Clean up tools warnings introduced by H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT macro

12 files changed, 485 insertions, 552 deletions

diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff.c b/tools/lib/h5diff.c
index d4a2d56..82c1a50 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff.c
@@ -261,7 +261,6 @@ static void
 build_match_list (const char *objname1, trav_info_t *info1, const char *objname2, trav_info_t *info2,
         trav_table_t ** table_out, diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 0)
     size_t   curr1 = 0;
     size_t   curr2 = 0;
     unsigned infile[2];
@@ -275,13 +274,14 @@ build_match_list (const char *objname1, trav_info_t *info1, const char *objname2
     trav_table_t *table = NULL;
     size_t   idx;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("build_match_list start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     /* init */
     trav_table_init(&table);
     if (table == NULL) {
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(-1, "Cannot create traverse table");
+        H5TOOLS_INFO("Cannot create traverse table");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
     }
+
     /*
      * This is necessary for the case that given objects are group and
      * have different names (ex: obj1 is /grp1 and obj2 is /grp5).
@@ -373,9 +373,6 @@ done:
     *table_out = table;
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
-
-    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("build_match_list finish");
 }
 
 
@@ -402,20 +399,19 @@ trav_grp_objs(const char *path, const H5O_info_t *oinfo,
 static herr_t
 trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, 0)
     trav_info_t   *tinfo = (trav_info_t *)udata;
     diff_opt_t    *opts = (diff_opt_t *)tinfo->opts;
     h5tool_link_info_t lnk_info;
     const char    *ext_fname;
     const char    *ext_path;
+    herr_t         ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
     /* init linkinfo struct */
     HDmemset(&lnk_info, 0, sizeof(h5tool_link_info_t));
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if (!opts->follow_links) {
         trav_info_visit_lnk(path, linfo, tinfo);
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
     }
 
     switch(linfo->type) {
@@ -429,16 +425,16 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
                 trav_info_visit_lnk(path, linfo, tinfo);
                 if (opts->no_dangle_links)
                     opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR; /* make dangling link is error */
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
             }
 
             /* check if already visit the target object */
             if(symlink_is_visited( &(tinfo->symlink_visited), linfo->type, NULL, lnk_info.trg_path))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
 
             /* add this link as visited link */
             if(symlink_visit_add( &(tinfo->symlink_visited), linfo->type, NULL, lnk_info.trg_path) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
 
             if(h5trav_visit(tinfo->fid, path, TRUE, TRUE,
                          trav_grp_objs,trav_grp_symlinks, tinfo, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0) {
@@ -458,19 +454,19 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
                 trav_info_visit_lnk(path, linfo, tinfo);
                 if (opts->no_dangle_links)
                     opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR; /* make dangling link is error */
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
             }
 
             if(H5Lunpack_elink_val(lnk_info.trg_path, linfo->u.val_size, NULL, &ext_fname, &ext_path) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
 
             /* check if already visit the target object */
             if(symlink_is_visited( &(tinfo->symlink_visited), linfo->type, ext_fname, ext_path))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
 
             /* add this link as visited link */
             if(symlink_visit_add( &(tinfo->symlink_visited), linfo->type, ext_fname, ext_path) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
 
             if(h5trav_visit(tinfo->fid, path, TRUE, TRUE,
                             trav_grp_objs,trav_grp_symlinks, tinfo, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0) {
@@ -494,7 +490,6 @@ done:
     if (lnk_info.trg_path)
         HDfree(lnk_info.trg_path);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -515,7 +510,6 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                const char *objname2,
                diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 0)
     hid_t         file1_id = -1;
     hid_t         file2_id = -1;
     char          filenames[2][MAX_FILENAME];
@@ -546,8 +540,8 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
     h5tool_link_info_t trg_linfo2;
     /* list for common objects */
     trav_table_t *match_list = NULL;
+    diff_err_t    ret_value = H5DIFF_NO_ERR;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("h5diff start");
     /* init filenames */
     HDmemset(filenames, 0, MAX_FILENAME * 2);
@@ -571,14 +565,14 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
     /* open file 1 */
     if((file1_id = h5tools_fopen(fname1, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, H5P_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, (size_t)0)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("h5diff: <%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
     } /* end if */
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("file1_id = %s", fname1);
 
     /* open file 2 */
     if((file2_id = h5tools_fopen(fname2, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, H5P_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, (size_t)0)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("h5diff: <%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
     } /* end if */
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("file2_id = %s", fname2);
 
@@ -597,11 +591,11 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj1fullname, "/%s", objname1) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             /* (malloc 2 more for "/" and end-of-line) */
             if ((obj1fullname = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(objname1) + 2)) == NULL)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
 
             HDstrcpy(obj1fullname, "/");
             HDstrcat(obj1fullname, objname1);
@@ -615,11 +609,11 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj2fullname, "/%s", objname2) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             /* (malloc 2 more for "/" and end-of-line) */
             if ((obj2fullname = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(objname2) + 2)) == NULL)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
             HDstrcpy(obj2fullname, "/");
             HDstrcat(obj2fullname, objname2);
 #endif /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
@@ -638,12 +632,12 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
             /* check if link itself exist */
             if(H5Lexists(file1_id, obj1fullname, H5P_DEFAULT) <= 0) {
                 parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj1fullname, fname1);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Error: Object could not be found");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Error: Object could not be found");
             }
             /* get info from link */
             if(H5Lget_info(file1_id, obj1fullname, &src_linfo1, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Unable to get link info from <%s>\n", obj1fullname);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Lget_info failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Lget_info failed");
             }
 
             info1_lp = info1_obj;
@@ -659,7 +653,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 
                 if(H5Oget_info_by_name2(file1_id, obj1fullname, &oinfo1, H5O_INFO_BASIC, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                     parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Error: Could not get file contents");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Error: Could not get file contents");
                 }
                 obj1type = (h5trav_type_t)oinfo1.type;
                 trav_info_add(info1_obj, obj1fullname, obj1type);
@@ -688,12 +682,12 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
             /* check if link itself exist */
             if(H5Lexists(file2_id, obj2fullname, H5P_DEFAULT) <= 0) {
                 parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj2fullname, fname2);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Error: Object could not be found");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Error: Object could not be found");
             }
             /* get info from link */
             if(H5Lget_info(file2_id, obj2fullname, &src_linfo2, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Unable to get link info from <%s>\n", obj2fullname);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Lget_info failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Lget_info failed");
             }
 
             info2_lp = info2_obj;
@@ -709,7 +703,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 
                 if(H5Oget_info_by_name2(file2_id, obj2fullname, &oinfo2, H5O_INFO_BASIC, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                     parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Error: Could not get file contents");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Error: Could not get file contents");
                 }
                 obj2type = (h5trav_type_t)oinfo2.type;
                 trav_info_add(info2_obj, obj2fullname, obj2type);
@@ -761,7 +755,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 /* treat dangling link as error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", obj1fullname);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "treat dangling link as error");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "treat dangling link as error");
             }
             else {
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
@@ -769,13 +763,13 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 if (l_ret1 != 0 ||  l_ret2 != 0) {
                     nfound++;
                     print_found(nfound);
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
                 }
             }
         }
         else if(l_ret1 < 0) { /* fail */
             parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj1fullname, fname1);
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Object could not be found");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Object could not be found");
         }
         else if(l_ret1 != 2) { /* symbolic link */
             obj1type = (h5trav_type_t)trg_linfo1.trg_type;
@@ -802,7 +796,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 /* treat dangling link as error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", obj2fullname);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "treat dangling link as error");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "treat dangling link as error");
             }
             else {
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
@@ -810,13 +804,13 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 if (l_ret1 != 0 || l_ret2 != 0) {
                     nfound++;
                     print_found(nfound);
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
                 }
             }
         }
         else if(l_ret2 < 0) { /* fail */
             parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj2fullname, fname2);
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Object could not be found");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Object could not be found");
         }
         else if(l_ret2 != 2) {  /* symbolic link */
             obj2type = (h5trav_type_t)trg_linfo2.trg_type;
@@ -844,7 +838,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         /* if no danglink links */
         if (l_ret1 > 0 && l_ret2 > 0)
             if (h5tools_is_obj_same(file1_id, obj1fullname, file2_id, obj2fullname) != 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
     }
 
     both_objs_grp = (obj1type == H5TRAV_TYPE_GROUP && obj2type == H5TRAV_TYPE_GROUP);
@@ -860,7 +854,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         if(h5trav_visit(file1_id, obj1fullname, TRUE, TRUE,
                         trav_grp_objs, trav_grp_symlinks, info1_grp, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Could not get file contents");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Could not get file contents");
         }
         info1_lp = info1_grp;
 
