[svn-r24163] Purpose: More on HDFFV-7520 and HDFFV-533

Description:
    - Improved the changes in revisions r22836 and r23438, mainly on the
      wrappers of reference, dereference, get region, and set/getcomment.
    - Added more tests.

Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    SunOS 5.11 (emu)
    Linux/ppc64 (ostrich)

17 files changed, 905 insertions, 375 deletions

diff --git a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
index d684b8f..a98a970 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Attribute.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ namespace H5 {
 #endif  // H5_NO_STD
 #endif
 
+class H5_DLLCPP H5Object;  // forward declaration for UserData4Aiterate
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	Attribute default constructor
 ///\brief	Default constructor: Creates a stub attribute
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
index d6fe5dc..3bf4b4f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.cpp
@@ -460,137 +460,6 @@ H5std_string CommonFG::getLinkval( const H5std_string& name, size_t size ) const
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::setComment
-///\brief	Sets or resets the comment for an object specified by its name.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
-///\param	comment - IN: New comment
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-///\par	Description
-///		If \a comment is an empty string or a null pointer, the comment
-///		message is removed from the object.
-///		Comments should be relatively short, null-terminated, ASCII
-///		strings.  They can be attached to any object that has an
-///		object header, e.g., data sets, groups, named data types,
-///		and data spaces, but not symbolic links.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-// Modification
-//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
-//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
-//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
-//		datatype. - BMR
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void CommonFG::setComment( const char* name, const char* comment ) const
-{
-   herr_t ret_value = H5Oset_comment_by_name( getLocId(), name, comment, H5P_DEFAULT );
-   if( ret_value < 0 )
-      throwException("setComment", "H5Oset_comment_by_name failed");
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::setComment
-///\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 and \a comment.
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void CommonFG::setComment( const H5std_string& name, const H5std_string& comment ) const
-{
-   setComment( name.c_str(), comment.c_str() );
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::removeComment
-///\brief	Removes the comment from an object specified by its name.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May 2005
-//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
-//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
-//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
-//		datatype. - BMR
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void CommonFG::removeComment(const char* name) const
-{
-   herr_t ret_value = H5Oset_comment_by_name(getLocId(), name, NULL, H5P_DEFAULT);
-   if( ret_value < 0 )
-      throwException("removeComment", "H5Oset_comment_by_name failed");
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::removeComment
-///\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 - May 2005
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void CommonFG::removeComment(const H5std_string& name) const
-{
-   removeComment (name.c_str());
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::getComment
-///\brief	Retrieves comment for the specified object and its comment's
-///		length.
-///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
-///\param	bufsize - IN: Length of the comment to retrieve
-///\return	Comment string
-///\exception	H5::FileIException or H5::GroupIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
-//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
-//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
-//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
-//		datatype. - BMR
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-H5std_string CommonFG::getComment( const char* name, size_t bufsize ) const
-{
-   // bufsize is default to 256
-   // temporary variable
-   hid_t loc_id = getLocId();   // temporary variable
-
-   // temporary C-string for the object's comment; bufsize already including
-   // null character
-   char* comment_C = new char[bufsize];
-   ssize_t ret_value = H5Oget_comment_by_name(loc_id, name, comment_C, bufsize, H5P_DEFAULT);
-
-   // if the actual length of the comment is longer than bufsize and bufsize
-   // was the default value, i.e., not given by the user, then call
-   // H5Oget_comment_by_name again with the correct value.
-   // If the call to H5Oget_comment_by_name returned an error, skip this block
-   // and throw an exception below.
-   if (ret_value >= 0 && (size_t)ret_value > bufsize && bufsize == 256)
-   {
-	size_t new_size = ret_value;
-	delete []comment_C;
-	comment_C = new char[new_size];	// new_size including null terminator
-	ret_value = H5Oget_comment_by_name(loc_id, name, comment_C, new_size, H5P_DEFAULT);
-   }
-
-   // if H5Oget_comment_by_name returns SUCCEED, return the string comment,
-   // otherwise, throw an exception
-   if( ret_value < 0 ) {
-       delete []comment_C;
-       throwException("getComment", "H5Oget_comment_by_name failed");
-   }
-
-   H5std_string comment = H5std_string(comment_C);
-   delete []comment_C;
-   return (comment);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	CommonFG::getComment
-///\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
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-H5std_string CommonFG::getComment( const H5std_string& name, size_t bufsize ) const
-{
-   return( getComment( name.c_str(), bufsize ));
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	CommonFG::mount
 ///\brief	Mounts the file \a child onto this group.
 ///\param	name  - IN: Name of the group
diff --git a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
index 22e193a..b02b05b 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5CommonFG.h
@@ -49,18 +49,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP CommonFG {
 	DataSet openDataSet(const char* name) const;
 	DataSet openDataSet(const H5std_string& name) const;
 
-	// Retrieves comment for the HDF5 object specified by its name.
-	H5std_string getComment(const char* name, size_t bufsize=256) const;
-	H5std_string getComment(const H5std_string& name, size_t bufsize=256) const;
-
-	// Removes the comment for the HDF5 object specified by its name.
-	void removeComment(const char* name) const;
-	void removeComment(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;
-	void setComment(const H5std_string& name, const H5std_string& comment) const;
-
 	// Returns the value of a symbolic link.
 	H5std_string getLinkval(const char* link_name, size_t size=0) const;
 	H5std_string getLinkval(const H5std_string& link_name, size_t size=0) const;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
index 3e3893c..1765ca9 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataSet.cpp
@@ -79,57 +79,29 @@ DataSet::DataSet(const DataSet& original) : AbstractDs(original), H5Object(origi
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataSet overload constructor - dereference
-///\brief	Given a reference, ref, to an hdf5 dataset, creates a
+///\brief	Given a reference, ref, to an hdf5 location, creates a
 ///		DataSet object
-///\param	obj - IN: Dataset reference object is in or location of
+///\param	loc - IN: Dataset reference object is in or location of
 ///			  object that the dataset is located within.
 ///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
 ///\param	ref_type - IN: Reference type - default to H5R_OBJECT
 ///\exception	H5::DataSetIException
 ///\par Description
-///		\c obj can be DataSet, Group, H5File, or named DataType, that
+///		\c loc can be DataSet, Group, H5File, or named DataType, that
 ///		is a datatype that has been named by DataType::commit.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 // Modification
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataSet::DataSet(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : AbstractDs(), H5Object()
+DataSet::DataSet(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : AbstractDs(), H5Object()
 {
-    try {
-	id = p_dereference(obj.getId(), ref, ref_type);
-    } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
-	throw ReferenceException("DataSet constructor - located by object",
-		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
-    }
+    H5Location::dereference(loc, ref, ref_type, plist);
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataSet overload constructor - dereference
-///\brief	Given a reference, ref, to an hdf5 dataset, creates a
-///		DataSet object
-///\param	h5file - IN: Location referenced object is in
-///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
-///\param	ref_type - IN: Reference type - default to H5R_OBJECT
-///\exception	H5::DataSetIException
-// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
-// Modification
-//	Jul, 2008
-//		Added for application convenience.
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataSet::DataSet(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : AbstractDs(), H5Object()
-{
-    try {
-	id = p_dereference(h5file.getId(), ref, ref_type);
-    } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
-	throw ReferenceException("DataSet constructor - located by HDF5 file",
-		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
-    }
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	DataSet overload constructor - dereference
-///\brief	Given a reference, ref, to an hdf5 dataset, creates a
+///\brief	Given a reference, ref, to an hdf5 attribute, creates a
 ///		DataSet object
 ///\param	attr - IN: Specifying location where the referenced object is in
 ///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
@@ -140,12 +112,12 @@ DataSet::DataSet(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : Abstrac
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataSet::DataSet(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : AbstractDs(), H5Object()
+DataSet::DataSet(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : AbstractDs(), H5Object()
 {
-    try {
-	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+      try {
+	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
     } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
-	throw ReferenceException("DataSet constructor - located by attribute",
+	throw ReferenceException("DataSet constructor - by dereferenced",
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
     }
 }
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataSet.h b/c++/src/H5DataSet.h
index bc80046..e2fe702 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataSet.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataSet.h
@@ -76,16 +76,12 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataSet : public H5Object, public AbstractDs {
 	// Iterates the selected elements in the specified dataspace - not implemented in C++ style yet
         int iterateElems( void* buf, const DataType& type, const DataSpace& space, H5D_operator_t op, void* op_data = NULL );
 
