[svn-r29690] Purpose: Merge PT improvements from trunk

Description:
    Merged from trunk:
        r29269: Improve Packet Table library
        r29295: Replaced H5Acreate with H5Acreate2 (by Larry)
        r29360: Adding missing tests
        r29364: Improve C++ Packet Table library
        r29554: Removed extra line in Copyright
Platforms tested:
    Linux/32 2.6 (jam)
    Linux/64 (platypus)
    Darwin (osx1010test)

6 files changed, 1889 insertions, 356 deletions

diff --git a/hl/test/CMakeLists.txt b/hl/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 916dcf3..bf598c4 100644
--- a/hl/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hl/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -48,9 +48,19 @@ HL_ADD_EXE (test_ds)
 HL_ADD_EXE (test_dset_opt)
 HL_ADD_EXE (test_image)
 HL_ADD_EXE (test_lite)
-HL_ADD_EXE (test_packet)
 HL_ADD_EXE (test_table)
 
+# test_packet has two source files
+add_executable (hl_test_packet test_packet.c test_packet_vlen.c)
+TARGET_NAMING (hl_test_packet STATIC)
+TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (hl_test_packet STATIC " " " ")
+target_link_libraries (hl_test_packet
+    ${HDF5_HL_LIB_TARGET}
+    ${HDF5_LIB_TARGET}
+    ${HDF5_TEST_LIB_TARGET}
+)
+set_target_properties (hl_test_packet PROPERTIES FOLDER test/hl)
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # This executable is used to generate test files for the test_ds test.
 # It should only be run during development when new test files are needed
diff --git a/hl/test/Makefile.am b/hl/test/Makefile.am
index 0809deb..32d14b6 100644
--- a/hl/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/hl/test/Makefile.am
@@ -49,4 +49,7 @@ CHECK_CLEANFILES+=combine_tables[1-2].h5 test_ds[1-9].h5 test_ds10.h5 \
 	test_packet_table.h5 test_packet_compress.h5 test_detach.h5 \
         test_dectris.h5
 
+# Sources for test_packet executable
+test_packet_SOURCES=test_packet.c test_packet_vlen.c
+
 include $(top_srcdir)/config/conclude.am
diff --git a/hl/test/Makefile.in b/hl/test/Makefile.in
index 6fc324b..6ab37e6 100644
--- a/hl/test/Makefile.in
+++ b/hl/test/Makefile.in
@@ -148,8 +148,9 @@ test_lite_SOURCES = test_lite.c
 test_lite_OBJECTS = test_lite.$(OBJEXT)
 test_lite_LDADD = $(LDADD)
 test_lite_DEPENDENCIES = $(LIBH5_HL) $(LIBH5TEST) $(LIBHDF5)
-test_packet_SOURCES = test_packet.c
-test_packet_OBJECTS = test_packet.$(OBJEXT)
+am_test_packet_OBJECTS = test_packet.$(OBJEXT) \
+	test_packet_vlen.$(OBJEXT)
+test_packet_OBJECTS = $(am_test_packet_OBJECTS)
 test_packet_LDADD = $(LDADD)
 test_packet_DEPENDENCIES = $(LIBH5_HL) $(LIBH5TEST) $(LIBHDF5)
 test_table_SOURCES = test_table.c
@@ -191,10 +192,10 @@ am__v_CCLD_ = $(am__v_CCLD_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
 am__v_CCLD_0 = @echo "  CCLD    " $@;
 am__v_CCLD_1 = 
 SOURCES = gen_test_ds.c test_ds.c test_dset_opt.c test_file_image.c \
-	test_image.c test_lite.c test_packet.c test_table.c
+	test_image.c test_lite.c $(test_packet_SOURCES) test_table.c
 DIST_SOURCES = gen_test_ds.c test_ds.c test_dset_opt.c \
-	test_file_image.c test_image.c test_lite.c test_packet.c \
-	test_table.c
+	test_file_image.c test_image.c test_lite.c \
+	$(test_packet_SOURCES) test_table.c
 am__can_run_installinfo = \
   case $$AM_UPDATE_INFO_DIR in \
     n|no|NO) false;; \
@@ -713,6 +714,9 @@ TEST_PROG = test_lite test_image test_file_image test_table test_ds test_packet
 # --enable-build-all at configure time.
 BUILD_ALL_PROGS = gen_test_ds
 
+# Sources for test_packet executable
+test_packet_SOURCES = test_packet.c test_packet_vlen.c
+
 # Automake needs to be taught how to build lib, progs, and tests targets.
 # These will be filled in automatically for the most part (e.g.,
 # lib_LIBRARIES are built for lib target), but EXTRA_LIB, EXTRA_PROG, and
@@ -833,6 +837,7 @@ distclean-compile:
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/test_image.Po@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/test_lite.Po@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/test_packet.Po@am__quote@
+@AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/test_packet_vlen.Po@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/test_table.Po@am__quote@
 
 .c.o:
diff --git a/hl/test/h5hltest.h b/hl/test/h5hltest.h
index e8292d2..9a5e702 100644
--- a/hl/test/h5hltest.h
+++ b/hl/test/h5hltest.h
@@ -36,5 +36,7 @@
 /* Implements verbose 'assert' with 'goto error' exit  */
 #define VERIFY(condition, string) do { if (!(condition)) FAIL_PUTS_ERROR(string) } while(0)
 
+int test_packet_table_with_varlen(void);
+
 #endif /* _H5HLTEST_H */
 
diff --git a/hl/test/test_packet.c b/hl/test/test_packet.c
index 256892b..0bd5292 100644
--- a/hl/test/test_packet.c
+++ b/hl/test/test_packet.c
@@ -31,9 +31,6 @@
 #define TEST_FILE_NAME "test_packet_table.h5"
 #define TEST_COMPRESS_FILE "test_packet_compress.h5"
 #define PT_NAME "Test Packet Table"
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
-#define VL_TABLE_NAME "Varlen Test Table"
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
 #define H5TB_TABLE_NAME "Table1"
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -77,9 +74,9 @@ static int cmp_par(size_t i, size_t j, particle_t *rbuf, particle_t *wbuf )
   rbuf[i].longi != wbuf[j].longi ||
   !FLT_ABS_EQUAL(rbuf[i].pressure,wbuf[j].pressure) ||
   !DBL_ABS_EQUAL(rbuf[i].temperature,wbuf[j].temperature) ) {
-  return -1;
+  return FAIL;
  }
- return 0;
+ return SUCCEED;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -95,22 +92,22 @@ make_particle_type(void)
 
  /* Create the memory data type. */
  if ((type_id = H5Tcreate (H5T_COMPOUND, type_size )) < 0 )
-  return -1;
+  return FAIL;
 
  /* Insert fields. */
  string_type = H5Tcopy( H5T_C_S1 );
  H5Tset_size( string_type, (size_t)16 );
 
  if ( H5Tinsert(type_id, "Name", HOFFSET(particle_t, name) , string_type ) < 0 )
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
  if ( H5Tinsert(type_id, "Lat", HOFFSET(particle_t, lati) , H5T_NATIVE_INT ) < 0 )
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
  if ( H5Tinsert(type_id, "Long", HOFFSET(particle_t, longi) , H5T_NATIVE_INT ) < 0 )
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
  if ( H5Tinsert(type_id, "Pressure", HOFFSET(particle_t, pressure) , H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT ) < 0 )
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
  if ( H5Tinsert(type_id, "Temperature", HOFFSET(particle_t, temperature) , H5T_NATIVE_DOUBLE ) < 0 )
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
 
  return type_id;
 }
@@ -156,9 +153,9 @@ static int create_hl_table(hid_t fid)
                         chunk_size, fill_data, compress, testPart  );
 
 if(status<0)
-  return -1;
+  return FAIL;
 else
-  return 0;
+  return SUCCEED;
 }
 