@@ -874,7 +868,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         if(h5trav_visit(file2_id, obj2fullname, TRUE, TRUE,
                         trav_grp_objs, trav_grp_symlinks, info2_grp, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Could not get file contents");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Could not get file contents");
        } /* end if */
         info2_lp = info2_grp;
     }
@@ -971,7 +965,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("h5diff finish - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -998,7 +991,6 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
                    hid_t file2_id, const char *grp2, trav_info_t *info2,
                    trav_table_t *table, diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
     hsize_t      nfound = 0;
     unsigned     i;
     const char  *grp1_path = "";
@@ -1008,8 +1000,8 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
     diff_args_t  argdata;
     size_t       idx1 = 0;
     size_t       idx2 = 0;
+    diff_err_t   ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_match start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     /*
      * if not root, prepare object name to be pre-appended to group path to
@@ -1069,11 +1061,11 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj1_fullpath, "%s%s", grp1_path, table->objs[i].name) < 0) {
-                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             if((obj1_fullpath = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(grp1_path) + HDstrlen(table->objs[i].name) + 1)) == NULL) {
-                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 HDstrcpy(obj1_fullpath, grp1_path);
@@ -1086,11 +1078,11 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj2_fullpath, "%s%s", grp2_path, table->objs[i].name) < 0) {
-                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             if((obj2_fullpath = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(grp2_path) + HDstrlen(table->objs[i].name) + 1)) == NULL) {
-                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 HDstrcpy(obj2_fullpath, grp2_path);
@@ -1359,7 +1351,6 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
     }
 #endif /* H5_HAVE_PARALLEL */
 
-done:
     opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
 
     /* free table */
@@ -1369,7 +1360,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_match finish diffs=%d - errstat:%d", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -1395,7 +1385,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
               diff_opt_t * opts,
               diff_args_t *argdata)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
     int           status = -1;
     hid_t         dset1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t         dset2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
@@ -1408,12 +1397,12 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
     hbool_t       is_hard_link = FALSE;
     hsize_t       nfound = 0;
     h5trav_type_t object_type;
+    diff_err_t    ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
     /* to get link info */
     h5tool_link_info_t linkinfo1;
     h5tool_link_info_t linkinfo2;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     /*init link info struct */
@@ -1437,7 +1426,7 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff links");
         /* target object1 - get type and name */
         if ((status = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file1_id, path1, &linkinfo1, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
 
         /* dangling link */
         if (status == 0) {
@@ -1445,7 +1434,7 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 /* dangling link is error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", path1);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "dangling link is error");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "dangling link is error");
             }
             else
                 is_dangle_link1 = TRUE;
@@ -1453,14 +1442,14 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
 
         /* target object2 - get type and name */
         if ((status = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file2_id, path2, &linkinfo2, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
         /* dangling link */
         if (status == 0) {
             if (opts->no_dangle_links) {
                 /* dangling link is error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", path2);
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "dangling link is error");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "dangling link is error");
             }
             else
                 is_dangle_link2 = TRUE;
@@ -1468,7 +1457,7 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
 
         /* found dangling link */
         if (is_dangle_link1 || is_dangle_link2) {
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
         }
 
         /* follow symbolic link option */
@@ -1493,7 +1482,7 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         /* TODO: will need to update non-comparable is different
          * opts->contents = 0;
          */
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
     }
     else /* now both object types are same */
         object_type = argdata->type[0];
@@ -1545,7 +1534,7 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             } /* if(opts->m_verbose || opts->m_report) */
 
             /* exact same, so comparison is done */
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(0);
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(H5DIFF_NO_ERR);
         }
     }
 
@@ -1557,9 +1546,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         case H5TRAV_TYPE_DATASET:
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff object type H5TRAV_TYPE_DATASET - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
             if((dset1_id = H5Dopen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dopen2 failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dopen2 failed");
             if((dset2_id = H5Dopen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dopen2 failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dopen2 failed");
             /* verbose (-v) and report (-r) mode */
             if(opts->m_verbose || opts->m_report) {
                 do_print_objname("dataset", path1, path2, opts);
@@ -1594,9 +1583,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             }
 
             if(H5Dclose(dset1_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dclose failed");
             if(H5Dclose(dset2_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dclose failed");
             break;
 
        /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1606,12 +1595,12 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         case H5TRAV_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE:
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5TRAV_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE 1:%s  2:%s ", path1, path2);
             if((type1_id = H5Topen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Topen2 failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Topen2 failed");
             if((type2_id = H5Topen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Topen2 failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Topen2 failed");
 
             if((status = H5Tequal(type1_id, type2_id)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tequal failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tequal failed");
 
             /* if H5Tequal is > 0 then the datatypes refer to the same datatype */
             nfound = (status > 0) ? 0 : 1;
@@ -1635,9 +1624,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             }
 
             if(H5Tclose(type1_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tclose failed");
             if(H5Tclose(type2_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tclose failed");
             break;
 
        /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1654,9 +1643,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 print_found(nfound);
 
             if((grp1_id = H5Gopen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Gclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Gclose failed");
             if((grp2_id = H5Gopen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Gclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Gclose failed");
 
             /*-----------------------------------------------------------------
              * compare attributes
@@ -1670,9 +1659,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             }
 
             if(H5Gclose(grp1_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Gclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Gclose failed");
             if(H5Gclose(grp2_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Gclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Gclose failed");
             break;
 
 
@@ -1694,7 +1683,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 /* always print the number of differences found in verbose mode */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     print_found(nfound);
-
                 }
             break;
 
@@ -1808,7 +1796,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff finish:%d - errstat:%d", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
index 46de59d..98b9db3 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
@@ -275,7 +275,6 @@ hsize_t diff_array(
         hid_t container1_id,
         hid_t container2_id) /* dataset where the reference came from*/
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 0)
     hsize_t         nfound = 0; /* number of differences found */
     size_t          size; /* size of datum */
     unsigned char  *mem1 = (unsigned char*) _mem1;
@@ -288,7 +287,6 @@ hsize_t diff_array(
     mcomp_t         members;
     H5T_class_t     type_class;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_array start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     /* get the size. */
     size = H5Tget_size(m_type);
@@ -387,7 +385,6 @@ hsize_t diff_array(
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_array finish:%d - errstat:%d", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit: %d", nfound);
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -441,7 +438,6 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
         int *ph,             /*print header */
         mcomp_t *members)    /*compound members */
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hsize_t, opts->err_stat)
     unsigned char  *mem1 = (unsigned char*) _mem1;
     unsigned char  *mem2 = (unsigned char*) _mem2;
     size_t          u;
@@ -458,8 +454,8 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
     hsize_t         nfound = 0;    /* differences found */
     double          per;
     hbool_t         both_zero;
+    diff_err_t      ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_datum start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     type_size = H5Tget_size(m_type);
@@ -481,7 +477,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
     case H5T_TIME:
     case H5T_NCLASSES:
     default:
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Invalid type class");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Invalid type class");
         break;
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -813,9 +809,9 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                 H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
                             }
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref2_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref1_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_DATASET_REGION1:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION1");
@@ -825,27 +821,27 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                     if((region2_id = H5Ropen_region(ref2_buf, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
                                         nfound = diff_region(obj1_id, obj2_id, region1_id, region2_id, opts);
                                         if(H5Sclose(region2_id) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                                     }
                                     if(H5Sclose(region1_id) < 0)
-                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                                 }
                                 if(H5Oclose(obj2_id) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Oclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Oclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                             }
                             else {
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                             }
                             if(H5Oclose(obj1_id) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Oclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Oclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         }
                         else {
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         }
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref2_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref1_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_OBJECT2:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_OBJECT2");
@@ -914,9 +910,9 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                 H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                             }
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref2_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                         if(H5Rdestroy(ref1_buf) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_DATASET_REGION2:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
@@ -925,7 +921,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                         obj1_id = H5Ropen_object(ref1_buf, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
                         obj2_id = H5Ropen_object(ref2_buf, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT);
                         if((obj1_id  < 0) || (obj1_id  < 0)) {
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                         }
                         else {
                             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("open_region - H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
@@ -942,16 +938,16 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                             nfound = diff_region(obj1_id, obj2_id, region1_id, region2_id, opts);
                                         }
                                         if(H5Sclose(region2_id) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                                     }
                                     else
-                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                                 } /* end else to if (h5tools_is_zero(... */
                                 if(H5Sclose(region1_id) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             }
                             else
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             if (obj1_id >= 0)
                                 if(H5Dclose(obj1_id) < 0) {
                                     opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR;
@@ -963,9 +959,9 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                     H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                                 }
                             if(H5Rdestroy(ref1_buf) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             if(H5Rdestroy(ref2_buf) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                         }
                         break;
                     case H5R_ATTR:
@@ -984,15 +980,15 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                             }
 
                             if((obj1_id  < 0) || (obj1_id  < 0)) {
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "H5Ropen_attr H5R_ATTR failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_attr H5R_ATTR failed");
                             }
                             else {
                                 /* get name */
                                 if(H5Aget_name(obj1_id, (size_t)ATTR_NAME_MAX, name1) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Aget_name first attribute failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_name first attribute failed");
                                 /* get name */
                                 if(H5Aget_name(obj2_id, (size_t)ATTR_NAME_MAX, name2) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Aget_name second attribute failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_name second attribute failed");
 