-	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
-
 	///\brief Returns this class name.
 	virtual H5std_string fromClass () const { return("DataSet"); }
 
 	// Creates a dataset by way of dereference.
-	DataSet(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	DataSet(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	DataSet(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
+	DataSet(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
+	DataSet(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
 
 	// Default constructor.
 	DataSet();
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataSpace.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataSpace.cpp
index 2e2bb35..059c812 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataSpace.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataSpace.cpp
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ void DataSpace::getSelectBounds ( hsize_t* start, hsize_t* end ) const
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	DataSpace::H5Sselect_elements
+// Function:	DataSpace::selectElements
 ///\brief	Selects array elements to be included in the selection for
 ///		this dataspace.
 ///\param	op  - IN: Operator specifying how the new selection is to be
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
index 8a62471..9e9433f 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ DataType::DataType( const H5T_class_t type_class, size_t size ) : H5Object()
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+ /* DataType::DataType(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
 {
     try {
 	id = p_dereference(obj.getId(), ref, ref_type);
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ DataType::DataType(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Obje
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
     }
 }
+ */ 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	DataType overload constructor - dereference
@@ -123,14 +124,16 @@ DataType::DataType(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Obje
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object()
 {
-    try {
+    H5Location::dereference(loc, ref, ref_type, plist);
+     /* try {
 	id = p_dereference(h5file.getId(), ref, ref_type);
     } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
 	throw ReferenceException("DataType constructor - located by an H5File",
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
     }
+ */ 
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -146,10 +149,10 @@ DataType::DataType(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Obj
 //	Jul, 2008
 //		Added for application convenience.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-DataType::DataType(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+DataType::DataType(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object()
 {
     try {
-	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
     } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
 	throw ReferenceException("DataType constructor - located by an Attribute",
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
diff --git a/c++/src/H5DataType.h b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
index 6e56622..e4254b0 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5DataType.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5DataType.h
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 	DataType( const DataType& original );
 
 	// Creates a datatype by way of dereference.
-	DataType(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	DataType(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	DataType(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
+	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);
 
 	// Closes this datatype.
 	virtual void close();
@@ -101,9 +100,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP DataType : public H5Object {
 	// Checks whether this datatype is a variable-length string.
 	bool isVariableStr() const;
 
-	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
-
 	///\brief Returns this class name.
 	virtual H5std_string fromClass () const { return("DataType"); }
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5File.h b/c++/src/H5File.h
index f906de6..2abffea 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5File.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5File.h
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5File : public H5Location, public CommonFG {
 	// and datatypes) in the same file.
 	void getObjIDs(unsigned types, size_t max_objs, hid_t *oid_list) const;
 
-	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
-
 	// Returns the pointer to the file handle of the low-level file driver.
 	void getVFDHandle(FileAccPropList& fapl, void **file_handle) const;
 	void getVFDHandle(void **file_handle) const;
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Group.cpp b/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
index eff7e50..3150025 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Group.cpp
@@ -99,14 +99,18 @@ Group::Group(const hid_t existing_id) : H5Object()
 ///		is a datatype that has been named by DataType::commit.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+ /* Group::Group(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+ */ 
+Group::Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object()
 {
-    try {
-	id = p_dereference(obj.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+    H5Location::dereference(loc, ref, ref_type, plist);
+     /* try {
+	id = p_dereference(loc.getId(), ref, ref_type);
     } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
 	throw ReferenceException("Group constructor - located by an H5Object",
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
     }
+ */ 
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -118,7 +122,7 @@ Group::Group(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
 ///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+ /* Group::Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
 {
     try {
 	id = p_dereference(h5file.getId(), ref, ref_type);
@@ -127,6 +131,7 @@ Group::Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
     }
 }
+ */ 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	Group overload constructor - dereference
@@ -137,10 +142,10 @@ Group::Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
 ///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Group::Group(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) : H5Object()
+Group::Group(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist) : H5Object()
 {
     try {
-	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+	id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
     } catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
 	throw ReferenceException("Group constructor - located by an Attribute",
 		deref_error.getDetailMsg());
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Group.h b/c++/src/H5Group.h
index 3b53293..4003c21 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Group.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Group.h
@@ -26,9 +26,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP Group : public H5Object, public CommonFG {
 	// Close this group.
 	virtual void close();
 
-	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
-
 	///\brief Returns this class name.
 	virtual H5std_string fromClass () const { return("Group"); }
 
@@ -39,9 +36,10 @@ class H5_DLLCPP Group : public H5Object, public CommonFG {
 	virtual hid_t getLocId() const;
 
 	// Creates a group by way of dereference.
-	Group(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-        Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-        Group(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
+	Group(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT, const PropList& plist = PropList::DEFAULT);
+         /* Group(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
+ */ 
+        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 4a997ab..f902116 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ IdComponent::IdComponent() {}
 // Description:
 // 		This function is protected so that the user applications can
 // 		only have access to its code via allowable classes, namely,
-// 		H5File and H5Object subclasses.
+// 		Attribute and H5Location subclasses.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Jul, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5std_string IdComponent::p_get_file_name() const
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
index fcf7ff4..d4c97fa 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.cpp
@@ -55,17 +55,17 @@ extern "C" herr_t userAttrOpWrpr(hid_t loc_id, const char *attr_name,
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location default constructor (protected)
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+// Function:	H5Location default constructor (protected)
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5Location::H5Location() : IdComponent(0) {}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location overloaded constructor (protected)
-// Purpose      Creates an H5Location object using the id of an existing HDF5
-//              object.
-// Parameters   object_id - IN: Id of an existing HDF5 object
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+// Function:	H5Location overloaded constructor (protected)
+// Purpose	Creates an H5Location object using the id of an existing HDF5
+//		object.
+// Parameters	object_id - IN: Id of an existing HDF5 object
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5Location::H5Location(const hid_t object_id) : IdComponent(object_id) {}
 