 
@@ -188,23 +185,21 @@ static int test_create_close(hid_t fid)
     table = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, PT_NAME, part_t, (hsize_t)100, -1);
     H5Tclose(part_t);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-      goto out;
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
+	goto error;
     if( H5PTis_varlen(table) != 0)
-      goto out;
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
+	goto error;
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-      goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
       H5_FAILED();
-      return -1;
+      return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -224,23 +219,22 @@ static int test_open(hid_t fid)
     /* Open the table */
     table = H5PTopen(fid, PT_NAME);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-      goto out;
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
+        goto error;
     if( H5PTis_varlen(table) != 0)
-      goto out;
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
+        goto error;
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-      goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
+      if (table > 0) H5PTclose(table);
       H5_FAILED();
-      return -1;
+      return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -261,52 +255,52 @@ static int test_append(hid_t fid)
     /* Open the table */
     table = H5PTopen(fid, PT_NAME);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Count the number of packets in the table  */
     err = H5PTget_num_packets(table, &count);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
     /* There should be 0 records in the table */
     if( count != 0 )
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Append one particle */
     err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)1, &(testPart[0]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Append several particles */
     err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)6, &(testPart[1]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Append one more particle */
     err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)1, &(testPart[7]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Count the number of packets in the table  */
     err = H5PTget_num_packets(table, &count);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
     /* There should be 8 records in the table now */
     if( count != 8 )
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
         H5_FAILED();
-        if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
+        if( H5PTis_valid(table) > 0)
             H5PTclose(table);
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -328,44 +322,44 @@ static int test_read(hid_t fid)
     /* Open the table */
     table = H5PTopen(fid, PT_NAME);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read several particles */
     err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)0, 3, &(readBuf[0]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read one particle */
     err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)3, 1, &(readBuf[3]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read several particles */
     err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)4, (NRECORDS - 4 ), &(readBuf[4]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
     for(c=0; c<NRECORDS; c++)
     {
         if( cmp_par(c%8, c, testPart, readBuf) != 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
 
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
         H5_FAILED();
-        if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
+        if( H5PTis_valid(table) > 0)
             H5PTclose(table);
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -389,21 +383,21 @@ static int test_get_next(hid_t fid)
     /* Open the table */
     table = H5PTopen(fid, PT_NAME);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read several particles consecutively */
     for(c=0; c < NRECORDS; c++)
     {
-        err = H5PTget_next(table, 1, &readBuf[c]);
+        err = H5PTget_next(table, (size_t)1, &readBuf[c]);
         if(err < 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
     for(c=0; c<NRECORDS; c++)
     {
         if( cmp_par(c, c, testPart, readBuf) != 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     H5PTcreate_index(table);
@@ -411,31 +405,31 @@ static int test_get_next(hid_t fid)
     /* Read particles two by two */
     for(c=0; c < NRECORDS / 2; c++)
     {
-        err = H5PTget_next(table, 2, &readBuf2[c * 2]);
+        err = H5PTget_next(table, (size_t)2, &readBuf2[c * 2]);
         if(err < 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
     for(c=0; c<NRECORDS; c++)
     {
         if( cmp_par(c, c, testPart, readBuf2) != 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
         H5_FAILED();
-        if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
+        if( H5PTis_valid(table) > 0)
             H5PTclose(table);
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -466,7 +460,7 @@ static int    test_big_table(hid_t fid)
     table = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, "Packet Test Dataset2", part_t, (hsize_t)33, -1);
     H5Tclose(part_t);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
         /* Add many particles */
     for(c = 0; c < BIG_TABLE_SIZE ; c+=8)
@@ -474,222 +468,44 @@ static int    test_big_table(hid_t fid)
         /* Append eight particles at once*/
         err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)8, &(testPart[0]));
         if( err < 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Count the number of packets in the table  */
     err = H5PTget_num_packets(table, &count);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
     if( count != BIG_TABLE_SIZE )
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read particles to ensure that all of them were written correctly  */
     /* Also, ensure that H5PTcreate_fl set the current packet to */
     /* the first packet in the table                                     */
     for(c = 0; c < BIG_TABLE_SIZE; c++)
     {
-        err = H5PTget_next(table, 1, &readPart);
+        err = H5PTget_next(table, (size_t)1, &readPart);
         if(err < 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
 