                                 H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5R_ATTR diff_attr_data - name1=%s, name2=%s", name1, name2);
                                 nfound = diff_attr_data(obj1_id, obj2_id, name1, name2, NULL, NULL, opts);
@@ -1009,9 +1005,9 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                                     H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Aclose H5R_ATTR failed");
                                 }
                             if(H5Rdestroy(ref2_buf) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
                             if(H5Rdestroy(ref1_buf) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(1, "H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
                         }
                         break;
                     case H5R_BADTYPE:
@@ -1151,7 +1147,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             char temp2_char;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(char))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not char size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not char size");
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_char, mem1, sizeof(char));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_char, mem2, sizeof(char));
             /* -d and !-p */
@@ -1226,7 +1222,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned char temp2_uchar;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned char))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not unsigned char size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not unsigned char size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_uchar, mem1, sizeof(unsigned char));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_uchar, mem2, sizeof(unsigned char));
@@ -1302,7 +1298,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             short temp2_short;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(short))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not short size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not short size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_short, mem1, sizeof(short));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_short, mem2, sizeof(short));
@@ -1378,7 +1374,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned short temp2_ushort;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned short))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not unsigned short size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not unsigned short size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_ushort, mem1, sizeof(unsigned short));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_ushort, mem2, sizeof(unsigned short));
@@ -1454,7 +1450,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             int temp2_int;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(int))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not int size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not int size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_int, mem1, sizeof(int));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_int, mem2, sizeof(int));
@@ -1530,7 +1526,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned int temp2_uint;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned int))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not unsigned int size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not unsigned int size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_uint, mem1, sizeof(unsigned int));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_uint, mem2, sizeof(unsigned int));
@@ -1606,7 +1602,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             long temp2_long;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(long))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not long size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not long size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_long, mem1, sizeof(long));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_long, mem2, sizeof(long));
@@ -1682,7 +1678,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned long temp2_ulong;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned long))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not unsigned long size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not unsigned long size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_ulong, mem1, sizeof(unsigned long));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_ulong, mem2, sizeof(unsigned long));
@@ -1767,7 +1763,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t isnan2 = FALSE;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(float))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not float size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not float size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_float, mem1, sizeof(float));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_float, mem2, sizeof(float));
@@ -1926,7 +1922,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t isnan2 = FALSE;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(double))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not double size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not double size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_double, mem1, sizeof(double));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_double, mem2, sizeof(double));
@@ -2085,7 +2081,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t     isnan2 = FALSE;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(long double)) {
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "Type size is not long double size");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "Type size is not long double size");
             }
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_double, mem1, sizeof(long double));
@@ -2243,7 +2239,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_datum finish:%d - errstat:%d", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -2320,7 +2315,6 @@ void print_points(int i, hsize_t *ptdata, int ndims) {
 static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t region2_id, diff_opt_t *opts)
 
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hsize_t, 0)
     hssize_t nblocks1, npoints1;
     hssize_t nblocks2, npoints2;
     hsize_t  alloc_size;
@@ -2331,8 +2325,8 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
     int      i, j;
     hsize_t  nfound_b = 0; /* block differences found */
     hsize_t  nfound_p = 0; /* point differences found */
+    hsize_t  ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_region start");
 
     ndims1 = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(region1_id);
@@ -2370,7 +2364,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
 
         if((ptdata1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
             opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR;
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "Buffer allocation failed");
+            H5TOOLS_INFO("Buffer allocation failed");
         }
         else {
             H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(nblocks1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -2378,7 +2372,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
 
             if((ptdata2 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
                 opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR;
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "Buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_INFO("Buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(nblocks2, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -2434,7 +2428,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
 
         if((ptdata1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
             opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR;
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "Buffer allocation failed");
+            H5TOOLS_INFO("Buffer allocation failed");
         }
         else {
             H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(npoints1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -2442,7 +2436,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
 
             if((ptdata2 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
                 opts->err_stat = H5DIFF_ERR;
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, "Buffer allocation failed");
+                H5TOOLS_INFO("Buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(npoints1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -2507,7 +2501,6 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
 
 done:
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit with diffs:%d", ret_value);
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -2523,12 +2516,10 @@ done:
 static hsize_t character_compare(char *mem1, char *mem2, hsize_t i, size_t u,
         int rank, hsize_t *dims, hsize_t *acc, hsize_t *pos, diff_opt_t *opts, const char *obj1, const char *obj2, int *ph)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 0)
     hsize_t nfound = 0; /* differences found */
     char    temp1_uchar;
     char    temp2_uchar;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     HDmemcpy(&temp1_uchar, mem1, sizeof(unsigned char));
     HDmemcpy(&temp2_uchar, mem2, sizeof(unsigned char));
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("character_compare start %d=%d",temp1_uchar,temp2_uchar);
@@ -2547,7 +2538,6 @@ static hsize_t character_compare(char *mem1, char *mem2, hsize_t i, size_t u,
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("character_compare finish");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit: %d", nfound);
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -4519,13 +4509,12 @@ static hsize_t diff_ullong(unsigned char *mem1, unsigned char *mem2,
 static
 int ull2float(unsigned long long ull_value, float *f_value)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hid_t          dxpl_id = -1;
     unsigned char *buf = NULL;
     size_t         src_size;
     size_t         dst_size;
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ull2float start");
     if ((dxpl_id = H5Pcreate(H5P_DATASET_XFER)) < 0)
         H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Pcreate failed");
@@ -4554,7 +4543,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ull2float finish");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
index 6b1857f..c93293b 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
@@ -139,20 +139,20 @@ static void table_attr_mark_exist(unsigned *exist, char *name, table_attrs_t *ta
  *------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static herr_t build_match_list_attrs(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, table_attrs_t ** table_out,  diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, 0)
-    H5O_info_t oinfo1, oinfo2;    /* Object info */
-    hid_t      attr1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
-    hid_t      attr2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
-    size_t     curr1 = 0;
-    size_t     curr2 = 0;
-    unsigned   infile[2];
-    char       name1[ATTR_NAME_MAX];
-    char       name2[ATTR_NAME_MAX];
-    int        cmp;
-    unsigned   i;
     table_attrs_t *table_lp = NULL;
+    H5O_info_t     oinfo1, oinfo2;    /* Object info */
+    hid_t          attr1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
+    hid_t          attr2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
+    size_t         curr1 = 0;
+    size_t         curr2 = 0;
+    unsigned       infile[2];
+    char           name1[ATTR_NAME_MAX];
+    char           name2[ATTR_NAME_MAX];
+    int            cmp;
+    unsigned       i;
+    herr_t         ret_value = SUCCEED;
+
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("build_match_list_attrs start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     if(H5Oget_info2(loc1_id, &oinfo1, H5O_INFO_NUM_ATTRS) < 0) {
@@ -302,7 +302,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("build_match_list_attrs end - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -318,7 +317,6 @@ done:
 
 hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const char *name2, const char *path1, const char *path2, diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
     hid_t      space1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;    /* space ID */
     hid_t      space2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;    /* space ID */
     hid_t      ftype1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;    /* file data type ID */
@@ -327,8 +325,8 @@ hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const
     hid_t      mtype2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;    /* memory data type ID */
     size_t     msize1;            /* memory size of memory type */
     size_t     msize2;            /* memory size of memory type */
-    void       *buf1 = NULL;      /* data buffer */
-    void       *buf2 = NULL;      /* data buffer */
+    void      *buf1 = NULL;       /* data buffer */
+    void      *buf2 = NULL;       /* data buffer */
     hbool_t    buf1hasdata = FALSE;    /* buffer has data */
     hbool_t    buf2hasdata = FALSE;    /* buffer has data */
     hsize_t    nelmts1;           /* number of elements in dataset */
@@ -340,49 +338,49 @@ hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const
     char       np2[512];
     unsigned   u;                 /* Local index variable */
     hsize_t    nfound = 0;
-    int       j;
+    int        j;
+    diff_err_t ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr_data start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     /* get the datatypes  */
     if((ftype1_id = H5Aget_type(attr1_id)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
     if((ftype2_id = H5Aget_type(attr2_id)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
 
     if (H5Tget_class(ftype1_id) == H5T_REFERENCE) {
         if((mtype1_id = H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) first attribute ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) first attribute ftype failed");
     }
     else {
         if((mtype1_id = H5Tget_native_type(ftype1_id, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_native_type first attribute ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_native_type first attribute ftype failed");
     }
     if (H5Tget_class(ftype2_id) == H5T_REFERENCE) {
         if((mtype2_id = H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) second attribute ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) second attribute ftype failed");
     }
     else {
         if((mtype2_id = H5Tget_native_type(ftype2_id, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_native_type second attribute ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_native_type second attribute ftype failed");
     }
     if((msize1 = H5Tget_size(mtype1_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_size first attribute mtype failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_size first attribute mtype failed");
     if((msize2 = H5Tget_size(mtype2_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_size second attribute mtype failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_size second attribute mtype failed");
 