@@ -78,6 +78,30 @@ H5Location::H5Location(const hid_t object_id) : IdComponent(object_id) {}
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5Location::H5Location( const H5Location& original ) : IdComponent( original ) {}
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location constructor
+///\brief	Dereferences into an HDF5 object, given an HDF5 location.
+///\param	loc - IN: H5Location instance to copy
+///\param	ref - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Dataspace with selection
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+        // Dereferences into an HDF5 object, given an HDF5 location.
+ /* H5Location::H5Location(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
+{
+    hid_t temp_id;
+    try {
+        temp_id = p_dereference(loc.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
+    }
+    catch (ReferenceException deref_error) {
+        throw ReferenceException("H5Location constructor - by dereferenced",
+                deref_error.getDetailMsg());
+    }
+    setId(temp_id);
+}
+ */ 
+
+
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -342,7 +366,7 @@ void H5Location::renameAttr(const H5std_string& oldname, const H5std_string& new
 ///		which can be either of these values:
 ///		\li \c H5F_SCOPE_GLOBAL - Flushes the entire virtual file
 ///		\li \c H5F_SCOPE_LOCAL - Flushes only the specified file
-///\exception	H5::FileIException
+///\exception	H5::Exception
 ///\par Description
 ///		This location is used to identify the file to be flushed.
 // Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2012
@@ -355,7 +379,7 @@ void H5Location::flush(H5F_scope_t scope) const
    herr_t ret_value = H5Fflush(getId(), scope);
    if( ret_value < 0 )
    {
-      throw FileIException(inMemFunc("flush"), "H5Fflush failed");
+      throw Exception(inMemFunc("flush"), "H5Fflush failed");
    }
 }
 
@@ -376,17 +400,147 @@ H5std_string H5Location::getFileName() const
    }
 }
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::setComment
+///\brief	Sets or resets the comment for an object specified by its name.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
+///\param	comment - IN: New comment
+///\exception	H5::Exception
+///\par	Description
+///		If \a comment is an empty string or a null pointer, the comment
+///		message is removed from the object.
+///		Comments should be relatively short, null-terminated, ASCII
+///		strings.  They can be attached to any object that has an
+///		object header, e.g., data sets, groups, named data types,
+///		and data spaces, but not symbolic links.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+// Modification
+//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
+//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
+//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
+//		datatype. - BMR
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Location::setComment(const char* name, const char* comment) const
+{
+   herr_t ret_value = H5Oset_comment_by_name(getId(), name, comment, H5P_DEFAULT);
+   if( ret_value < 0 )
+      throw Exception("setComment", "H5Oset_comment_by_name failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::setComment
+///\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 and \a comment.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Location::setComment(const H5std_string& name, const H5std_string& comment) const
+{
+   setComment(name.c_str(), comment.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::removeComment
+///\brief	Removes the comment from an object specified by its name.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
+///\exception	H5::Exception
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May 2005 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
+//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
+//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
+//		datatype. - BMR
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Location::removeComment(const char* name) const
+{
+   herr_t ret_value = H5Oset_comment_by_name(getId(), name, NULL, H5P_DEFAULT);
+   if( ret_value < 0 )
+      throw Exception("removeComment", "H5Oset_comment_by_name failed");
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::removeComment
+///\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 - May 2005 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Location::removeComment(const H5std_string& name) const
+{
+   removeComment (name.c_str());
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::getComment
+///\brief	Retrieves comment for the specified object and its comment's
+///		length.
+///\param	name  - IN: Name of the object
+///\param	bufsize - IN: Length of the comment to retrieve
+///\return	Comment string
+///\exception	H5::Exception
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - 2000 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+//	2007: QAK modified to use H5O APIs; however the first parameter is
+//		no longer just file or group, this function should be moved
+//		to another class to accommodate attribute, dataset, and named
+//		datatype. - BMR
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+H5std_string H5Location::getComment(const char* name, size_t bufsize) const
+{
+   // bufsize is default to 256
+   // temporary variable
+   hid_t loc_id = getId();   // temporary variable
+
+   // temporary C-string for the object's comment; bufsize already including
+   // null character
+   char* comment_C = new char[bufsize];
+   ssize_t ret_value = H5Oget_comment_by_name(loc_id, name, comment_C, bufsize, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+   // if the actual length of the comment is longer than bufsize and bufsize
+   // was the default value, i.e., not given by the user, then call
+   // H5Oget_comment_by_name again with the correct value.
+   // If the call to H5Oget_comment_by_name returned an error, skip this block
+   // and throw an exception below.
+   if (ret_value >= 0 && (size_t)ret_value > bufsize && bufsize == 256)
+   {
+	size_t new_size = ret_value;
+	delete []comment_C;
+	comment_C = new char[new_size];	// new_size including null terminator
+	ret_value = H5Oget_comment_by_name(loc_id, name, comment_C, new_size, H5P_DEFAULT);
+   }
+
+   // if H5Oget_comment_by_name returns SUCCEED, return the string comment,
+   // otherwise, throw an exception
+   if (ret_value < 0) {
+       delete []comment_C;
+       throw Exception("getComment", "H5Oget_comment_by_name failed");
+   }
+
+   H5std_string comment = H5std_string(comment_C);
+   delete []comment_C;
+   return (comment);
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::getComment
+///\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 (moved from CommonFG, Sep 2013)
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+H5std_string H5Location::getComment(const H5std_string& name, size_t bufsize) const
+{
+   return(getComment(name.c_str(), bufsize));
+}
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::p_reference (protected)
-// Purpose      Creates a reference to an HDF5 object or a dataset region.
+// Function:	H5Location::p_reference (protected)
+// Purpose	Creates a reference to an HDF5 object or a dataset region.
 // Parameters
-//              name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
-//              dataspace - IN: Dataspace with selection
-//              ref_type - IN: Type of reference; default to \c H5R_DATASET_REGION
-// Exception    H5::IdComponentException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+//		name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
+//		dataspace - IN: Dataspace with selection
+//		ref_type - IN: Type of reference; default to \c H5R_DATASET_REGION
+// Exception	H5::IdComponentException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void H5Location::p_reference(void* ref, const char* name, hid_t space_id, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
@@ -400,17 +554,18 @@ void H5Location::p_reference(void* ref, const char* name, hid_t space_id, H5R_ty
 #endif // DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::reference
-///\brief       Creates a reference to an HDF5 object or a dataset region.
-///\param       ref - IN: Reference pointer
-///\param       name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
-///\param       dataspace - IN: Dataspace with selection
-///\param       ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
+// Function:	H5Location::reference
+///\brief	Creates a reference to an HDF5 object or a dataset region.
+///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
+///\param	name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
+///\param	dataspace - IN: Dataspace with selection
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
 ///		\li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
 ///		\li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region
 ///			reference. - this is the default
-///\exception   H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
+///\notes	This method is more suitable for a dataset region reference.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const char* name, const DataSpace& dataspace, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
@@ -423,23 +578,25 @@ void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const char* name, const DataSpace& dataspa
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::reference
-///\brief       This is an overloaded function, provided for your convenience.
-///             It differs from the above function in that it only creates
-///             a reference to an HDF5 object, not to a dataset region.
-///\param       ref - IN: Reference pointer
-///\param       name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced - \c char pointer
-///\exception   H5::ReferenceException
-///\par Description
-//              This function passes H5R_OBJECT and -1 to the protected
-//              function for it to pass to the C API H5Rcreate
-//              to create a reference to the named object.
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+// Function:	H5Location::reference
+///\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.
+///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
+///\param	name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
+///\param	dataspace - IN: Dataspace with selection
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
+///		\li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
+///		\li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region
+///			reference. - this is the default
+///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
+///\notes	This method is more suitable for a dataset region reference.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const char* name) const
+void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name, const DataSpace& dataspace, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
    try {
-      p_reference(ref, name, -1, H5R_OBJECT);
+      p_reference(ref, name.c_str(), dataspace.getId(), ref_type);
    }
    catch (ReferenceException E) {
       throw ReferenceException("H5Location::reference", E.getDetailMsg());
@@ -447,17 +604,45 @@ void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const char* name) const
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::reference
-///\brief       This is an overloaded function, provided for your convenience.
-///             It differs from the above function in that it takes an
-///             \c H5std_string for the object's name.
-///\param       ref - IN: Reference pointer
-///\param       name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced - \c H5std_string
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+// Function:	H5Location::reference
+///\brief	This is an overloaded function, provided for your convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it does not take
+///		a DataSpace object and the reference type must be specified.
+///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
+///\param	name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
+///		\li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
+///		\li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region
+///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
+///\notes	This method is more suitable for an object reference.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name) const
+void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const char* name, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
-   reference(ref, name.c_str());
+   try {
+      p_reference(ref, name, -1, ref_type);
+   }
+   catch (ReferenceException E) {
+      throw ReferenceException("H5Location::reference", E.getDetailMsg());
+   }
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Function:	H5Location::reference
+///\brief	This is an overloaded function, provided for your convenience.
+///		It differs from the above function in that it takes an
+///		\c H5std_string for the object's name.
+///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
+///\param	name - IN: Name of the object to be referenced - \c H5std_string
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
+///		\li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
+///		\li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region
+///\notes	This method is more suitable for an object reference.
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
+{
+   reference(ref, name.c_str(), ref_type);
 }
 