         /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
         if( cmp_par(c % 8, 0, testPart, &readPart) != 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
         H5_FAILED();
-        if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
+        if( H5PTis_valid(table) > 0)
             H5PTclose(table);
-        return -1;
-}
-
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
-/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * test_varlen
- *
- * Tests creation, opening, closing, writing, reading, etc. on a
- * variable-length packet table.
- *
- *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
- */
-static int    test_varlen(hid_t fid)
-{
-  herr_t err;
-  hid_t table=H5I_BADID;
-  hsize_t count;
-
-   /* Buffers to hold data */
-  hvl_t writeBuffer[NRECORDS];
-  hvl_t readBuffer[NRECORDS];
-
-    /* This example has three different sizes of "record": longs, shorts, and particles */
-  long longBuffer[NRECORDS];
-  short shortBuffer[NRECORDS];
-  int x;
-
-  TESTING("variable-length packet tables");
-
-   /* Initialize buffers */
-  for(x=0; x<NRECORDS; x++)
-  {
-    longBuffer[x] = -x;
-    shortBuffer[x] = x;
-  }
-
-    /* Fill the write buffer with a mix of variable types */
-  for(x=0; x<8; x+=4)
-  {
-    writeBuffer[x].len = sizeof(long);
-    writeBuffer[x].p = &(longBuffer[x]);
-    writeBuffer[x+1].len = sizeof(short);
-    writeBuffer[x+1].p = &(shortBuffer[x+1]);
-    writeBuffer[x+2].len = sizeof(long);
-    writeBuffer[x+2].p = &(longBuffer[x+2]);
-    writeBuffer[x+3].len = sizeof(particle_t);
-    writeBuffer[x+3].p = &(testPart[x+3]);
-  }
-
-  /* Create the table */
-  table = H5PTcreate_vl(fid, VL_TABLE_NAME, (hsize_t)1001);
-  if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-    goto out;
-  if( H5PTis_varlen(table) != 1)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Count the number of packets in the table  */
-  err = H5PTget_num_packets(table, &count);
-  if( err < 0)
-      goto out;
-  if( count != 0 )
-      goto out;
-
-  /* Close the table */
-  err = H5PTclose(table);
-  if( err < 0)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Re-open the table */
-  table = H5PTopen(fid, VL_TABLE_NAME);
-  if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-    goto out;
-  if( H5PTis_varlen(table) != 1)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Count the number of packets in the table  */
-  err = H5PTget_num_packets(table, &count);
-  if( err < 0)
-      goto out;
-  if( count != 0 )
-      goto out;
-
-  /* Add several variable-length packets */
-  err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)8, writeBuffer );
-  if(err < 0)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Read them back */
-  err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)0, 4, &(readBuffer[0]));
-  if( err < 0)
-    goto out;
-  err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)4, 1, &(readBuffer[4]));
-  if( err < 0)
-    goto out;
-  err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)5, (NRECORDS - 5 ), &(readBuffer[5]));
-  if( err < 0)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Ensure that packets were read correctly */
-  for(x=0; x<NRECORDS; x++)
-  {
-    if( readBuffer[x].len != writeBuffer[x%4].len)
-      goto out;
-    switch(x%4)
-    {
-    case 0:
-    case 2:
-      if( *((long*)(readBuffer[x].p)) != *((long*)(writeBuffer[x].p)))
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    case 1:
-      if( *((short*)(readBuffer[x].p)) != *((short*)(writeBuffer[x].p)))
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    case 3:
-      if( cmp_par(0, 0, readBuffer[x].p, writeBuffer[x].p) < 0)
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    default:
-      goto out;
-    }
-  }
-
-  /* Free memory used by read buffer */
-  if(H5PTfree_vlen_readbuff(table, NRECORDS, readBuffer) <0)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Read packets back using get_next */
-  for(x=0; x < NRECORDS; x++)
-  {
-    err = H5PTget_next(table, 1, &readBuffer[x]);
-    if(err < 0)
-      goto out;
-  }
-
-  /* Ensure that packets were read correctly */
-  for(x=0; x<NRECORDS; x++)
-  {
-    if( readBuffer[x].len != writeBuffer[x%4].len)
-      goto out;
-    switch(x%4)
-    {
-    case 0:
-    case 2:
-      if( *((long*)(readBuffer[x].p)) != *((long*)(writeBuffer[x].p)))
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    case 1:
-      if( *((short*)(readBuffer[x].p)) != *((short*)(writeBuffer[x].p)))
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    case 3:
-      if( cmp_par(0, 0, readBuffer[x].p, writeBuffer[x].p) < 0)
-        goto out;
-      break;
-    default:
-      goto out;
-    }
-  }
-
-  /* Free memory used by read buffer */
-  if(H5PTfree_vlen_readbuff(table, NRECORDS, readBuffer) <0)
-    goto out;
-
-  /* Close the table */
-  err = H5PTclose(table);
-  if( err < 0)
-    goto out;
-
-  PASSED();
-  return 0;
-
-  out:
-    H5_FAILED();
-    H5E_BEGIN_TRY
-      H5PTclose(table);
-    H5E_END_TRY
-    return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 }
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * test_opaque
@@ -710,50 +526,50 @@ static int    test_opaque(hid_t fid)
 
     /* Create an opaque datatype for the particle struct */
     if ((part_t = H5Tcreate (H5T_OPAQUE, sizeof(particle_t) )) < 0 )
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 
     HDassert(part_t != -1);
 
     /* Tag the opaque datatype */
     if ( H5Tset_tag(part_t,  "Opaque Particle"  ) < 0)
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 
     /* Create a new table */
     table = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, "Packet Test Dataset3", part_t, (hsize_t)100, -1);
     H5Tclose(part_t);
     if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Append several particles, starting at particle 1 */
     err = H5PTappend(table, (size_t)(NRECORDS - 1), &(testPart[1]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Read the particles back */
     err = H5PTread_packets(table, (hsize_t)0, 7, &(readBuf[0]));
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
     for(c=0; c<NRECORDS - 1; c++)
     {
         if( cmp_par(c+1, c, testPart, readBuf) != 0)
-            goto out;
+            goto error;
     }
 
     /* Close the table */
     err = H5PTclose(table);
     if( err < 0)
-        goto out;
+        goto error;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
-    out:
+error:
         H5_FAILED();
-        if( H5PTis_valid(table) < 0)
+        if( H5PTis_valid(table) > 0)
             H5PTclose(table);
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -767,12 +583,12 @@ static int    test_opaque(hid_t fid)
 static int
 test_compress(void)
 {
-    hid_t fid1 = -1;
+    hid_t fid1 = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     herr_t err;
-    hid_t table = -1;
-    hid_t part_t = -1;
-    hid_t dset_id = -1;
-    hid_t plist_id = -1;
+    hid_t table = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    hid_t part_t = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    hid_t dset_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    hid_t plist_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     size_t c;
     size_t num_elems = 1;
     unsigned filter_vals[1];
@@ -812,7 +628,7 @@ test_compress(void)
     HDmemset(readPart, 0, sizeof(readPart));
     for(c = 0; c < BIG_TABLE_SIZE; c++)
     {
-        err = H5PTget_next(table, 1, readPart);
+        err = H5PTget_next(table, (size_t)1, readPart);
         if(err < 0) TEST_ERROR;
 
         /* Ensure that particles were read correctly */
@@ -881,7 +697,7 @@ test_compress(void)
     if( err < 0) TEST_ERROR;
 
     PASSED();
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 
 error:
     H5E_BEGIN_TRY {
@@ -892,7 +708,7 @@ error:
        H5Fclose(fid1);
     } H5E_END_TRY
     H5_FAILED();
-    return -1;
+    return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -932,54 +748,54 @@ static int test_rw_nonnative_dt(hid_t fid)
    ptable = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, "Packet Test Dataset, Non-native", H5T_STD_I32LE, (hsize_t)100, -1);
  }
  if(ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  /* Write one packet to the packet table */
- if( (err = H5PTappend(ptable, (hsize_t)1, &(writeBuffer[0]))) < 0 )
-   goto out;
+ if( (err = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)1, &(writeBuffer[0]))) < 0 )
+        goto error;
 
  /* Write several packets to the packet table */
- if( (err = H5PTappend(ptable, (hsize_t)4, &(writeBuffer[1]))) < 0)
-   goto out;
+ if( (err = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)4, &(writeBuffer[1]))) < 0)
+        goto error;
 
  if( (err = H5PTclose(ptable)) < 0)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  /* Open the Packet table */
  if( (ptable = H5PTopen(fid, "Packet Test Dataset, Non-native")) < 0)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  /* Get the number of packets in the packet table.  This should be five. */
  if( (err = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count)) < 0)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  if( (int)count != 5 )
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  /* Initialize packet table's "current record" */
  if( (err = H5PTcreate_index(ptable)) < 0)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
 
  /* Iterate through packets, read each one back */
  for(x=0; x<5; x++) {
-   if( (err = H5PTget_next(ptable, (hsize_t)1, &(readBuffer[x]))) < 0)
-     goto out;
+   if( (err = H5PTget_next(ptable, (size_t)1, &(readBuffer[x]))) < 0)
+        goto error;
    if( x != readBuffer[x])
-     goto out;
+        goto error;
  }
 
  /* Close the packet table */
  if( (err = H5PTclose(ptable)) < 0)
-   goto out;
+        goto error;
  
  PASSED();
- return 0;
+ return SUCCEED;
 
- out:
+error:
      H5_FAILED();
-     if( H5PTis_valid(ptable) < 0)
+     if( H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0)
        H5PTclose(ptable);
-     return -1;
+     return FAIL;
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -992,7 +808,7 @@ static int test_rw_nonnative_dt(hid_t fid)
  */
 static int test_error(hid_t fid)
 {
-  hid_t id = H5I_BADID;
+  hid_t id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
   int id_open=0;
   particle_t readBuf[1];
 