     /* get the dataspace   */
     if((space1_id = H5Aget_space(attr1_id)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_space first attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_space first attribute failed");
     if((space2_id = H5Aget_space(attr2_id)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_space second attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_space second attribute failed");
 
     /* get dimensions  */
     if((rank1 = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space1_id, dims1, NULL)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims first attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims first attribute failed");
     if((rank2 = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space2_id, dims2, NULL)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims second attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims second attribute failed");
 
     /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
     * check for comparable TYPE and SPACE
@@ -398,7 +396,7 @@ hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const
         *------------------------------------------------------------------
         */
         if(FAIL == match_up_memsize(ftype1_id, ftype2_id, &mtype1_id, &mtype2_id, &msize1, &msize2))
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "match_up_memsize failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "match_up_memsize failed");
 
         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr_data read");
         /*---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -413,18 +411,18 @@ hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const
         buf2 = (void *)HDcalloc((size_t)(nelmts1), msize2);
         if(buf1 == NULL || buf2 == NULL) {
             parallel_print("cannot read into memory\n");
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "buffer allocation failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "buffer allocation failed");
         }
         if(H5Aread(attr1_id, mtype1_id, buf1) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Failed reading attribute1 %s\n", name1);
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
         }
         else
             buf1hasdata = TRUE;
 
         if(H5Aread(attr2_id, mtype2_id, buf2) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Failed reading attribute2 %s\n", name2);
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
         }
         else
             buf2hasdata = TRUE;
@@ -485,17 +483,17 @@ hsize_t diff_attr_data(hid_t attr1_id, hid_t attr2_id, const char *name1, const
     buf2 = NULL;
 
     if(H5Tclose(ftype1_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
     if(H5Tclose(ftype2_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
     if(H5Sclose(space1_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
     if(H5Sclose(space2_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
     if(H5Tclose(mtype1_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
     if(H5Tclose(mtype2_id) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
 
 done:
     opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
@@ -523,7 +521,6 @@ done:
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr_data end - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -542,21 +539,20 @@ done:
 
 hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, const char *path1, const char *path2, diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
-    hid_t      attr1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
-    hid_t      attr2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
-    char       *name1 = NULL;
-    char       *name2 = NULL;
-    unsigned   u;                 /* Local index variable */
-    hsize_t    nfound = 0;
-    hsize_t    nfound_total = 0;
     table_attrs_t *match_list_attrs = NULL;
+    hid_t          attr1_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
+    hid_t          attr2_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;     /* attr ID */
+    char          *name1 = NULL;
+    char          *name2 = NULL;
+    unsigned       u;                 /* Local index variable */
+    hsize_t        nfound = 0;
+    hsize_t        nfound_total = 0;
+    diff_err_t     ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
     if(build_match_list_attrs(loc1_id, loc2_id, &match_list_attrs, opts) < 0) {
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "build_match_list_attrs failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "build_match_list_attrs failed");
     }
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("build_match_list_attrs - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
 
@@ -577,19 +573,19 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, const char *path1, const char *p
             /*--------------
             * attribute 1 */
             if((attr1_id = H5Aopen(loc1_id, name1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aopen first attribute failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aopen first attribute failed");
 
             /*--------------
             * attribute 2 */
             if((attr2_id = H5Aopen(loc2_id, name2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aopen second attribute failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aopen second attribute failed");
 
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr got attributes");
             nfound = diff_attr_data(attr1_id, attr2_id, name1, name2, path1, path2, opts);
             if(H5Aclose(attr1_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             if(H5Aclose(attr2_id) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
 
             nfound_total += nfound;
         }
@@ -607,7 +603,6 @@ done:
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_attr end - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound_total;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
index ced72b3..8a6eeeb 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
@@ -33,15 +33,14 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
                      const char *obj2_name,
                      diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
-    int     status = -1;
-    hid_t   did1 = -1;
-    hid_t   did2 = -1;
-    hid_t   dcpl1 = -1;
-    hid_t   dcpl2 = -1;
-    hsize_t nfound = 0;
-
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
+    int        status = -1;
+    hid_t      did1 = -1;
+    hid_t      did2 = -1;
+    hid_t      dcpl1 = -1;
+    hid_t      dcpl2 = -1;
+    hsize_t    nfound = 0;
+    diff_err_t ret_value = opts->err_stat;
+
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_dataset start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * open the handles
@@ -50,17 +49,17 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
     /* Open the datasets */
     if((did1 = H5Dopen2(file1_id, obj1_name, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("Cannot open dataset <%s>\n", obj1_name);
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dopen2 first dataset failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dopen2 first dataset failed");
     }
     if((did2 = H5Dopen2(file2_id, obj2_name, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("Cannot open dataset <%s>\n", obj2_name);
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dopen2 second dataset failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dopen2 second dataset failed");
     }
 
     if((dcpl1 = H5Dget_create_plist(did1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_create_plist first dataset failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_create_plist first dataset failed");
     if((dcpl2 = H5Dget_create_plist(did2)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_create_plist second dataset failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_create_plist second dataset failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * check if the dataset creation property list has filters that
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
             (status = h5tools_canreadf((opts->m_verbose ? obj2_name : NULL), dcpl2) == 1))
         nfound = diff_datasetid(did1, did2, obj1_name, obj2_name, opts);
     else if (status < 0) {
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "h5tools_canreadf failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "h5tools_canreadf failed");
     }
     else {
         ret_value = 1;
@@ -95,7 +94,6 @@ done:
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_dataset finish:%d - errstat:%d", nfound, opts->err_stat);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -156,7 +154,6 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
                        const char *obj2_name,
                        diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, opts->err_stat)
     hid_t      sid1 = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t      sid2 = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t      f_tid1 = H5I_INVALID_HID;
@@ -198,32 +195,32 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
     int        i;
     unsigned int  vl_data1 = 0;          /*contains VL datatypes */
     unsigned int  vl_data2 = 0;          /*contains VL datatypes */
+    diff_err_t    ret_value = opts->err_stat;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_datasetid start - errstat:%d", opts->err_stat);
     /* Get the dataspace handle */
     if((sid1 = H5Dget_space(did1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     /* Get rank */
     if((rank1 = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(sid1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
 
     /* Get the dataspace handle */
     if((sid2 = H5Dget_space(did2)) < 0 )
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     /* Get rank */
     if((rank2 = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(sid2)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
 
     /* Get dimensions */
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(sid1, dims1, maxdim1) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
 
     /* Get dimensions */
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(sid2, dims2, maxdim2) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("rank: %ld - %ld", rank1, rank2);
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -233,25 +230,25 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
 
     /* Get the data type */
     if((f_tid1 = H5Dget_type(did1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_type failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_type failed");
 
     /* Get the data type */
     if((f_tid2 = H5Dget_type(did2)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_type failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_type failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * get the storage layout type
      *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      */
     if((dcpl1 = H5Dget_create_plist(did1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
     if((dcpl2 = H5Dget_create_plist(did2)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
 
     if((stl1 = H5Pget_layout(dcpl1)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Pget_layout failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Pget_layout failed");
     if((stl2 = H5Pget_layout(dcpl2)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Pget_layout failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Pget_layout failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * check for empty datasets
@@ -294,20 +291,20 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("check for memory type and sizes");
     if (H5Tget_class(f_tid1) == H5T_REFERENCE) {
         if((m_tid1 = H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) first ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) first ftype failed");
     }
     else {
         if((m_tid1 = H5Tget_native_type(f_tid1, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_native_type first ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_native_type first ftype failed");
     }
 
     if (H5Tget_class(f_tid2) == H5T_REFERENCE) {
         if((m_tid2 = H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) second ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tcopy(H5T_STD_REF) second ftype failed");
     }
     else {
         if((m_tid2 = H5Tget_native_type(f_tid2, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Tget_native_type second ftype failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Tget_native_type second ftype failed");
     }
 
     m_size1 = H5Tget_size(m_tid1);
@@ -375,7 +372,7 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
             if (FAIL == match_up_memsize (f_tid1, f_tid2,
                                         &m_tid1, &m_tid2,
                                         &m_size1, &m_size2))
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "match_up_memsize failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "match_up_memsize failed");
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("m_size: %ld - %ld", m_size1, m_size2);
             dadims = dims1;
             dam_size = m_size1;
@@ -423,10 +420,10 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("buf1 != NULL && buf2 != NULL");
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5Dread did1");
             if(H5Dread(did1, m_tid1, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, buf1) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dread failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dread failed");
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5Dread did2");
             if(H5Dread(did2, m_tid2, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, buf2) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dread failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dread failed");
 