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
@@ -475,10 +660,16 @@ void H5Location::reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name) const
 //	May 2008 - BMR
 //		Moved from IdComponent.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-hid_t H5Location::p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type)
+hid_t H5Location::p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
 {
+   hid_t plist_id;
+   if (p_valid_id(plist.getId()))
+	plist_id = plist.getId();
+   else
+	plist_id = H5P_DEFAULT;
+
    hid_t temp_id;
-   temp_id = H5Rdereference2(loc_id, H5P_DEFAULT, ref_type, ref);
+   temp_id = H5Rdereference2(loc_id, plist_id, ref_type, ref);
    if (temp_id < 0)
    {
       throw ReferenceException("", "H5Rdereference failed");
@@ -496,16 +687,16 @@ hid_t H5Location::p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_ty
 ///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
 ///\param	ref_type - IN: Reference type
 ///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 // Modification
 //	May, 2008
 //		Corrected missing parameters. - BMR
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::dereference(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type)
+void H5Location::dereference(const H5Location& loc, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
 {
    hid_t temp_id;
    try {
-      temp_id = p_dereference(obj.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+      temp_id = p_dereference(loc.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
    }
    catch (ReferenceException E) {
       throw ReferenceException("H5Location::dereference - located by object", E.getDetailMsg());
@@ -515,45 +706,21 @@ void H5Location::dereference(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Location::dereference
-///\brief	Dereferences a reference into an HDF5 object, given an HDF5 file.
-///\param	h5file - IN: HDF5 file specifying the location of the referenced object
-///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
-///\param	ref_type - IN: Reference type
-///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
-// Modification
-//	May, 2008
-//		Corrected missing parameters. - BMR
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::dereference(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type)
-{
-   hid_t temp_id;
-   try {
-      temp_id = p_dereference(h5file.getId(), ref, ref_type);
-   }
-   catch (ReferenceException E) {
-      throw ReferenceException("H5Location::dereference - located by file", E.getDetailMsg());
-   }
-   p_setId(temp_id);
-}
-
-//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:	H5Location::dereference
 ///\brief	Dereferences a reference into an HDF5 object, given an attribute.
 ///\param	attr - IN: Attribute specifying the location of the referenced object
 ///\param	ref - IN: Reference pointer
 ///\param	ref_type - IN: Reference type
 ///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - Oct, 2006
 // Modification
 //	May, 2008
 //		Corrected missing parameters. - BMR
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void H5Location::dereference(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type)
+void H5Location::dereference(const Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist)
 {
    hid_t temp_id;
    try {
-      temp_id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type);
+      temp_id = p_dereference(attr.getId(), ref, ref_type, plist);
    }
    catch (ReferenceException E) {
       throw ReferenceException("H5Location::dereference - located by attribute", E.getDetailMsg());
@@ -593,20 +760,20 @@ H5G_obj_t H5Location::getObjType(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::p_get_obj_type (protected)
-// Purpose      Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
+// Function:	H5Location::p_get_obj_type (protected)
+// Purpose	Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
 // Parameters
-//              ref      - IN: Reference to query
-//              ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query
-// Return       An object type, which can be one of the following:
-//                      H5G_UNKNOWN \tFailure occurs (-1)
-//                      H5G_GROUP \tObject is a group.
-//                      H5G_DATASET \tObject is a dataset.
-//                      H5G_TYPE Object \tis a named datatype.
-//                      H5G_LINK \tObject is a symbolic link.
-//                      H5G_UDLINK \tObject is a user-defined link.
-// Exception    H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+//		ref      - IN: Reference to query
+//		ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query
+// Return	An object type, which can be one of the following:
+//			H5G_UNKNOWN \tFailure occurs (-1)
+//			H5G_GROUP \tObject is a group.
+//			H5G_DATASET \tObject is a dataset.
+//			H5G_TYPE Object \tis a named datatype.
+//			H5G_LINK \tObject is a symbolic link.
+//			H5G_UDLINK \tObject is a user-defined link.
+// Exception	H5::ReferenceException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5G_obj_t H5Location::p_get_obj_type(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
@@ -622,20 +789,20 @@ H5G_obj_t H5Location::p_get_obj_type(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 #endif /* H5_NO_DEPRECATED_SYMBOLS */
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::getRefObjType
-///\brief       Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
-///\param       ref      - IN: Reference to query
-///\param       ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
-///             \li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
-///             \li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region reference.
-///\return      An object type, which can be one of the following:
-///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_UNKNOWN	- Unknown object type (-1)
-///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_GROUP	- Object is a group
-///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_DATASET	- Object is a dataset
-///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE - Object is a named datatype
-///             \li \c H5O_TYPE_NTYPES	- Number of different object types
-///\exception   H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+// Function:	H5Location::getRefObjType
+///\brief	Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
+///\param	ref      - IN: Reference to query
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query, valid values are:
+///		\li \c H5R_OBJECT         - Reference is an object reference.
+///		\li \c H5R_DATASET_REGION - Reference is a dataset region reference.
+///\return	An object type, which can be one of the following:
+///		\li \c H5O_TYPE_UNKNOWN	- Unknown object type (-1)
+///		\li \c H5O_TYPE_GROUP	- Object is a group
+///		\li \c H5O_TYPE_DATASET	- Object is a dataset
+///		\li \c H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE - Object is a named datatype
+///		\li \c H5O_TYPE_NTYPES	- Number of different object types
+///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5O_type_t H5Location::getRefObjType(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
@@ -649,19 +816,19 @@ H5O_type_t H5Location::getRefObjType(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::p_get_ref_obj_type (protected)
-// Purpose      Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
+// Function:	H5Location::p_get_ref_obj_type (protected)
+// Purpose	Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
 // Parameters
-//              ref      - IN: Reference to query
-//              ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query
-// Return       An object type, which can be one of the following:
+//		ref      - IN: Reference to query
+//		ref_type - IN: Type of reference to query
+// Return	An object type, which can be one of the following:
 //			H5O_TYPE_UNKNOWN	- Unknown object type (-1)
 //			H5O_TYPE_GROUP		- Object is a group
 //			H5O_TYPE_DATASET	- Object is a dataset
 //			H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE - Object is a named datatype
 //			H5O_TYPE_NTYPES		- Number of object types
-// Exception    H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+// Exception	H5::ReferenceException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5O_type_t H5Location::p_get_ref_obj_type(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
@@ -677,24 +844,29 @@ H5O_type_t H5Location::p_get_ref_obj_type(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Function:    H5Location::p_get_region (protected)
-// Purpose      Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-// Parameters
-//              ref_type - IN: Type of reference to get region of - default
-//                              to H5R_DATASET_REGION
-//              ref      - IN: Reference to get region of
-// Return       Dataspace id
-// Exception    H5::ReferenceException
-// Programmer   Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
+// Function:	H5Location::getRegion
+///\brief	Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
+///\param	ref	 - IN: Reference to get region of
+///\param	ref_type - IN: Type of reference to get region of - default
+//				to H5R_DATASET_REGION
+///\return	DataSpace object
+///\exception	H5::ReferenceException
+// Programmer	Binh-Minh Ribler - May, 2004
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-hid_t H5Location::p_get_region(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
+DataSpace H5Location::getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const
 {
    hid_t space_id = H5Rget_region(getId(), ref_type, ref);
    if (space_id < 0)
    {
       throw ReferenceException("", "H5Rget_region failed");
    }
-   return(space_id);
+   try {
+      DataSpace dataspace(space_id);
+      return(dataspace);
+   }
+   catch (DataSpaceIException E) {
+      throw ReferenceException("H5Location::getRegion", E.getDetailMsg());
+   }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Location.h b/c++/src/H5Location.h
index 1f54439..996cc21 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Location.h
+++ b/c++/src/H5Location.h
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ typedef void (*attr_operator_t)( H5Location& loc/*in*/,
 