@@ -1000,121 +816,121 @@ static int test_error(hid_t fid)
 
   /* Create a HL table */
   if(create_hl_table(fid) < 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
 
   /* Try to open things that are not packet tables */
   H5E_BEGIN_TRY
   if(H5PTopen(fid, "Bogus_name") >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTopen(fid, "group1") >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   H5E_END_TRY
 
   /* Try to execute packet table commands on an invalid ID */
   H5E_BEGIN_TRY
   if(H5PTis_valid(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTis_varlen(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTclose(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTappend(id, (size_t)1, testPart) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTread_packets(id, (hsize_t)0, 1, readBuf) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTcreate_index(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTset_index(id, (hsize_t)1) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTget_index(id, NULL) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   H5E_END_TRY
 
   /* Open a high-level non-packet (H5TB) table and try to */
   /* execute commands on it. */
   if((id=H5Dopen2(fid, H5TB_TABLE_NAME, H5P_DEFAULT)) <0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   id_open = 1;
 
   H5E_BEGIN_TRY
   if(H5PTis_valid(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTis_varlen(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTclose(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTappend(id, (size_t)1, testPart) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTread_packets(id, (hsize_t)0, 1, readBuf) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTcreate_index(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTset_index(id, (hsize_t)1) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTget_index(id, NULL) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   H5E_END_TRY
 
   id_open=0;
   if(H5Dclose(id) <0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
 
   /* Open and close a packet table.  Try to execute */
   /* commands on the closed ID. */
   if((id=H5PTopen(fid, PT_NAME))<0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTclose(id) <0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
 
   H5E_BEGIN_TRY
   if(H5PTis_valid(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTis_varlen(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTclose(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTappend(id, (size_t)1, testPart) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTread_packets(id, (hsize_t)0, 1, readBuf) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTcreate_index(id) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTset_index(id, (hsize_t)1) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   if(H5PTget_index(id, NULL) >= 0)
-    goto out;
+        goto error;
   H5E_END_TRY
 
   PASSED();
-  return 0;
+  return SUCCEED;
 
-out:
+error:
   H5_FAILED();
   if(id_open)
     H5Dclose(id);
-  return -1;
+  return FAIL;
 }
 
-
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_packet_table(): Invokes individual tests to ensure that all
+ *      functions work correctly, except for the variable-length related
+ *      functions, which are tested in "test_packet_vlen.c".
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
 static int test_packet_table(hid_t fid)
 {
 
     if( test_create_close(fid) < 0 )
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 
     if( test_open(fid) < 0 )
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 
     /* test_append must be run before test_count and test_read, as it */
     /* creates the packet table they use. */
     if( test_append(fid) < 0 )
-        return -1;
+        return FAIL;
 
     /* These tests will not necessarily cause failures in each other,
            so we don't abort the other tests if one fails. */
@@ -1122,24 +938,24 @@ static int test_packet_table(hid_t fid)
     test_get_next(fid);
     test_big_table(fid);
     test_rw_nonnative_dt(fid);
-#ifdef VLPT_REMOVED
-    test_varlen(fid);
-#endif /* VLPT_REMOVED */
     test_opaque(fid);
     test_compress();
     test_error(fid);
 
-    return 0;
+    return SUCCEED;
 }
 
+/*
+ *
+*/
 int main(void)
 {
- /* identifier for the file */
- hid_t       fid;
- int         status = 0;
+    /* identifier for the file that is used in FL PT tests */
+    hid_t       fid;
+    int         status = 0;
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * Packet test: test each function of the packet table
+ * Packet test: test each function of the packet table library
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 
@@ -1148,12 +964,16 @@ int main(void)
 
  HDputs("Testing packet table");
 
- /* run tests */
- if ( test_packet_table(fid) < 0)
-     status = 1;
+    /* Test packet table with fixed length */
+    if (test_packet_table(fid) < 0)
+        status = 1;
+
+    /* Test packet table with variable length, using separate data file */
+    if (test_packet_table_with_varlen() < 0)
+        status = 1;
 
- /* close */
- H5Fclose(fid);
+    /* Close the file */
+    H5Fclose(fid);
 
