openAttribute(const unsigned int idx) const
+{
+    hid_t attr_id = H5Aopen_by_idx(getId(), ".", H5_INDEX_CRT_ORDER,
+              H5_ITER_INC, static_cast<hsize_t>(idx), H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (attr_id > 0)
+    {
+        Attribute attr;
+        f_Attribute_setId(&attr, attr_id);
+        return(attr);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("openAttribute"), "H5Aopen_by_idx failed");
+    }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::attrExists
+///\brief       Checks whether the named attribute exists at this location.
+///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute to be queried
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2013
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool H5Object::attrExists(const char* name) const
+{
+    // Call C routine H5Aexists to determine whether an attribute exists
+    // at this location, which could be specified by a file, group, dataset,
+    // or named datatype.
+    herr_t ret_value = H5Aexists(getId(), name);
+    if(ret_value > 0)
+        return true;
+    else if(ret_value == 0)
+        return false;
+    else // Raise exception when H5Aexists returns a negative value
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("attrExists"), "H5Aexists failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::attrExists
+///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
+///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool H5Object::attrExists(const H5std_string& name) const
+{
+    return(attrExists(name.c_str()));
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::removeAttr
+///\brief       Removes the named attribute from this object.
+///\param       name - IN: Name of the attribute to be removed
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Object::removeAttr(const char* name) const
+{
+    herr_t ret_value = H5Adelete(getId(), name);
+    if(ret_value < 0)
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("removeAttr"), "H5Adelete failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::removeAttr
+///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
+///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for \a name.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Object::removeAttr(const H5std_string& name) const
+{
+    removeAttr(name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::renameAttr
+///\brief       Renames the named attribute from this object.
+///\param       oldname - IN: Name of the attribute to be renamed
+///\param       newname - IN: New name ame of the attribute
+///\exception   H5::AttributeIException
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Mar, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Object::renameAttr(const char* oldname, const char* newname) const
+{
+    herr_t ret_value = H5Arename(getId(), oldname, newname);
+    if (ret_value < 0)
+        throw AttributeIException(inMemFunc("renameAttr"), "H5Arename failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:    H5Object::renameAttr
+///\brief       This is an overloaded member function, provided for convenience.
+///             It differs from the above function in that it takes
+///             a reference to an \c H5std_string for the names.
+// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Mar, 2005
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Object::renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& newname) const
+{
+   renameAttr (oldname.c_str(), newname.c_str());
+}
+
+// end of Notes for H5A wrappers
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:    getObjName
 ///\brief       Given an id, returns the type of the object.
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.h b/c++/src/H5Object.h
index fa9e8a9..b118bb8 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.h
@@ -37,6 +37,30 @@ namespace H5 {
 //  Inheritance: H5Location -> IdComponent
 class H5_DLLCPP H5Object : public H5Location {
    public:
+        // Creates an attribute for the specified object
+        // PropList is currently not used, so always be default.
+        Attribute createAttribute(const char* name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
+        Attribute createAttribute(const H5std_string& name, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, const PropList& create_plist = PropList::DEFAULT) const;
+
+        // Given its name, opens the attribute that belongs to this object.
+        Attribute openAttribute(const char* name) const;
+        Attribute openAttribute(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+        // Given its index, opens the attribute that belongs to this object.
+        Attribute openAttribute(const unsigned int idx) const;
+
+        // Checks whether the named attribute exists for this object.
+        bool attrExists(const char* name) const;
+        bool attrExists(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
+        // Renames the named attribute of this object to a new name.
+        void renameAttr(const char* oldname, const char* newname) const;
+        void renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& newname) const;
+
+        // Removes the named attribute from this object.
+        void removeAttr(const char* name) const;
+        void removeAttr(const H5std_string& name) const;
+
         // Gets the name of this HDF5 object, i.e., Group, DataSet, or
         // DataType.
         ssize_t getObjName(char *obj_name, size_t buf_size = 0) const;