 class UserData4Aiterate { // user data for attribute iteration
    public:
-        attr_operator_t op;
-        void* opData;
-        H5Location* location;
+	attr_operator_t op;
+	void* opData;
+	H5Location* location;
 };
 
-// An H5Location can be a file, group, dataset, named datatype, or attribute.
+// An H5Location can be a file, group, dataset, or committed datatype.
 
 class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
    public:
@@ -85,29 +85,47 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 	bool attrExists(const char* name) const;
 	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;
+
 	// Removes the named attribute from this location.
 	void removeAttr(const char* name) const;
 	void removeAttr(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;
+	// Sets the comment for an HDF5 object specified by its name.
+	void setComment(const char* name, const char* comment) const;
+	void setComment(const H5std_string& name, const H5std_string& comment) const;
+
+	// Retrieves comment for the HDF5 object specified by its name.
+	H5std_string getComment(const char* name, size_t bufsize=256) const;
+	H5std_string getComment(const H5std_string& name, size_t bufsize=256) const;
+
+	// Removes the comment for the HDF5 object specified by its name.
+	void removeComment(const char* name) const;
+	void removeComment(const H5std_string& name) const;
 
 	// Creates a reference to a named object or to a dataset region
 	// in this object.
+	void reference(void* ref, const char* name, 
+			H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT) const;
+	void reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name,
+			H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
 	void reference(void* ref, const char* name, const DataSpace& dataspace,
 			H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
-	void reference(void* ref, const char* name) const;
-	void reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name) const;
+	void reference(void* ref, const H5std_string& name, const DataSpace& dataspace,
+			H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
 
 	// Open a referenced object whose location is specified by either
 	// a file, an HDF5 object, or an attribute.
-	void dereference(H5File& h5file, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	void dereference(H5Object& obj, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
-	void dereference(Attribute& attr, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_OBJECT);
+	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);
 
-        ///\brief Returns an identifier. (pure virtual)
-        virtual hid_t getId() const = 0;
+	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
+	DataSpace getRegion(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type = H5R_DATASET_REGION) const;
+
+	///\brief Returns an identifier. (pure virtual)
+	virtual hid_t getId() const = 0;
 
    protected:
 #ifndef DOXYGEN_SHOULD_SKIP_THIS
@@ -124,7 +142,7 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 	void p_reference(void* ref, const char* name, hid_t space_id, H5R_type_t ref_type) const;
 
 	// Dereferences a ref into an HDF5 id.
-	hid_t p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type);
+	hid_t p_dereference(hid_t loc_id, const void* ref, H5R_type_t ref_type, const PropList& plist);
 
 #ifndef H5_NO_DEPRECATED_SYMBOLS
 	// Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
@@ -134,9 +152,6 @@ class H5_DLLCPP H5Location : public IdComponent {
 	// Retrieves the type of object that an object reference points to.
 	H5O_type_t p_get_ref_obj_type(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const;
 
-	// Retrieves a dataspace with the region pointed to selected.
-	hid_t p_get_region(void *ref, H5R_type_t ref_type) const;
-
 	// Noop destructor.
 	virtual ~H5Location();
 
diff --git a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
index b596092..1d96f2e 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5Object.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ H5Object::H5Object() : H5Location() {}
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 H5Object::H5Object( const hid_t object_id ) : H5Location( object_id ) {}
 
-
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function:	H5Object copy constructor
 ///\brief	Copy constructor: makes a copy of the original H5Object
diff --git a/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp b/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
index c14d74f..e070406 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5PropList.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace H5 {
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ///\brief	Constant for default property.
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const PropList PropList::DEFAULT( H5P_DEFAULT );
+const PropList PropList::DEFAULT;
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Function	Default constructor
@@ -644,6 +644,9 @@ void PropList::removeProp(const H5std_string& name) const
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 bool PropList::operator==(const PropList& rhs) const
 {
+ fprintf(stderr, "operator==\n");
+H5Eprint2(H5E_DEFAULT, stderr);
+
    htri_t ret_value = H5Pequal(id, rhs.getId());
    if( ret_value > 0 )
       return true;
diff --git a/c++/test/trefer.cpp b/c++/test/trefer.cpp
index ce18e58..6acf8a9 100644
--- a/c++/test/trefer.cpp
+++ b/c++/test/trefer.cpp
@@ -27,13 +27,6 @@
 #endif
 #include <string>
 