- return status;
+    return status;
 }
diff --git a/hl/test/test_packet_vlen.c b/hl/test/test_packet_vlen.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82c8d1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hl/test/test_packet_vlen.c
@@ -0,0 +1,1693 @@
+/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+ * Copyright by The HDF Group.                                               *
+ * All rights reserved.                                                      *
+ *                                                                           *
+ * This file is part of HDF5.  The full HDF5 copyright notice, including     *
+ * terms governing use, modification, and redistribution, is contained in    *
+ * the files COPYING and Copyright.html.  COPYING can be found at the root   *
+ * of the source code distribution tree; Copyright.html can be found at the  *
+ * root level of an installed copy of the electronic HDF5 document set and   *
+ * is linked from the top-level documents page.  It can also be found at     *
+ * http://hdfgroup.org/HDF5/doc/Copyright.html.  If you do not have          *
+ * access to either file, you may request a copy from help@hdfgroup.org.     *
+ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
+
+#include "h5hltest.h"
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Packet Table with Variable-Length test
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+
+#define NRECORDS 5
+#define TEST_FILE_NAME "test_packet_table_vlen.h5"
+#define TESTFL_FILE_NAME "testfl_packet_table_vlen.h5"
+#define PT_VLEN_ATOMIC "Dataset with VL of Atomic types"
+#define PT_VLEN_COMP "Dataset with VL of Compound Types"
+#define PT_COMP_VLEN "Dataset with Compound Type of VL types"
+#define PT_VLEN_VLEN "Dataset with VL of VL types"
+#define PT_FIXED_LEN "Fixed-length Packet Table"
+#define SPACE3_RANK     1
+#define L1_INCM         16
+#define L2_INCM         8
+#define NAME_BUF_SIZE   80
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Local functions
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+
+/* Verifies that the packet table is a variable- or fixed-length */
+static int verify_ptlengthtype(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, herr_t checked_value);
+
+/* Adds an attribute to the named packet table */
+static int adding_attribute(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, const char *attr_name);
+
+/* Verifies that the named attribute was written and is read correctly */
+static int verify_attribute(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, const char *attr_name);
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_VLof_atomic(): Test that a packet table with VL datatypes of atomic
+ *	datatypes can be created and written correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_VLof_atomic(void)
+{
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vltype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    int     ii, jj;		/* Loop variables */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen of atomic");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++)
+	    ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj] = ii * 10 + jj;
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a vlen type that uses an atomic datatype as its base type */
+    vltype = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vltype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of an atomic type */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate(fid, PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, vltype, (hsize_t)1, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vltype) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)NRECORDS, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++)
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++)
+        {
+	    if (((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj] != ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj]) {
+		printf("Packet %d's value should be %d\n", ii, ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+		printf("Packet %d's value in readBuf is %d\n", ii, ((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+	    }
+        }
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_VLof_atomic */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_VLof_comptype(): Test that a packet table with VL datatypes of
+ *	compound datatypes can be created and written correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_VLof_comptype(void)
+{
+    /* Struct that the VL sequences are composed of */
+    typedef struct {
+        int i;
+        float f;
+    } VLcomp_t;
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vltype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   cmptype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Compound datatype */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    int     ii, jj;		/* Loop variables */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t ret;
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen of compound datatypes");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(VLcomp_t));
+        if(writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++) {
+            ((VLcomp_t *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj].i = ii+jj;
+            ((VLcomp_t *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj].f = (float)((ii+jj)/3.0F);
+          } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create the base compound type */
+    cmptype = H5Tcreate(H5T_COMPOUND, sizeof(VLcomp_t));
+    if (cmptype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Insert fields */
+    ret = H5Tinsert(cmptype, "i", HOFFSET(VLcomp_t, i), H5T_NATIVE_INT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(cmptype, "f", HOFFSET(VLcomp_t, f), H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a variable length type that uses the VLcomp_t as its base type */
+    vltype = H5Tvlen_create(cmptype);
+    if (vltype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of compound datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate(fid, PT_VLEN_COMP, vltype, (hsize_t)1, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vltype) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)5, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)5, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Compare data read in */
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        if (writeBuf[ii].len != readBuf[ii].len) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, writeBuf[%d].len=%d, readBuf[%d].len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].len,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].len);
+	    continue;
+	} /* write len != read len */
+
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++) {
+            if (((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj] != ((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj] ) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "VL data values don't match!, writeBuf[ii].p[%d]=%d, readBuf[ii].p[%d]=%d\n",(int)jj, (int)((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj], (int)jj, (int)((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+                continue;
+	    } /* write value != read value */
+	}
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_VLof_comptype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_compound_VL_VL(): Test that a packet table of compound datatypes
+ *	containing VL datatypes can be created and written
+ *	correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_compound_VL_VLtype(void)
+{
+    /* Struct that the VL sequences are composed of */
+    typedef struct {
+        int i;
+        float f;
+	hvl_t v;
+    } compVLVL_t;
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   space=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataspace identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vlatomic=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   vlofvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   comp_vlvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* ID of a compound datatype containing 
+					   a VL of VL of atomic datatype */
+    hsize_t dims1[] = {NRECORDS};
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    compVLVL_t writeBuf[NRECORDS];/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    compVLVL_t readBuf[NRECORDS]; /* Buffer to hold read data */
+    hvl_t   *t1, *t2;
+    int  ii, jj, kk;		/* Loop variables */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with compound datatype containing vlen datatype");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].i = ii*10;
+        writeBuf[ii].f = (float)((ii*20)/3.0F);
+        writeBuf[ii].v.p = HDmalloc((ii+L1_INCM)*sizeof(hvl_t));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].v.p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%d\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].v.len=ii+L1_INCM;
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)((writeBuf[ii].v).p), jj=0; jj<(ii+L1_INCM); jj++, t1++)
+	{
+            t1->p = HDmalloc((jj+L2_INCM)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+	    if (t1->p == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%d\n",ii);
+		goto error;
+	    }
+            t1->len = jj+L2_INCM;
+            for (kk=0; kk<jj+L2_INCM; kk++)
+                ((unsigned int*)t1->p)[kk] = ii*100 + jj*10 + kk;
+        }
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create dataspace for datasets */
+    space = H5Screate_simple(SPACE3_RANK, dims1, NULL);
+    if (space < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of an atomic type */
+    vlatomic = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vlatomic < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of the VL of atomic datatype */
+    vlofvl = H5Tvlen_create (vlatomic);
+    if (vlofvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create the base compound type */
+    comp_vlvl = H5Tcreate(H5T_COMPOUND, sizeof(compVLVL_t));
+    if (comp_vlvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Insert fields: atomic, atomic, vlen */
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "i", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, i), H5T_NATIVE_INT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "f", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, f), H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "v", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, v), vlofvl);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a compound datatype of vlen datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate(fid, PT_COMP_VLEN, comp_vlvl, (hsize_t)1, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(comp_vlvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)NRECORDS, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)NRECORDS, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Compare data read in */
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        if (writeBuf[ii].i != readBuf[ii].i) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Integer components don't match!, writeBuf[%d].i=%d, readBuf[%d].i=%d\n",(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].i,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].i);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+        if (!H5_FLT_ABS_EQUAL(writeBuf[ii].f,readBuf[ii].f)) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Float components don't match!, writeBuf[%d].f=%f, readBuf[%d].f=%f\n",(int)ii,(double)writeBuf[ii].f,(int)ii,(double)readBuf[ii].f);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+