             /* array diff */
             nfound = diff_array(buf1, buf2, danelmts, (hsize_t)0, rank1, dadims,
@@ -490,9 +487,9 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
              * E.g., sm_space.
              */
             if((sm_buf1 = HDmalloc((size_t)sm_nbytes)) == NULL)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "HDmalloc failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "HDmalloc failed");
             if((sm_buf2 = HDmalloc((size_t)sm_nbytes)) == NULL)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "HDmalloc failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "HDmalloc failed");
 
             sm_nelmts = sm_nbytes / p_type_nbytes;
             sm_space = H5Screate_simple(1, &sm_nelmts, NULL);
@@ -509,19 +506,19 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
                         hs_nelmts *= hs_size[i];
                     } /* end for */
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sid1, H5S_SELECT_SET, hs_offset, NULL, hs_size, NULL) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sid2, H5S_SELECT_SET, hs_offset, NULL, hs_size, NULL) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sm_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, zero, NULL, &hs_nelmts, NULL) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                 } /* end if */
                 else
                     hs_nelmts = 1;
 
                 if(H5Dread(did1, m_tid1, sm_space, sid1, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf1) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dread failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dread failed");
                 if(H5Dread(did2, m_tid2, sm_space, sid2, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf2) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(1, "H5Dread failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(H5DIFF_ERR, "H5Dread failed");
 
                 /* get array differences. in the case of hyperslab read, increment the number of differences
                 found in each hyperslab and pass the position at the beginning for printing */
@@ -611,7 +608,6 @@ done:
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_datasetid return:%d with nfound:%d", ret_value, nfound);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -640,14 +636,13 @@ int diff_can_type(hid_t       f_tid1, /* file data type */
                   diff_opt_t  *opts,
                   int         is_compound)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 1)               /* can_compare value */
     H5T_class_t  tclass1;
     H5T_class_t  tclass2;
     int          maxdim_diff = 0;          /* maximum dimensions are different */
     int          dim_diff = 0;             /* current dimensions are different */
     int          i;
+    int          ret_value = 1;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_can_type start");
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * check for the same class
@@ -858,7 +853,6 @@ done:
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("diff_can_type end - %d", ret_value);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_util.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_util.c
index 98df0c7..8da995a 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_util.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_util.c
@@ -339,9 +339,8 @@ herr_t match_up_memsize (hid_t f_tid1_id, hid_t f_tid2_id,
                          hid_t *m_tid1, hid_t *m_tid2,
                          size_t *m_size1, size_t  *m_size2)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
+    herr_t ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((*m_size1) != (*m_size2)) {
         if((*m_size1) < (*m_size2)) {
             H5Tclose(*m_tid1);
@@ -365,7 +364,6 @@ herr_t match_up_memsize (hid_t f_tid1_id, hid_t f_tid2_id,
 
 done:
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools.c b/tools/lib/h5tools.c
index 8eaa805..7a184e6 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools.c
@@ -430,8 +430,8 @@ h5tools_set_error_file(const char *fname, int is_bin)
 static hid_t
 h5tools_get_fapl(hid_t fapl, const char *driver, unsigned *drivernum)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
-    hid_t       new_fapl = -1; /* Copy of file access property list passed in, or new property list */
+    hid_t  new_fapl = -1; /* Copy of file access property list passed in, or new property list */
+    herr_t ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
     /* Make a copy of the FAPL, for the file open call to use, eventually */
     if (fapl == H5P_DEFAULT) {
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ h5tools_get_fapl(hid_t fapl, const char *driver, unsigned *drivernum)
             H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Pset_fapl_multi failed");
 
         if(drivernum)
-        *drivernum = MULTI_IDX;
+            *drivernum = MULTI_IDX;
     }
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_PARALLEL
     else if(!HDstrcmp(driver, drivernames[MPIO_IDX])) {
@@ -730,7 +730,6 @@ void
 h5tools_simple_prefix(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
                       h5tools_context_t *ctx, hsize_t elmtno, int secnum)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     h5tools_str_t prefix;
     h5tools_str_t str;          /*temporary for indentation */
     size_t templength = 0;
@@ -742,7 +741,6 @@ h5tools_simple_prefix(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     if (!ctx->need_prefix)
         return;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     HDmemset(&prefix, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -812,7 +810,6 @@ h5tools_simple_prefix(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     h5tools_str_close(&str);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -928,7 +925,6 @@ h5tools_render_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
         h5tools_context_t *ctx, h5tools_str_t *buffer, hsize_t *curr_pos,
         size_t ncols, hsize_t local_elmt_counter, hsize_t elmt_counter)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hbool_t  dimension_break = TRUE;
     char    *s = NULL;
     char    *section = NULL; /* a section of output */
@@ -938,7 +934,6 @@ h5tools_render_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     if (stream == NULL)
         return dimension_break;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter need_prefix=%d", ctx->need_prefix);
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("elmt_counter=%ld - local_elmt_counter=%ld", elmt_counter, local_elmt_counter);
 
@@ -1067,7 +1062,6 @@ h5tools_render_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     ctx->prev_multiline = multiline;
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return dimension_break;
 }
@@ -1102,14 +1096,12 @@ h5tools_render_region_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
         h5tools_context_t *ctx, h5tools_str_t *buffer, hsize_t *curr_pos,
         size_t ncols, hsize_t *ptdata, hsize_t local_elmt_counter, hsize_t elmt_counter)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hbool_t  dimension_break = TRUE;
     char    *s = NULL;
     char    *section = NULL; /* a section of output */
     int      secnum;         /* section sequence number */
     int      multiline;      /* datum was multiline */
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("elmt_counter=%ld - local_elmt_counter=%ld", elmt_counter, local_elmt_counter);
 
@@ -1221,7 +1213,6 @@ h5tools_render_region_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     ctx->prev_multiline = multiline;
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return dimension_break;
 }
@@ -1237,11 +1228,9 @@ h5tools_render_region_element(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info,
 void
 init_acc_pos(h5tools_context_t *ctx, hsize_t *dims)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     int i;
     unsigned j;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     if(ctx->ndims > 0) {
@@ -1255,7 +1244,6 @@ init_acc_pos(h5tools_context_t *ctx, hsize_t *dims)
     }
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1270,19 +1258,19 @@ init_acc_pos(h5tools_context_t *ctx, hsize_t *dims)
 int
 render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t block_nelmts)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
-    unsigned char     *mem  = (unsigned char*)_mem;
-    size_t             size;   /* datum size */
-    hsize_t            block_index;
-    H5T_class_t        type_class;
+    unsigned char *mem = (unsigned char*)_mem;
+    size_t         size;   /* datum size */
+    hsize_t        block_index;
+    H5T_class_t    type_class;
+    hbool_t        past_catch = FALSE;
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
     if((size = H5Tget_size(tid)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_size failed");
 
     if((type_class = H5Tget_class(tid)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_class failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_class failed");
 
     switch (type_class) {
         case H5T_INTEGER:
@@ -1303,7 +1291,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                 bytes_wrote = HDfwrite(mem, 1, bytes_in, stream);
 
                 if(bytes_wrote != bytes_in || (0 == bytes_wrote && HDferror(stream)))
-                    H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "fwrite failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "fwrite failed");
 
                 block_index -= (hsize_t)bytes_wrote;
                 mem = mem + bytes_wrote;
@@ -1327,7 +1315,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                         if (s != NULL)
                             size = HDstrlen(s);
                         else
-                            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "NULL string");
+                            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "NULL string");
                     }
                     else {
                         s = (char *) mem;
@@ -1335,7 +1323,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                     for (i = 0; i < size && (s[i] || pad != H5T_STR_NULLTERM); i++) {
                         HDmemcpy(&tempuchar, &s[i], sizeof(unsigned char));
                         if (1 != HDfwrite(&tempuchar, sizeof(unsigned char), 1, stream))
-                            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "fwrite failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "fwrite failed");
                     } /* i */
                 } /* for (block_index = 0; block_index < block_nelmts; block_index++) */
             }
@@ -1347,7 +1335,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
 
                 H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5T_COMPOUND");
                 if((snmembs = H5Tget_nmembers(tid)) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_nmembers of compound failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_nmembers of compound failed");
                 nmembs = (unsigned)snmembs;
 
                 for (block_index = 0; block_index < block_nelmts; block_index++) {
@@ -1363,7 +1351,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
 
                         if (render_bin_output(stream, container, memb, mem + offset, 1) < 0) {
                             H5Tclose(memb);
-                            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "render_bin_output of compound member failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "render_bin_output of compound member failed");
                         }
 