-#ifndef H5_NO_NAMESPACE
-#ifndef H5_NO_STD
-    using std::cerr;
-    using std::endl;
-#endif  // H5_NO_STD
-#endif
-
 #include "H5Cpp.h"      // C++ API header file
 
 #ifndef H5_NO_NAMESPACE
@@ -44,11 +37,10 @@
 
 const H5std_string      FILE1("trefer1.h5");
 const H5std_string      FILE2("trefer2.h5");
-const H5std_string      FILE3("trefer3.h5");
-const H5std_string      DSET_DEFAULT_NAME("default");
 
 // Dataset 1
 const H5std_string      DSET1_NAME("Dataset1");
+const H5std_string      DSET2_NAME("Dataset2");
 const int DSET1_LEN = 8;
 
 const H5std_string MEMBER1( "a_name" );
@@ -56,15 +48,15 @@ const H5std_string MEMBER2( "b_name" );
 const H5std_string MEMBER3( "c_name" );
 
 // 1-D dataset with fixed dimensions
-const H5std_string      SPACE1_NAME("Space1");
 const int SPACE1_RANK = 1;
 const int SPACE1_DIM1 = 4;
 
-// 2-D dataset with fixed dimensions
-const H5std_string      SPACE2_NAME("Space2");
+/* Larger 1-D dataset with fixed dimensions */
+const int SPACE3_RANK = 1;
+const int SPACE3_DIM1 = 100;
 
-// Larger 1-D dataset with fixed dimensions
-const H5std_string      SPACE3_NAME("Space3");
+/* Element selection information */
+const int POINT1_NPOINTS = 10;
 
 // Compound datatype
 typedef struct s1_t {
@@ -75,8 +67,122 @@ typedef struct s1_t {
 
 /****************************************************************
 **
-**  test_reference_obj(): Test basic object reference functionality.
-**      Tests references to various kinds of objects
+**  test_reference_params(): Test basic H5R (reference) parameters
+**                           for correct processing
+**
+****************************************************************/
+static void
+test_reference_params(void)
+{
+    const char *write_comment = "Foo!"; /* Comments for group */
+
+    // Output message about test being performed
+    SUBTEST("Object Reference Parameters");
+
+    H5File* file1 = NULL;
+    try {
+	hobj_ref_t *wbuf,      // buffer to write to disk
+		   *rbuf,      // buffer read from disk
+		   *tbuf;      // temp. buffer read from disk
+
+	// Allocate write & read buffers
+	int temp_size = MAX(sizeof(unsigned),sizeof(hobj_ref_t));
+	wbuf=(hobj_ref_t*)HDmalloc(temp_size*SPACE1_DIM1);
+	rbuf=(hobj_ref_t*)HDmalloc(temp_size*SPACE1_DIM1);
+	tbuf=(hobj_ref_t*)HDmalloc(temp_size*SPACE1_DIM1);
+
+        // Create file FILE1
+        file1 = new H5File (FILE1, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);
+
+	// Create dataspace for datasets
+	hsize_t	dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
+	DataSpace sid1(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);
+
+	// Create a group
+	Group group = file1->createGroup("Group1");
+
+	// Set group's comment
+ 	group.setComment(".", write_comment);
+
+	// Create a dataset (inside /Group1)
+	DataSet dataset = group.createDataSet(DSET1_NAME, PredType::NATIVE_UINT, sid1);
+
+	unsigned *tu32;      // Temporary pointer to uint32 data
+	int i;
+	for (tu32=(unsigned *)wbuf, i=0; i<SPACE1_DIM1; i++)
+	    *tu32++=i*3; // from C test
+
+	// Write selection to disk
+	dataset.write(wbuf, PredType::NATIVE_UINT);
+
+	// Close Dataset
+	dataset.close();
+
+	// Create another dataset (inside /Group1)
+	dataset = group.createDataSet("Dataset2", PredType::NATIVE_UCHAR, sid1);
+
+	// Close Dataset
+	dataset.close();
+
+	// Create a datatype to refer to
+	CompType dtype1(sizeof(s1_t));
+
+	// Insert fields
+	dtype1.insertMember(MEMBER1, HOFFSET(s1_t, a), PredType::NATIVE_INT);
+	dtype1.insertMember(MEMBER2, HOFFSET(s1_t, b), PredType::NATIVE_INT);
+	dtype1.insertMember(MEMBER3, HOFFSET(s1_t, c), PredType::NATIVE_FLOAT);
+
+	// Save datatype for later
+	dtype1.commit(group, "Datatype1");
+
+	// Close datatype and group
+	dtype1.close();
+	group.close();
+
+	// Create a dataset
+	dataset = file1->createDataSet("Dataset3", PredType::STD_REF_OBJ, sid1);
+
+	/* Test parameters to H5Location::reference */
+	try {
+	    file1->reference(NULL, "/Group1/Dataset1");
+	} catch (ReferenceException E) {} // We expect this to fail
+	try {
+	    file1->reference(&wbuf[0], NULL);
+	} catch (ReferenceException E) {} // We expect this to fail
+	try {
+	    file1->reference(&wbuf[0], "");
+	} catch (ReferenceException E) {} // We expect this to fail
+	try {
+	    file1->reference(&wbuf[0], "/Group1/Dataset1", H5R_MAXTYPE);
+	} catch (ReferenceException E) {} // We expect this to fail
+	try {
+	    file1->reference(&wbuf[0], "/Group1/Dataset1", H5R_DATASET_REGION);
+	} catch (ReferenceException E) {} // We expect this to fail
+
+	// Close resources
+	dataset.close();
+	file1->close();
+	// Let sid1 go out of scope
+
+	// Free memory buffers
+	HDfree(wbuf);
+	HDfree(rbuf);
+	HDfree(tbuf);
+
+	PASSED();
+    } // end try
+    catch (Exception E) {
+	issue_fail_msg("test_reference_obj()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
+
+    if(file1)
+        delete file1;
+}   /* test_reference_param() */
+
+/****************************************************************
+**
+**  test_reference_obj(): Test basic object reference functions
+**			  to various kinds of objects
 **
 ****************************************************************/
 static void test_reference_obj(void)
@@ -321,6 +427,412 @@ static void test_reference_obj(void)
         delete file1;
 }   // test_reference_obj()
 