+        if (writeBuf[ii].v.len != readBuf[ii].v.len) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, writeBuf[%d].v.len=%d, readBuf[%d].v.len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].v.len,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].v.len);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)(writeBuf[ii].v.p), t2=(hvl_t *)(readBuf[ii].v.p), jj=0; (size_t)jj<readBuf[ii].v.len; jj++, t1++, t2++) {
+            if (t1->len != t2->len) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, ii=%d, jj=%d, t1->len=%d, t2->len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)jj,(int)t1->len,(int)t2->len);
+                continue;
+            } /* end if */
+            for (kk=0; (size_t)kk<t2->len; kk++) {
+                if (((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk] != ((unsigned int *)t2->p)[kk] ) {
+                    fprintf(stderr, "VL data values don't match!, t1->p[%d]=%d, t2->p[%d]=%d\n",(int)kk, (int)((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk], (int)kk, (int)((unsigned int *)t2->p)[kk]);
+                    continue;
+                } /* end if */
+            } /* end for */
+        } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Release datatypes */
+    if (H5Tclose(vlatomic) < 0)
+	goto error;
+    if (H5Tclose(vlofvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_compound_VL_VLtype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_VLof_VLtype(): Test that a packet table of VL datatype with VL
+ *	datatypes of atomic datatypes can be created and written
+ *	correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_VLof_VLtype(void)
+{
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vlatomic=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   vlofvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* VL datatype of VL datatypes */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    hvl_t   *t1;		/* pointer to advance */
+    int     ii, jj, kk;		/* Loop variables */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen datatype of vlen datatype");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii< NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(hvl_t));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+        } /* end if */
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)(writeBuf[ii].p), jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++, t1++)
+	{
+            t1->p = HDmalloc((jj+1)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+	    if (t1->p == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+		goto error;
+	    }
+            t1->len = jj+1;
+            for (kk=0; kk<(jj+1); kk++)
+                ((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk] = ii*100+jj*10+kk;
+        } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of an atomic type */
+    vlatomic = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vlatomic < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    vlofvl = H5Tvlen_create (vlatomic);
+    if (vlofvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of vlen datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate(fid, PT_VLEN_VLEN, vlofvl, (hsize_t)1, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vlofvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)5, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)5, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_VLof_VLtype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * verify_ptlengthtype() - helper function, verifies that the named packet
+ *	table is a fixed-length or variable-length as indicated by the last
+ *	argument.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int verify_ptlengthtype(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, herr_t expected_value)
+{
+    hid_t   ptable = H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    herr_t  is_varlen = 0;
+    herr_t  ret = FAIL;
+
+    /* Open the named packet table */
+    if( (ptable = H5PTopen(fid, table_name)) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Verify the value returned from H5PTis_varlen is as expected */
+    is_varlen = H5PTis_varlen(ptable);
+    if (is_varlen == FAIL)
+	goto error;
+    else if (is_varlen == expected_value)
+	ret = SUCCEED;
+    else
+    {
+	char lenthtype[20];
+	HDstrcpy(lenthtype, "fixed-length");
+	if (expected_value == 1)
+	    HDstrcpy(lenthtype, "variable-length");
+	fprintf(stderr, "\nPacket table '%s' should be %s but is not\n", table_name, lenthtype);
+	ret = FAIL;
+    }
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    if (H5PTclose(ptable) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    return ret;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    return ret;
+} /* verify_ptlengthtype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_H5PTis_varlen(): Test that H5PTis_varlen works correctly on both
+ *	fixed- and variable-length packet tables.
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *	- Added a fixed-length packet table to the file for variety
+ *	- Use the helper funtion verify_ptlengthtype to test H5PTis_varlen
+ *	  on each packet table.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_H5PTis_varlen(void)
+{
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING("H5PTis_varlen");
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a new table */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate(fid, PT_FIXED_LEN, H5T_STD_I32BE, (hsize_t)100, H5P_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open each packet table, and verify that H5PTis_varlen returns correct
+       type for each table */
+    ret = verify_ptlengthtype(fid, PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, 1); /* vlen of atomic */
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_ptlengthtype(fid, PT_VLEN_COMP, 1); /* vlen of compound */
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_ptlengthtype(fid, PT_COMP_VLEN, 0); /* compound of vlen, no vlen */
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_ptlengthtype(fid, PT_VLEN_VLEN, 1); /* vlen of vlen */
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_ptlengthtype(fid, PT_FIXED_LEN, 0); /* no vlen */
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_H5PTis_varlen */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * adding_attribute() - helper function, adds an attribute to the named
+ *	packet table.
+ * Note:
+ *	For simplicity, the attributes that are added to the packet tables
+ *	have the same characteristics except their names.  They have the
+ *	same type, space, and values.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+#define ATTR_RANK      1
+#define ATTR_DIM       3
+int attr_data[ATTR_DIM]={256,11945,-22107}; /* values to be written to attr */
+
+static int adding_attribute(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, const char *attr_name)
+{
+    hid_t ptable = H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t space_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataspace for the attribute */
+    hid_t attr_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Attribute identifier */
+    hid_t dset_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataset identifier */
+    hsize_t dims[] = {ATTR_DIM};	/* Dimension for dataspace */
+    int ret = FAIL;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    /* Create dataspace for attribute */
+    space_id = H5Screate_simple(ATTR_RANK, dims, NULL);
+    if (space_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open the named packet table */
+    if( (ptable = H5PTopen(fid, table_name)) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    dset_id = H5PTget_dataset(ptable);
+    if (dset_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Add the specified attribute to it */
+    attr_id = H5Acreate2(dset_id, attr_name, H5T_NATIVE_INT, space_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (attr_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write attribute values */
+    ret = H5Awrite(attr_id, H5T_NATIVE_INT, attr_data);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the attribute */
+    if (H5Aclose(attr_id) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    if (H5PTclose(ptable) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    return ret;
+} /* adding_attribute */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * verify_attribute() - helper function, verifies the named attribute can
+ *	be read correctly.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static herr_t verify_attribute(hid_t fid, const char *table_name, const char *attr_name)
+{
+    hid_t ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t space_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataspace for the attribute */
+    hid_t attr_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Attribute identifier */
+    hid_t dset_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataset associated with the pt */
+    hsize_t dims[] = {ATTR_DIM};	/* Dimensions for dataspace */
+    int read_data[ATTR_DIM];		/* Output buffer */
+    int ii;
+    herr_t ret = FAIL;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    /* Create dataspace for attribute */
+    space_id = H5Screate_simple(ATTR_RANK, dims, NULL);
+    if (space_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open the named packet table */
+    ptable = H5PTopen(fid, table_name);
+    if (ptable < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the dataset id of this packet table */
+    dset_id = H5PTget_dataset(ptable);
+    if (dset_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open first attribute for the dataset */
+    attr_id = H5Aopen(dset_id, attr_name, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (attr_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Read attribute values */
+    ret = H5Aread(attr_id, H5T_NATIVE_INT, read_data);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Verify values read in */
+    for (ii = 0; ii < ATTR_DIM; ii++)
+        if (attr_data[ii] != read_data[ii])
+            TestErrPrintf("%d: attribute data different: attr_data[%d]=%d, read_data[%d]=%d\n", __LINE__, ii, attr_data[ii], ii, read_data[ii]);
+
+    /* Close the attribute */
+    if (H5Aclose(attr_id) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    if (H5PTclose(ptable) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (attr_id > 0) H5Aclose(attr_id);
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    return ret;
+} /* verify_attribute */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_attributes(): Test adding attributes to packet tables
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *	Added attributes to some random packet tables in the file.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_attributes(void)
+{
+    hid_t fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;		/* File identifier */
+    hid_t attr_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Attribute identifier */
+    herr_t ret = FAIL;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING("adding attributes to packet tables");
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Add an arbitrary attribute to a few packet tables, using helper func */
+    attr_id = adding_attribute(fid, PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, "Attribute 1");