                         H5Tclose(memb);
@@ -1392,7 +1380,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                 }
                 else {
                     H5Tclose(memb);
-                    H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "calculate the number of array elements failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "calculate the number of array elements failed");
                 }
 
                 for (block_index = 0; block_index < block_nelmts; block_index++) {
@@ -1400,7 +1388,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                     /* dump the array element */
                     if (render_bin_output(stream, container, memb, mem, nelmts) < 0) {
                         H5Tclose(memb);
-                        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "render_bin_output failed");
+                        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "render_bin_output failed");
                     }
                 }
                 H5Tclose(memb);
@@ -1423,7 +1411,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                     /* dump the array element */
                     if (render_bin_output(stream, container, memb, ((char *) (((hvl_t *)((void *)mem))->p)), nelmts) < 0) {
                         H5Tclose(memb);
-                        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "render_bin_output failed");
+                        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "render_bin_output failed");
                     }
                 }
                 H5Tclose(memb);
@@ -1443,7 +1431,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                         for (block_index = 0; block_index < block_nelmts; block_index++) {
                             mem = ((unsigned char*)_mem) + block_index * size;
                             if((region_id = H5Ropen_object((const H5R_ref_t *)mem, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5T_STD_REF failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5T_STD_REF failed");
                             else {
                                 if((region_space = H5Ropen_region((const H5R_ref_t *)mem, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
                                     if (!h5tools_is_zero(mem, H5Tget_size(H5T_STD_REF))) {
@@ -1454,7 +1442,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
                                             render_bin_output_region_blocks(region_space, region_id, stream, container);
                                     }
                                     else {
-                                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5T_STD_REF NULL");
+                                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5T_STD_REF NULL");
                                     }
                                     H5Sclose(region_space);
                                 } /* end if (region_space >= 0) */
@@ -1480,7 +1468,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
             for (block_index = 0; block_index < block_nelmts; block_index++) {
                 mem = ((unsigned char*)_mem) + block_index * size;
                 if (size != HDfwrite(mem, sizeof(char), size, stream))
-                    H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "fwrite failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "fwrite failed");
             } /* end for */
             break;
 
@@ -1488,7 +1476,7 @@ render_bin_output(FILE *stream, hid_t container, hid_t tid, void *_mem,  hsize_t
         case H5T_NCLASSES:
         default:
             /* Badness */
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "bad type class");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "bad type class");
             break;
     } /* end switch */
 
@@ -1496,7 +1484,6 @@ done:
 
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1515,7 +1502,6 @@ int
 render_bin_output_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id, FILE *stream,
     hid_t container, unsigned ndims, hid_t type_id, hsize_t nblocks, hsize_t *ptdata)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hsize_t     *dims1 = NULL;
     hsize_t     *start = NULL;
     hsize_t     *count = NULL;
@@ -1525,17 +1511,18 @@ render_bin_output_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id, FILE *stream,
     size_t       type_size;
     hid_t        mem_space = -1;
     void        *region_buf = NULL;
+    hbool_t      past_catch = FALSE;
     hsize_t      blkndx;
     hid_t        sid1 = -1;
+    int          ret_value = -1;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     /* Get the dataspace of the dataset */
     if((sid1 = H5Dget_space(region_id)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     /* Allocate space for the dimension array */
     if((dims1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc(sizeof(hsize_t) * ndims)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
 
     /* find the dimensions of each data space from the block coordinates */
     numelem = 1;
@@ -1546,21 +1533,21 @@ render_bin_output_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id, FILE *stream,
 
     /* Create dataspace for reading buffer */
     if((mem_space = H5Screate_simple((int)ndims, dims1, NULL)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Screate_simple failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Screate_simple failed");
 
     if((type_size = H5Tget_size(type_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_size failed");
 
     if((region_buf = HDmalloc(type_size * (size_t)numelem)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate region buffer");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate region buffer");
 
     /* Select (x , x , ..., x ) x (y , y , ..., y ) hyperslab for reading memory dataset */
     /*          1   2        n      1   2        n                                       */
     if((start = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc(sizeof(hsize_t) * ndims)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for start");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for start");
 
     if((count = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc(sizeof(hsize_t) * ndims)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for count");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for count");
 
     for (blkndx = 0; blkndx < nblocks; blkndx++) {
         for (jndx = 0; jndx < ndims; jndx++) {
@@ -1569,16 +1556,16 @@ render_bin_output_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id, FILE *stream,
         }
 
         if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sid1, H5S_SELECT_SET, start, NULL, count, NULL) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
 
         if(H5Dread(region_id, type_id, mem_space, sid1, H5P_DEFAULT, region_buf) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dread failed");
 
         if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(mem_space, total_size, NULL) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
 
         if(render_bin_output(stream, container, type_id, (char*)region_buf, numelem) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "render_bin_output of data region failed");
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "render_bin_output of data region failed");
         /* Render the region data element end */
 done:
         ;
@@ -1591,12 +1578,11 @@ CATCH
     HDfree(dims1);
 
     if(H5Sclose(mem_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
     if(H5Sclose(sid1) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1614,7 +1600,6 @@ hbool_t
 render_bin_output_region_blocks(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         FILE *stream, hid_t container)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hssize_t     snblocks;
     hsize_t      nblocks;
     hsize_t      alloc_size;
@@ -1623,15 +1608,16 @@ render_bin_output_region_blocks(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     unsigned     ndims;
     hid_t        dtype = -1;
     hid_t        type_id = -1;
+    hbool_t      past_catch = FALSE;
+    hbool_t      ret_value = TRUE;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((snblocks = H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks(region_space)) <= 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, "H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks failed");
     nblocks = (hsize_t)snblocks;
 
     /* Print block information */
     if((sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(region_space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
 
     alloc_size = nblocks * ndims * 2 * sizeof(ptdata[0]);
@@ -1661,7 +1647,6 @@ done:
 
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1687,44 +1672,42 @@ render_bin_output_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         FILE *stream, hid_t container,
         unsigned ndims, hid_t type_id, hsize_t npoints)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hsize_t *dims1 = NULL;
     size_t   type_size;
     hid_t    mem_space = -1;
     void    *region_buf = NULL;
+    int      ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((type_size = H5Tget_size(type_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tget_size failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Tget_size failed");
 
     if((region_buf = HDmalloc(type_size * (size_t)npoints)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "Could not allocate buffer for region");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for region");
 
     /* Allocate space for the dimension array */
     if((dims1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc(sizeof(hsize_t) * ndims)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
 
     dims1[0] = npoints;
     if((mem_space = H5Screate_simple(1, dims1, NULL)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Screate_simple failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Screate_simple failed");
 
     if(H5Dread(region_id, type_id, mem_space, region_space, H5P_DEFAULT, region_buf) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dread failed");
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(region_space, dims1, NULL) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
 
     if(render_bin_output(stream, container, type_id, (char*)region_buf, npoints) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "render_bin_output of data points failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "render_bin_output of data points failed");
 
 done:
     HDfree(region_buf);
     HDfree(dims1);
 
     if(H5Sclose(mem_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1742,22 +1725,22 @@ hbool_t
 render_bin_output_region_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         FILE *stream, hid_t container)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hssize_t snpoints;
     hsize_t  npoints;
     int      sndims;
     unsigned ndims;
     hid_t    dtype = -1;
     hid_t    type_id = -1;
+    hbool_t  past_catch = FALSE;
+    hbool_t  ret_value = TRUE;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((snpoints = H5Sget_select_elem_npoints(region_space)) <= 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_elem_npoints failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, "H5Sget_select_elem_npoints failed");
     npoints = (hsize_t)snpoints;
 
     /* Allocate space for the dimension array */
     if((sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(region_space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FALSE, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
 
     if((dtype = H5Dget_type(region_id)) < 0)
@@ -1778,7 +1761,6 @@ done:
     H5_LEAVE(ret_value)
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools_dump.c b/tools/lib/h5tools_dump.c
index ada7ae8..b177a31 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools_dump.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools_dump.c
@@ -257,7 +257,6 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
                          h5tools_context_t *ctx,    /* in,out */
                          unsigned flags, hsize_t nelmts, hid_t type, void *_mem)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     unsigned char *mem = (unsigned char*) _mem;
     hsize_t        i;               /* element counter  */
     size_t         size;            /* size of each datum  */
@@ -272,8 +271,8 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
                                      * this var to count elements and
                                      * break after we see a number equal
                                      * to the ctx->size_last_dim.   */
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter file=%p", (void*)stream);
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("rawdata file=%p", (void*)rawdatastream);
     /* binary dump */
@@ -321,7 +320,6 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
     }/* else bin */
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -357,19 +355,18 @@ h5tools_dump_region_attribute(hid_t region_id,
         size_t ncols, hsize_t region_elmt_counter,    /* element counter */
         hsize_t elmt_counter)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
-    hbool_t      dimension_break = TRUE;
-    hid_t        atype = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    hid_t        type_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    hid_t        region_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    h5tool_format_t    outputformat; /* Use to disable prefix for DATA attribute display */
+    hbool_t         dimension_break = TRUE;
+    hid_t           atype = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    hid_t           type_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    hid_t           region_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
+    h5tool_format_t outputformat; /* Use to disable prefix for DATA attribute display */
+    hbool_t         past_catch = FALSE;
+    hbool_t         ret_value = TRUE;
 