+
+/****************************************************************
+**
+**  test_reference_group(): Test object reference functionality
+**      Tests for correct behavior of various routines on
+**	dereferenced group
+**
+****************************************************************/
+#define GROUPNAME       "/group"
+#define GROUPNAME2      "group2"
+#define GROUPNAME3      "group3"
+#define DSETNAME        "/dset"
+#define DSETNAME2       "dset2"
+#define NAME_SIZE       16
+
+static void
+test_reference_group(void)
+{
+    hobj_ref_t wref;	/* Reference to write */
+    hobj_ref_t rref;	/* Reference to read */
+    int    i;		// counting variables
+    const  H5std_string write_comment="Foo!"; // Comments for group
+
+    // Output message about test being performed
+    SUBTEST("Object Reference to Group");
+
+    H5File* file1 = NULL;
+    try {
+	// Create file with a group and a dataset containing an object reference to the group
+
+        // Create file FILE1
+        file1 = new H5File (FILE1, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);
+
+	// Create scalar dataspace
+	DataSpace sid1;
+
+	// Create a group
+	Group group = file1->createGroup(GROUPNAME);
+
+	/* Create nested groups */
+	Group group2 = group.createGroup(GROUPNAME2);
+	group2.close();
+	group2 = group.createGroup(GROUPNAME3);
+	group2.close();
+
+	// Create bottom dataset
+	DataSet dset1 = group.createDataSet(DSETNAME2, PredType::NATIVE_INT, sid1);
+	dset1.close();
+
+	// Close group 1
+	group.close();
+
+	// Create dataset
+	DataSet dset2 = file1->createDataSet(DSETNAME, PredType::STD_REF_OBJ, sid1);
+
+	file1->reference(&wref, GROUPNAME);
+
+	// Write selection to disk
+	dset2.write(&wref, PredType::STD_REF_OBJ);
+
+	// Close resources
+	dset2.close();
+	sid1.close();
+	file1->close();
+
+	/*
+	 * Re-open the file and test deferencing group
+	 */
+
+	// Re-open file
+        file1->openFile(FILE1, H5F_ACC_RDWR);
+
+	// Re-open dataset
+	dset1 = file1->openDataSet(DSETNAME);
+
+	// Read in the reference
+	dset1.read(&rref, PredType::STD_REF_OBJ);
+
+	// Dereference to get the group
+	Group refgroup(dset1, &rref);
+
+	// Dereference group object the other way
+	group.dereference(dset1, &rref);
+
+	/*
+	 * Various queries on the group opened
+	 */
+
+	// Check number of objects in the group dereferenced by constructor
+	hsize_t nobjs = refgroup.getNumObjs();
+	verify_val(nobjs, 3, "H5Group::getNumObjs", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Check number of objects in the group dereferenced by ::reference
+	nobjs = group.getNumObjs();
+	verify_val(nobjs, 3, "H5Group::getNumObjs", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Check getting file name given the group dereferenced via constructor
+	H5std_string fname = refgroup.getFileName();
+	verify_val(fname, FILE1, "H5Group::getFileName", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+    
+	// Check getting file name given the group dereferenced by ::reference
+	fname = group.getFileName();
+	verify_val(fname, FILE1, "H5Group::getFileName", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Unlink one of the objects in the dereferenced group, and re-check
+	refgroup.unlink(GROUPNAME2);
+	nobjs = refgroup.getNumObjs();
+	verify_val(nobjs, 2, "H5Group::getNumObjs", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Close resources
+	group.close();
+	refgroup.close();
+	dset1.close();
+	file1->close();
+
+	PASSED();
+    } // end try
+    catch (Exception E) {
+	issue_fail_msg("test_reference_group()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
+
+    if(file1)
+        delete file1;
+}   /* test_reference_group() */
+
+/****************************************************************
+**
+**  test_reference_region_1D(): Test 1-D reference functionality
+**      Tests 1-D references to various kinds of objects
+**
+****************************************************************/
+static void
+test_reference_region_1D(void)
+{
+    hid_t	fid1;           /* HDF5 File IDs		*/
+    hid_t	dset1,          /* Dataset ID			*/
+                dset3;          /* Dereferenced dataset ID */
+    hid_t	sid1,           /* Dataspace ID	#1		*/
+                sid3;           /* Dataspace ID	#3		*/
+    hid_t       dapl_id;        /* Dataset access property list */
+    hsize_t	dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1},
+            	dims3[] = {SPACE3_DIM1};
+    hsize_t	start[SPACE3_RANK];     /* Starting location of hyperslab */
+    hsize_t	stride[SPACE3_RANK];    /* Stride of hyperslab */
+    hsize_t	count[SPACE3_RANK];     /* Element count of hyperslab */
+    hsize_t	block[SPACE3_RANK];     /* Block size of hyperslab */
+    hsize_t	coord1[POINT1_NPOINTS][SPACE3_RANK]; /* Coordinates for point selection */
+    hsize_t *   coords;                 /* Coordinate buffer */
+    hsize_t	low[SPACE3_RANK];       /* Selection bounds */
+    hsize_t	high[SPACE3_RANK];      /* Selection bounds */
+    uint8_t    *tu8;    /* Temporary pointer to uint8 data */
+    H5O_type_t  obj_type;       /* Object type */
+    int         i;      /* counting variables */
+    herr_t	ret;    /* Generic return value		*/
+
+    // Output message about test being performed
+    SUBTEST("1-D Dataset Region Reference Functions");
+
+    try {
+	hdset_reg_ref_t *wbuf,	// buffer to write to disk
+		   *rbuf,	// buffer read from disk
+		   *tbuf;	// temp. buffer read from disk
+	uint8_t    *dwbuf,	// Buffer for writing numeric data to disk
+		   *drbuf;	// Buffer for reading numeric data from disk
+
+	// Allocate write & read buffers
+    wbuf = (hdset_reg_ref_t *)HDcalloc(sizeof(hdset_reg_ref_t), (size_t)SPACE1_DIM1);
+    rbuf = (hdset_reg_ref_t *)HDmalloc(sizeof(hdset_reg_ref_t) * SPACE1_DIM1);
+    dwbuf = (uint8_t *)HDmalloc(sizeof(uint8_t) * SPACE3_DIM1);
+    drbuf = (uint8_t *)HDcalloc(sizeof(uint8_t), (size_t)SPACE3_DIM1);
+
+        // Create file FILE1
+        H5File file1(FILE2, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);
+
+	// Create dataspace for datasets
+	hsize_t	dims3[] = {SPACE3_DIM1};
+	DataSpace sid3(SPACE3_RANK, dims3);
+
+	// Create dataset access property list
+	PropList dapl(H5P_DATASET_ACCESS);
+
+	// Create a dataset
+	DataSet dset3 = file1.createDataSet(DSET2_NAME, PredType::STD_U8LE, sid3);
+
+	uint8_t *tu8;      // Temporary pointer to uint8 data
+	for (tu8 = dwbuf, i = 0; i < SPACE3_DIM1; i++)
+	    *tu8++ = i * 3; // from C test
+
+	// Write selection to disk
+	dset3.write(dwbuf, PredType::STD_U8LE);
+
+	// Close Dataset
+	dset3.close();
+
+	// Create dataspace for datasets
+	hsize_t	dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
+	DataSpace sid1(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);
+
+	// Create a dataset (inside /Group1)
+	DataSet dset1 = file1.createDataSet(DSET1_NAME, PredType::STD_REF_DSETREG, sid1);
+
+	/* Create references */
+
+	/* Select 15 2x1 hyperslabs for first reference */
+	start[0] = 2;
+	stride[0] = 5;
+	count[0] = 15;
+	block[0] = 2;
+
+	// Select a hyperslab region to add to the current selected region
+	sid3.selectHyperslab(H5S_SELECT_SET, count, start, stride, block);
+
+	// Get and verify the number of elements in a dataspace selection
+	hssize_t nelms = sid3.getSelectNpoints();
+	verify_val(nelms, 30, "DataSet::getRefObjType", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Store first dataset region
+	file1.reference(&wbuf[0], "/Dataset2", sid3);
+
+	// Get and verify object type
+	H5O_type_t obj_type = dset1.getRefObjType(&wbuf[0], H5R_DATASET_REGION);
+	verify_val(obj_type, H5O_TYPE_DATASET, "DataSet::getRefObjType", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	/* Select sequence of ten points for second reference */
+	coord1[0][0] = 16;
+	coord1[1][0] = 22;
+	coord1[2][0] = 38;
+	coord1[3][0] = 41;
+	coord1[4][0] = 52;
+	coord1[5][0] = 63;
+	coord1[6][0] = 70;