+    if (attr_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+    attr_id = adding_attribute(fid, PT_VLEN_COMP, "Attribute 2");
+    if (attr_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+    attr_id = adding_attribute(fid, PT_COMP_VLEN, "Attribute 3");
+    if (attr_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open the file again */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Read each attribute and verify the values, using helper function */
+    ret = verify_attribute(fid, PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, "Attribute 1");
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_attribute(fid, PT_VLEN_COMP, "Attribute 2");
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = verify_attribute(fid, PT_COMP_VLEN, "Attribute 3");
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return(ret);
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_attributes */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * verify_accessors() - helper function, verifies that various info can be
+ *	retrieved correctly using the info returned by the accessor functions.
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *	Testing functions H5PTget_dataset and H5PTget_type
+ *
+ *	- Opens the named packet table
+ *	- Gets its associated dataset ID then calls a C function on that ID
+ *	  to verify the dataset name
+ *	- Gets its associated datatype ID then calls a C function on that ID
+ *	  to verify that the packet table is variable- or fixed-length as
+ *	  indicated by the expected_value argument
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static herr_t verify_accessors(const char *table_name, herr_t expected_value)
+{
+    hid_t fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;		/* File identifier */
+    hid_t ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t dset_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataset associated with the pt */
+    hid_t dtype_id=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataset identifier */
+    char buf[NAME_BUF_SIZE];
+    ssize_t name_size;
+    herr_t  is_varlen = 0;
+    herr_t ret = FAIL;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    /* Open the file. */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Open the named packet table. */
+    ptable = H5PTopen(fid, table_name);
+    if (ptable < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the associated dataset ID. */
+    dset_id = H5PTget_dataset(ptable);
+    if (dset_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Check if the packet table's name matches its associated dataset's. */
+    *buf = '\0';
+    name_size = H5Iget_name(dset_id, (char*)buf, NAME_BUF_SIZE);
+    VERIFY(HDstrcmp(buf, table_name), "Names of dataset and packet table don't match");
+
+    /* Get the packet table's datatype ID */
+    dtype_id = H5PTget_type(ptable);
+    if (dtype_id < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Check if the type class matches that of the packet table. */
+    is_varlen = H5Tdetect_class(dtype_id, H5T_VLEN);
+    if (is_varlen == FAIL) /* failure occurred */
+	goto error;
+    else if (is_varlen == expected_value) /* length types match */
+	ret = SUCCEED;
+    else /* length types don't match */
+    {
+	/* Give lengthtype "fixed-length" or "variable-length" depending on the
+	   expected_value passed in, then print the error message. */
+	char lenthtype[20];
+	HDstrcpy(lenthtype, "fixed-length");
+	if (expected_value == 1)
+	    HDstrcpy(lenthtype, "variable-length");
+	fprintf(stderr, "\nThe dataset '%s' should be %s but is not\n", table_name, lenthtype);
+	ret = FAIL;
+    }
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    if (H5PTclose(ptable) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    return ret;
+} /* verify_accessors */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_accessors(): Test the accessor functions
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *	Retrieves the dataset and datatype IDs and verifies various info
+ *	to ensure these IDs are correct.
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int test_accessors(void)
+{
+    hid_t fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;		/* File identifier */
+    hid_t ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* File identifier */
+    herr_t ret = FAIL;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING("accessor functions");
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    ret = verify_accessors(PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, TRUE);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    ret = verify_accessors(PT_FIXED_LEN, FALSE);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* test_accessors */
+
+/**************************************************************************
+	Test set for deprecated function H5PTcreate_fl
+	Each test in this set is the same as the corresponding one in the
+	set for H5PTcreate, as of Mar 2016
+
+**************************************************************************/
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * testfl_VLof_atomic(): Test that a packet table with VL datatypes of atomic
+ *	datatypes can be created and written correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int testfl_VLof_atomic(void)
+{
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vltype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    int     ii, jj;		/* Loop variables */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen of atomic");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++)
+	    ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj] = ii * 10 + jj;
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TESTFL_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a vlen type that uses an atomic datatype as its base type */
+    vltype = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vltype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of an atomic type */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, PT_VLEN_ATOMIC, vltype, (hsize_t)1, 0);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vltype) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)NRECORDS, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++)
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++)
+        {
+	    if (((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj] != ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj]) {
+		printf("Packet %d's value should be %d\n", ii, ((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+		printf("Packet %d's value in readBuf is %d\n", ii, ((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+	    }
+        }
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* testfl_VLof_atomic */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * testfl_VLof_comptype(): Test that a packet table with VL datatypes of
+ *	compound datatypes can be created and written correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int testfl_VLof_comptype(void)
+{
+    /* Struct that the VL sequences are composed of */
+    typedef struct {
+        int i;
+        float f;
+    } VLcomp_t;
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vltype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   cmptype=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Compound datatype */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    int     ii, jj;		/* Loop variables */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t ret;
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen of compound datatypes");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(VLcomp_t));
+        if(writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++) {
+            ((VLcomp_t *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj].i = ii+jj;
+            ((VLcomp_t *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj].f = (float)((ii+jj)/3.0F);
+          } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TESTFL_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create the base compound type */
+    cmptype = H5Tcreate(H5T_COMPOUND, sizeof(VLcomp_t));
+    if (cmptype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Insert fields */
+    ret = H5Tinsert(cmptype, "i", HOFFSET(VLcomp_t, i), H5T_NATIVE_INT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(cmptype, "f", HOFFSET(VLcomp_t, f), H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a variable length type that uses the VLcomp_t as its base type */
+    vltype = H5Tvlen_create(cmptype);
+    if (vltype < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of compound datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, PT_VLEN_COMP, vltype, (hsize_t)1, 0);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vltype) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)5, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)5, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Compare data read in */
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        if (writeBuf[ii].len != readBuf[ii].len) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, writeBuf[%d].len=%d, readBuf[%d].len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].len,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].len);
+	    continue;
+	} /* write len != read len */
+
+        for (jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++) {
+            if (((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj] != ((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj] ) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "VL data values don't match!, writeBuf[ii].p[%d]=%d, readBuf[ii].p[%d]=%d\n",(int)jj, (int)((unsigned int *)writeBuf[ii].p)[jj], (int)jj, (int)((unsigned int *)readBuf[ii].p)[jj]);
+                continue;
+	    } /* write value != read value */
+	}
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* testfl_VLof_comptype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * testfl_compound_VL_VL(): Test that a packet table of compound datatypes
+ *	containing VL datatypes can be created and written
+ *	correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int testfl_compound_VL_VLtype(void)
+{
+    /* Struct that the VL sequences are composed of */
+    typedef struct {
+        int i;
+        float f;
+	hvl_t v;
+    } compVLVL_t;
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   space=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Dataspace identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vlatomic=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   vlofvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   comp_vlvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* ID of a compound datatype containing 
+					   a VL of VL of atomic datatype */
+    hsize_t dims1[] = {NRECORDS};
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    compVLVL_t writeBuf[NRECORDS];/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    compVLVL_t readBuf[NRECORDS]; /* Buffer to hold read data */
+    hvl_t   *t1, *t2;
+    int  ii, jj, kk;		/* Loop variables */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with compound datatype containing vlen datatype");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii<NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].i = ii*10;
+        writeBuf[ii].f = (float)((ii*20)/3.0F);