     HDassert(info);
     HDassert(ctx);
     HDassert(buffer);
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
-
     outputformat = *info;
     outputformat.idx_fmt   = "";
     outputformat.idx_n_fmt = "";
@@ -464,7 +461,6 @@ done:
 CATCH
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -493,7 +489,6 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id,
         h5tools_str_t *buffer,    /* string into which to render */
         size_t ncols, unsigned ndims, hid_t type_id, hsize_t nblocks, hsize_t *ptdata)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hbool_t      dimension_break = TRUE;
     hsize_t     *dims1 = NULL;
     hsize_t     *start = NULL;
@@ -507,11 +502,13 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id,
     hsize_t      numindex;
     unsigned     indx;
     unsigned     jndx;
+    hbool_t      past_catch = FALSE;
     size_t       type_size;
     hid_t        mem_space = -1;
     hid_t        sid1 = -1;
     h5tools_context_t ctx;
     void        *region_buf = NULL;
+    int          ret_value = 0;
 
     HDassert(info);
     HDassert(cur_ctx);
@@ -520,11 +517,10 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id,
 
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     if((type_size = H5Tget_size(type_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Tget_size failed");
 
     /* Get the dataspace of the dataset */
     if((sid1 = H5Dget_space(region_id)) < 0)
@@ -614,17 +610,16 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_id,
                     } /* end for (numindex = 0; numindex < numelem; numindex++, elmtno++, ctx.cur_elmt++) */
                 }
                 else {
-                    ctx.indent_level--;
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
                 }
                 ctx.indent_level--;
             }
             else {
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
             }
         }
         else {
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
         }
 
     } /* end for (blkndx = 0; blkndx < nblocks; blkndx++) */
@@ -641,7 +636,6 @@ done:
         H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -678,7 +672,6 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         size_t ncols, hsize_t region_elmt_counter,    /* element counter */
         hsize_t elmt_counter)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hbool_t      dimension_break = TRUE;
     hssize_t     snblocks;
     hsize_t      nblocks;
@@ -690,13 +683,13 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     hid_t        dtype = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t        type_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     h5tool_format_t    outputformat; /* Use to disable prefix for DATA attribute display */
+    hbool_t      past_catch = FALSE;
+    hbool_t      ret_value = TRUE;
 
     HDassert(info);
     HDassert(ctx);
     HDassert(buffer);
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
-
     outputformat = *info;
     outputformat.idx_fmt   = "";
     outputformat.idx_n_fmt = "";
@@ -704,12 +697,12 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_blocks(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     outputformat.line_pre  = "";
 
     if((snblocks = H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks(region_space)) <= 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, "H5Sget_select_hyper_nblocks failed");
     nblocks = (hsize_t)snblocks;
 
     /* Print block information */
     if((sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(region_space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter ndims=%d", ndims);
@@ -861,7 +854,6 @@ done:
 CATCH
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -890,7 +882,6 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         h5tools_str_t *buffer, size_t ncols,
         unsigned ndims, hid_t type_id, hsize_t npoints, hsize_t *ptdata)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hbool_t  dimension_break = TRUE;
     hsize_t *dims1 = NULL;
     hsize_t  elmtno; /* elemnt index  */
@@ -903,6 +894,8 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     hid_t    mem_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     void    *region_buf = NULL;
     h5tools_context_t ctx;
+    hbool_t  past_catch = FALSE;
+    int      ret_value = 0;
 
     HDassert(info);
     HDassert(cur_ctx);
@@ -910,25 +903,24 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     HDassert(ptdata);
     HDassert(ndims > 0);
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     /* Allocate space for the dimension array */
     if((dims1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc(sizeof(hsize_t) * ndims)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for dims");
 
     dims1[0] = npoints;
 
     /* Create dataspace for reading buffer */
     if((mem_space = H5Screate_simple(1, dims1, NULL)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Screate_simple failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Screate_simple failed");
 
     if((type_size = H5Tget_size(type_id)) == 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_size failed");
 
     if((region_buf = HDmalloc(type_size * (size_t)npoints)) == NULL)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for region");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for region");
 
     curr_pos = 0;
     ctx.indent_level = cur_ctx->indent_level;
@@ -937,7 +929,7 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     ctx.ndims = ndims;
 
     if(H5Dread(region_id, type_id, mem_space, region_space, H5P_DEFAULT, region_buf) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dread failed");
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("data render start:%ld", npoints);
     elmtno = 0;
@@ -986,8 +978,7 @@ h5tools_print_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
                 elmtno = 0;
         }
         else {
-            ctx.indent_level--;
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
         }
         ctx.indent_level--;
     } /* end for (jndx = 0; jndx < npoints; jndx++, elmtno++) */
@@ -998,10 +989,9 @@ CATCH
     HDfree(dims1);
 
     if(H5Sclose(mem_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -1035,7 +1025,6 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
         h5tools_str_t *buffer, hsize_t *curr_pos, size_t ncols, hsize_t region_elmt_counter,
         hsize_t elmt_counter)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(hbool_t, TRUE)
     hbool_t  dimension_break = TRUE;
     hssize_t snpoints;
     hsize_t  npoints;
@@ -1047,13 +1036,13 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     hid_t    dtype = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t    type_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     h5tool_format_t    outputformat; /* Use to disable prefix for DATA attribute display */
+    hbool_t  past_catch = FALSE;
+    hbool_t  ret_value = TRUE;
 
     HDassert(info);
     HDassert(ctx);
     HDassert(buffer);
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
-
     outputformat = *info;
     outputformat.idx_fmt   = "";
     outputformat.idx_n_fmt = "";
@@ -1061,12 +1050,12 @@ h5tools_dump_region_data_points(hid_t region_space, hid_t region_id,
     outputformat.line_pre  = "";
 
     if((snpoints = H5Sget_select_elem_npoints(region_space)) <= 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_elem_npoints failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, "H5Sget_select_elem_npoints failed");
     npoints = (hsize_t)snpoints;
 
     /* Allocate space for the dimension array */
     if((sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(region_space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(dimension_break, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter ndims=%d", ndims);
@@ -1214,7 +1203,6 @@ done:
 CATCH
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -1262,7 +1250,6 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
                            hsize_t *total_size,        /* total size of dataset */
                            unsigned int row_dim)       /* index of row_counter dimension */
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
     size_t            i;                       /* counters  */
     size_t            j;                       /* counters  */
     hsize_t           zero[1] = {0};           /* vector of zeros */
@@ -1279,13 +1266,13 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
     hid_t             sm_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;           /* stripmine data space */
     hsize_t           size_row_block;          /* size for blocks along rows */
     hsize_t           row_counter = 0;
-
+    hbool_t           past_catch = FALSE;
     /* VL data special information */
-    unsigned int        vl_data = 0; /* contains VL datatypes */
+    unsigned int      vl_data = 0; /* contains VL datatypes */
+    herr_t            ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if ((size_t) ctx->ndims > NELMTS(sm_size))
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "ndims and sm_size comparision failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "ndims and sm_size comparision failed");
 
     if (ctx->ndims > 0)
         init_acc_pos(ctx, total_size);
@@ -1313,10 +1300,10 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
 
         /* calculate the potential number of elements we're going to print */
         if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(f_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, temp_start, temp_stride, temp_count, temp_block) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
 
         if((ssm_nelmts = H5Sget_select_npoints(f_space)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_npoints failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sget_select_npoints failed");
         sm_nelmts = (hsize_t)ssm_nelmts;
 
         if (sm_nelmts > 0) {
@@ -1325,7 +1312,7 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
              * a hyperslab whose size is manageable.
              */
             if((sm_nbytes = p_type_nbytes = H5Tget_size(p_type)) == 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Tget_size failed");
 
             if (ctx->ndims > 0)
                 for (i = ctx->ndims; i > 0; --i) {
@@ -1339,17 +1326,17 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
 
             HDassert(sm_nbytes == (hsize_t) ((size_t) sm_nbytes)); /*check for overflow*/
             if(NULL == (sm_buf = (unsigned char *)HDmalloc((size_t) sm_nelmts * p_type_nbytes)))
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for strip-mine");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "Could not allocate buffer for strip-mine");
 
             if((sm_space = H5Screate_simple(1, &sm_nelmts, NULL)) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Screate_simple failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Screate_simple failed");
 
             if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sm_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, zero, NULL, &sm_nelmts, NULL) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
 
             /* read the data */
             if(H5Dread(dset, p_type, sm_space, f_space, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
 
             /* print the data */
             flags = START_OF_DATA;
@@ -1363,7 +1350,7 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
             /* print array indices. get the lower bound of the hyperslab and calulate
              the element position at the start of hyperslab */
             if(H5Sget_select_bounds(f_space, low, high) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_select_bounds failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sget_select_bounds failed");
 
             elmtno = 0;
             for (i = 0; i < (size_t) ctx->ndims - 1; i++) {
@@ -1381,20 +1368,20 @@ h5tools_print_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_c
             ctx->need_prefix = TRUE;
 
             if(h5tools_dump_simple_data(stream, info, dset, ctx, flags, sm_nelmts, p_type, sm_buf) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
 