+	coord1[7][0] = 89;
+	coord1[8][0] = 97;
+	coord1[9][0] = 3;
+
+	// Selects array elements to be included in the selection for sid3
+	sid3.selectElements(H5S_SELECT_SET, (size_t)POINT1_NPOINTS, (const hsize_t *)coord1);
+
+	// Get and verify the number of elements in a dataspace selection
+	nelms = sid3.getSelectNpoints();
+	verify_val(nelms, 10, "DataSet::getRefObjType", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Store first dataset region
+	file1.reference(&wbuf[1], "/Dataset2", sid3);
+
+	// Write selection to disk
+	dset1.write(wbuf, PredType::STD_REF_DSETREG);
+
+	// Close disk dataspace, dataset, and file
+	sid1.close();
+	dset1.close();
+	sid3.close();
+	file1.close();
+
+	// Re-open the file
+	file1.openFile(FILE2, H5F_ACC_RDWR);
+
+	// Open the dataset
+	dset1 = file1.openDataSet("/Dataset1");
+
+	// Read selection from disk
+	dset1.read(rbuf, PredType::STD_REF_DSETREG);
+
+	// Dereference dataset object by ctor, from the location where
+	// 'dset1' is located
+	dset3.dereference(dset1, &rbuf[0], H5R_DATASET_REGION, dapl);
+
+	 /* DataSet adset3(dset1, &rbuf[0], H5R_DATASET_REGION, dapl);
+ */ 
+
+	// Get and verify object type
+	obj_type = dset1.getRefObjType(&rbuf[0], H5R_DATASET_REGION);
+	verify_val(obj_type, H5O_TYPE_DATASET, "DataSet::getRefObjType", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Check information in the referenced dataset, i.e., adset3
+
+	// Get dataspace of adset3 the verify number of elements
+	sid1 = dset3.getSpace();
+	nelms = sid1.getSimpleExtentNpoints();
+	verify_val((long)nelms, 100, "DataSpace::getSimpleExtentNpoints", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Read from disk
+	dset3.read(drbuf, PredType::STD_U8LE);
+
+	for(tu8 = (uint8_t *)drbuf, i = 0; i < SPACE3_DIM1; i++, tu8++)
+	   verify_val(*tu8, (uint8_t)(i * 3), "DataSpace::getSimpleExtentNpoints", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Get the referenced region and verify values
+
+	// Get region
+	DataSpace reg_sp = dset1.getRegion(&rbuf[0]);
+
+	// Get and verify number of elements in a dataspace selection
+	nelms = reg_sp.getSelectNpoints();
+	verify_val((long)nelms, 30, "DataSpace::getSelectNpoints", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Get and verify number of hyperslab blocks
+	nelms = reg_sp.getSelectHyperNblocks();
+	verify_val((long)nelms, 15, "DataSpace::getSelectNpoints", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	/* Allocate space for the hyperslab blocks */
+	coords = (hsize_t *)HDmalloc(nelms * SPACE3_RANK * sizeof(hsize_t) * 2);
+
+	// Get the list of hyperslab blocks currently selected
+	reg_sp.getSelectHyperBlocklist((hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)nelms, coords);
+
+	// Verify values in the list
+	verify_val(coords[0],   2, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[1],   3, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[2],   7, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[3],   8, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[4],  12, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[5],  13, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[6],  17, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[7],  18, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[8],  22, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[9],  23, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[10], 27, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[11], 28, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[12], 32, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[13], 33, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[14], 37, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[15], 38, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[16], 42, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[17], 43, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[18], 47, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[19], 48, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[20], 52, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[21], 53, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[22], 57, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[23], 58, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[24], 62, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[25], 63, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[26], 67, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[27], 68, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[28], 72, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[29], 73, "Hyperslab Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	HDfree(coords);
+
+	// Check boundaries
+	reg_sp.getSelectBounds(low, high);
+	verify_val(low[0], 2, "DataSpace::getSelectBounds", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(high[0], 73, "DataSpace::getSelectBounds", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	/* Close region space */
+	reg_sp.close();
+
+	// Get the referenced region and verify values
+
+	// Get region
+	DataSpace elm_sp = dset1.getRegion(&rbuf[1]);
+
+	// Get and verify number of element points in the current selection
+	hssize_t nelmspts = elm_sp.getSelectElemNpoints();
+	verify_val((long)nelmspts, 10, "DataSpace::getSelectNpoints", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	/* Allocate space for the hyperslab blocks */
+	coords = (hsize_t *)HDmalloc(nelmspts * SPACE3_RANK * sizeof(hsize_t));
+
+	// Get the list of element points currently selected
+	elm_sp.getSelectElemPointlist((hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)nelmspts, coords);
+
+	// Verify points
+	verify_val(coords[0], coord1[0][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[1], coord1[1][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[2], coord1[2][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[3], coord1[3][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[4], coord1[4][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[5], coord1[5][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[6], coord1[6][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[7], coord1[7][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[8], coord1[8][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(coords[9], coord1[9][0], "Element Coordinates", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	HDfree(coords);
+
+	// Check boundaries
+	elm_sp.getSelectBounds(low, high);
+	verify_val(low[0], 3, "DataSpace::getSelectBounds", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+	verify_val(high[0], 97, "DataSpace::getSelectBounds", __LINE__, __FILE__);
+
+	// Close element space
+	elm_sp.close();
+
+	// Close resources
+	sid1.close();
+	dset3.close();
+	dset1.close();
+	file1.close();
+
+	// Free memory buffers
+	HDfree(wbuf);
+	HDfree(rbuf);
+	HDfree(dwbuf);
+	HDfree(drbuf);
+
+	PASSED();
+    } // end try
+    catch (Exception E) {
+	issue_fail_msg("test_reference_region_1D()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
+    }
+
+}   /* test_reference_region_1D() */
+
+
 /****************************************************************
 **
 **  test_reference_compat(): Test basic object reference functionality.
@@ -346,7 +858,10 @@ void test_reference(void)
     // Output message about test being performed
     MESSAGE(5, ("Testing References\n"));
 
+    test_reference_params();    // Test basic parameters of reference functionality
     test_reference_obj();       // Test basic object reference functionality
+    test_reference_group();     // Test group reference functionality
+    test_reference_region_1D(); // Test 1-D reference functionality
     test_reference_compat();    // Tests deprecated reference routines (not yet)
 
 }   // test_reference()
@@ -363,5 +878,6 @@ extern "C"
 void cleanup_reference(void)
 {
     HDremove(FILE1.c_str());
+    HDremove(FILE2.c_str());
 }