+        writeBuf[ii].v.p = HDmalloc((ii+L1_INCM)*sizeof(hvl_t));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].v.p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%d\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+	}
+        writeBuf[ii].v.len=ii+L1_INCM;
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)((writeBuf[ii].v).p), jj=0; jj<(ii+L1_INCM); jj++, t1++)
+	{
+            t1->p = HDmalloc((jj+L2_INCM)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+	    if (t1->p == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%d\n",ii);
+		goto error;
+	    }
+            t1->len = jj+L2_INCM;
+            for (kk=0; kk<jj+L2_INCM; kk++)
+                ((unsigned int*)t1->p)[kk] = ii*100 + jj*10 + kk;
+        }
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TESTFL_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create dataspace for datasets */
+    space = H5Screate_simple(SPACE3_RANK, dims1, NULL);
+    if (space < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of an atomic type */
+    vlatomic = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vlatomic < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of the VL of atomic datatype */
+    vlofvl = H5Tvlen_create (vlatomic);
+    if (vlofvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create the base compound type */
+    comp_vlvl = H5Tcreate(H5T_COMPOUND, sizeof(compVLVL_t));
+    if (comp_vlvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Insert fields: atomic, atomic, vlen */
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "i", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, i), H5T_NATIVE_INT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "f", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, f), H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5Tinsert(comp_vlvl, "v", HOFFSET(compVLVL_t, v), vlofvl);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a compound datatype of vlen datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, PT_COMP_VLEN, comp_vlvl, (hsize_t)1, 0);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(comp_vlvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)NRECORDS, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)NRECORDS, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Compare data read in */
+    for (ii = 0; ii < NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        if (writeBuf[ii].i != readBuf[ii].i) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Integer components don't match!, writeBuf[%d].i=%d, readBuf[%d].i=%d\n",(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].i,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].i);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+        if (!H5_FLT_ABS_EQUAL(writeBuf[ii].f,readBuf[ii].f)) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Float components don't match!, writeBuf[%d].f=%f, readBuf[%d].f=%f\n",(int)ii,(double)writeBuf[ii].f,(int)ii,(double)readBuf[ii].f);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+
+        if (writeBuf[ii].v.len != readBuf[ii].v.len) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, writeBuf[%d].v.len=%d, readBuf[%d].v.len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)writeBuf[ii].v.len,(int)ii,(int)readBuf[ii].v.len);
+            continue;
+        } /* end if */
+
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)(writeBuf[ii].v.p), t2=(hvl_t *)(readBuf[ii].v.p), jj=0; (size_t)jj<readBuf[ii].v.len; jj++, t1++, t2++) {
+            if (t1->len != t2->len) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "%d: VL data length don't match!, ii=%d, jj=%d, t1->len=%d, t2->len=%d\n",__LINE__,(int)ii,(int)jj,(int)t1->len,(int)t2->len);
+                continue;
+            } /* end if */
+            for (kk=0; (size_t)kk<t2->len; kk++) {
+                if (((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk] != ((unsigned int *)t2->p)[kk] ) {
+                    fprintf(stderr, "VL data values don't match!, t1->p[%d]=%d, t2->p[%d]=%d\n",(int)kk, (int)((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk], (int)kk, (int)((unsigned int *)t2->p)[kk]);
+                    continue;
+                } /* end if */
+            } /* end for */
+        } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Release datatypes */
+    if (H5Tclose(vlatomic) < 0)
+	goto error;
+    if (H5Tclose(vlofvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* testfl_compound_VL_VLtype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * testfl_VLof_VLtype(): Test that a packet table of VL datatype with VL
+ *	datatypes of atomic datatypes can be created and written
+ *	correctly. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static int testfl_VLof_VLtype(void)
+{
+    hid_t   fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Test file identifier */
+    hid_t   ptable=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Packet table identifier */
+    hid_t   vlatomic=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* Variable length datatype */
+    hid_t   vlofvl=H5I_INVALID_HID;	/* VL datatype of VL datatypes */
+    hsize_t count;		/* Number of records in the table */
+    hvl_t   *t1;		/* pointer to advance */
+    int     ii, jj, kk;		/* Loop variables */
+    hvl_t   writeBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold data to be written */
+    hvl_t   readBuf[NRECORDS];	/* Buffer to hold read data */
+    char    msg[80];		/* For error message */
+    herr_t  ret;		/* Returned status from a callee */
+
+    TESTING3("        with vlen datatype of vlen datatype");
+
+    /* Allocate and initialize VL data to write (copied from C test) */
+    for (ii=0; ii< NRECORDS; ii++) {
+        writeBuf[ii].p = HDmalloc((ii+1)*sizeof(hvl_t));
+        if (writeBuf[ii].p == NULL) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+            goto error;
+        } /* end if */
+        writeBuf[ii].len = ii+1;
+        for (t1=(hvl_t *)(writeBuf[ii].p), jj=0; jj<(ii+1); jj++, t1++)
+	{
+            t1->p = HDmalloc((jj+1)*sizeof(unsigned int));
+	    if (t1->p == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot allocate memory for VL data! ii=%u\n",ii);
+		goto error;
+	    }
+            t1->len = jj+1;
+            for (kk=0; kk<(jj+1); kk++)
+                ((unsigned int *)t1->p)[kk] = ii*100+jj*10+kk;
+        } /* end for */
+    } /* end for */
+
+    /* Open the file */
+    fid = H5Fopen(TESTFL_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a VL datatype of an atomic type */
+    vlatomic = H5Tvlen_create (H5T_NATIVE_UINT);
+    if (vlatomic < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    vlofvl = H5Tvlen_create (vlatomic);
+    if (vlofvl < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Create a packet table that uses a vlen datatype of vlen datatype */
+    ptable = H5PTcreate_fl(fid, PT_VLEN_VLEN, vlofvl, (hsize_t)1, 0);
+
+    /* Ensure that PT is created successfully */
+    if (ptable == H5I_INVALID_HID)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the vlen datatype */
+    if (H5Tclose(vlofvl) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Write the entire buffer to the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTappend(ptable, (size_t)5, writeBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Get the number of packets in the packet table, should be NRECORDS. */
+    ret = H5PTget_num_packets(ptable, &count);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    sprintf(msg, "The number of packets in the packet table must be %u\n", NRECORDS);
+    VERIFY(count == NRECORDS, msg);
+
+    /* Read all five packets back */
+    ret = H5PTread_packets(ptable, (hsize_t)0, (size_t)5, (void*)readBuf );
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Free the buffers */
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+    ret = H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the packet table */
+    ret = H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (ret < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    /* Close the file */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	goto error;
+
+    PASSED();
+    return SUCCEED;
+
+error: /* An error has occurred.  Clean up and exit. */
+    if (H5PTis_valid(ptable) > 0) H5PTclose(ptable);
+    if (fid > 0) H5Fclose(fid);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, readBuf);
+    H5PTfree_vlen_buff(ptable, NRECORDS, writeBuf);
+    H5_FAILED();
+    return FAIL;
+} /* testfl_VLof_VLtype */
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * test_packet_table_with_varlen(): Invokes individual tests to ensure that
+ *	packet tables with variable length are created and written correctly
+ *	without the specific VL PT functionality. (HDFFV-442)
+ *
+ * 2016/01/27 -BMR
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+int test_packet_table_with_varlen(void)
+{
+    hid_t fid=H5I_INVALID_HID;		/* File identifier */
+    int status = SUCCEED;
+
+    /* Create a file using default properties */
+    fid = H5Fcreate(TEST_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	return FAIL;
+
+    /* Close the file.  The file will be opened by each test function below */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	return FAIL;
+
+    HDputs("Testing packet table with various variable-length datatypes");
+
+    /* If any test fails, move on to subsequent test, but status will indicate
+       there is a failure. */
+
+    /* Test variable length of a simple type */
+    if (test_VLof_atomic() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test variable length of a compound type */
+    if (test_VLof_comptype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test compound type with variable length */
+    if (test_compound_VL_VLtype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test variable length of a variable length */
+    if (test_VLof_VLtype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test variable length of a variable length */
+    if (test_H5PTis_varlen() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test adding attributes to packet table */
+    if (test_attributes() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test accessor functions */
+    if (test_accessors() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+
+/**************************************************************************
+	Calling test functions for deprecated function H5PTcreate_fl
+	Mar 2016, -BMR
+
+**************************************************************************/
+
+    /* Create a file using default properties */
+    fid = H5Fcreate(TESTFL_FILE_NAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
+    if (fid < 0)
+	return FAIL;
+
+    /* Close the file.  The file will be opened by each test function below */
+    if (H5Fclose(fid) < 0)
+	return FAIL;
+
+    HDputs("Testing packet table with various variable-length datatypes - H5PTcreate_fl");
+
+    /* If any test fails, move on to subsequent test, but status will indicate
+       there is a failure. */
+
+    /* Test variable length of a simple type */
+    if (testfl_VLof_atomic() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test variable length of a compound type */
+    if (testfl_VLof_comptype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test compound type with variable length */
+    if (testfl_compound_VL_VLtype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    /* Test variable length of a variable length */
+    if (testfl_VLof_VLtype() < 0)
+	status = FAIL;
+
+    return(status);
+}