             /* Reclaim any VL memory, if necessary */
             if (vl_data)
                 H5Treclaim(p_type, sm_space, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf);
 
             if(H5Sclose(sm_space) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
             if(sm_buf)
                 HDfree(sm_buf);
             sm_buf = NULL;
         }
         else
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(SUCCEED, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "nothing to print");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW(SUCCEED, "nothing to print");
 
         ctx->continuation++;
 
@@ -1405,7 +1392,6 @@ CATCH
         HDfree(sm_buf);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1585,18 +1571,18 @@ static herr_t
 h5tools_dump_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx,
         hid_t dset, hid_t p_type)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
-    int               sndims;
-    hid_t             f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;            /* file data space */
-    size_t            i;                       /* counters  */
-    hsize_t           total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK];/* total size of dataset*/
+    int     sndims;
+    hid_t   f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;            /* file data space */
+    size_t  i;                       /* counters  */
+    hsize_t total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK];/* total size of dataset*/
+    hbool_t past_catch = FALSE;
+    herr_t  ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((f_space = H5Dget_space(dset)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     if((sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(f_space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ctx->ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
 
     /* assume entire data space to be printed */
@@ -1605,7 +1591,7 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_co
             ctx->p_min_idx[i] = 0;
 
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(f_space, total_size, NULL) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
     ctx->size_last_dim = total_size[ctx->ndims - 1];
 
     /* Set the compound datatype field list for display */
@@ -1615,10 +1601,9 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_subset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_co
 
 CATCH
     if(f_space >= 0 && H5Sclose(f_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1641,7 +1626,6 @@ static int
 h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx,
                          hid_t dset, hid_t p_type)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
     hid_t               f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;                  /* file data space */
     hsize_t             elmtno;                   /* counter  */
     size_t              i;                        /* counter  */
@@ -1650,6 +1634,7 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
     hsize_t             zero[8];                  /* vector of zeros */
     unsigned int        flags;                    /* buffer extent flags */
     hsize_t             total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK]; /* total size of dataset*/
+    hbool_t             past_catch = FALSE;
 
     /* Print info */
     size_t              p_type_nbytes;            /* size of memory type */
@@ -1669,20 +1654,20 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
 
     /* VL data special information */
     unsigned int        vl_data = 0; /* contains VL datatypes */
+    int                 ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
-    if (FAIL == (f_space = H5Dget_space(dset)))
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dget_space failed");
+    if (H5I_INVALID_HID == (f_space = H5Dget_space(dset)))
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(f_space);
     if(sndims < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ctx->ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("sndims:%d", sndims);
 
     if ((size_t)ctx->ndims > NELMTS(sm_size))
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "ctx->ndims > NELMTS(sm_size) failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "ctx->ndims > NELMTS(sm_size) failed");
 
     /* Assume entire data space to be printed */
     if (ctx->ndims > 0)
@@ -1754,15 +1739,15 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
                 }
 
                 if (H5Sselect_hyperslab(f_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, hs_offset, NULL, hs_size, NULL) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab hs_offset failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sselect_hyperslab hs_offset failed");
                 if (H5Sselect_hyperslab(sm_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, zero, NULL, &hs_nelmts, NULL) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_hyperslab zero failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sselect_hyperslab zero failed");
             }
             else {
                 if (H5Sselect_all(f_space) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_all f_space failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sselect_all f_space failed");
                 if (H5Sselect_all(sm_space) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sselect_all sm_space failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sselect_all sm_space failed");
                 hs_nelmts = 1;
             }
 
@@ -1778,7 +1763,7 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
                 ctx->sm_pos = elmtno;
 
                 if(h5tools_dump_simple_data(stream, info, dset, ctx, flags, hs_nelmts, p_type, sm_buf) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
 
                 /* Reclaim any VL memory, if necessary */
                 if (vl_data)
@@ -1797,7 +1782,7 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
                 }
             }
             else
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Dread failed");
 
             ctx->continuation++;
             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("stripmine read loop:%d complete", i);
@@ -1807,12 +1792,11 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_cont
 
 done:
     if(sm_space >= 0 && H5Sclose(sm_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
     if(f_space >= 0 && H5Sclose(f_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1830,31 +1814,31 @@ static int
 h5tools_dump_simple_mem(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx,
                         hid_t attr_id, hid_t p_type)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
     hid_t          f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;    /* file data space */
     hsize_t        alloc_size;
     int            sndims;                       /* rank of dataspace */
     unsigned       i;                            /* counters  */
     hsize_t        total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK];     /* total size of dataset*/
     hsize_t        p_nelmts;                     /* total selected elmts */
-    unsigned char  *buf = NULL;                  /* buffer for raw data */
+    hbool_t        past_catch = FALSE;
+    unsigned char *buf = NULL;                   /* buffer for raw data */
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
     /* VL data special information */
     unsigned int        vl_data = 0; /* contains VL datatypes */
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
-    if (FAIL == (f_space = H5Aget_space(attr_id)))
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dget_space failed");
+    if (H5I_INVALID_HID == (f_space = H5Aget_space(attr_id)))
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     sndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(f_space);
     if(sndims < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Dget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
     ctx->ndims = (unsigned)sndims;
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("sndims:%d", sndims);
 
     if ((size_t) ctx->ndims > NELMTS(ctx->p_min_idx))
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "ctx->ndims > NELMTS(ctx->p_min_idx) failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "ctx->ndims > NELMTS(ctx->p_min_idx) failed");
 
     /* Assume entire data space to be printed */
     if (ctx->ndims > 0)
@@ -1892,22 +1876,21 @@ h5tools_dump_simple_mem(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_conte
         /* Read the data */
         if (H5Aread(attr_id, p_type, buf) >= 0) {
             if(h5tools_dump_simple_data(stream, info, attr_id, ctx, START_OF_DATA | END_OF_DATA, p_nelmts, p_type, buf) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "h5tools_dump_simple_data failed");
 
             /* Reclaim any VL memory, if necessary */
             if (vl_data)
                 H5Treclaim(p_type, f_space, H5P_DEFAULT, buf);
         }
         else
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Aread failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Aread failed");
         HDfree(buf);
     } /* if (NULL != (buf...)) */
 done:
     if(f_space >= 0 && H5Sclose(f_space) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sclose failed");
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1932,12 +1915,13 @@ CATCH
 int
 h5tools_dump_dset(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t dset)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hid_t     f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t     p_type = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t     f_type = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     H5S_class_t space_type;
     h5tool_format_t info_dflt;
+    int       ret_value = 0;
+
     /* Use default values */
     if (!stream)
         stream = rawoutstream;
@@ -1990,7 +1974,6 @@ done:
         H5Sclose(f_space);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -2008,13 +1991,12 @@ done:
 int
 h5tools_dump_mem(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t attr_id)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hid_t     f_space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t     p_type = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t     f_type = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     h5tool_format_t    info_dflt;
+    int       ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     /* Use default values */
     if (!stream)
         stream = rawoutstream;
@@ -2047,7 +2029,7 @@ h5tools_dump_mem(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *c
 
     /* Check the data space */
     if (H5Sis_simple(f_space) <= 0) {
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sis_simple failed");
+        H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Sis_simple failed");
     }
     else {
         ret_value = h5tools_dump_simple_mem(rawattrstream, info, ctx, attr_id, p_type);
@@ -2061,7 +2043,6 @@ done:
         H5Sclose(f_space);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -2080,7 +2061,6 @@ int
 h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_t *info,
         h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t type, int object_search)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     char        *mname;
     hid_t        mtype = -1;
     hid_t        str_type = -1;
@@ -2100,12 +2080,13 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
     H5T_class_t  type_class;
     H5T_sign_t   sign;           /* sign scheme value */
     htri_t       is_vlstr = FALSE;
+    hbool_t      past_catch = FALSE;
     const char  *sign_s = NULL;  /* sign scheme string */
     const char  *order_s = NULL; /* byte order string */
+    int          ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((type_class = H5Tget_class(type)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_class failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_class failed");
     if (object_search && H5Tcommitted(type) > 0) {
         H5O_info_t  oinfo;
         obj_t      *obj = NULL;    /* Found object */
@@ -2395,11 +2376,11 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
         order = H5Tget_order(tmp_type);
         if(order == H5T_ORDER_LE) {
             if(H5Tset_order(str_type, H5T_ORDER_LE) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tset_order failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tset_order failed");
         } /* end if */
         else if(order == H5T_ORDER_BE) {
             if(H5Tset_order(str_type, H5T_ORDER_BE) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tset_order failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tset_order failed");
         } /* end if */
 
         if(H5Tequal(tmp_type, str_type)) {
@@ -2409,7 +2390,7 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
 
         /* If not equal to C variable-length string, check Fortran type. */
         if(H5Tclose(str_type) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
         str_type = H5Tcopy(H5T_FORTRAN_S1);
 
         H5Tset_cset(str_type, cset);
@@ -2426,11 +2407,11 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
         order = H5Tget_order(tmp_type);
         if(order == H5T_ORDER_LE) {
             if(H5Tset_order(str_type, H5T_ORDER_LE) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tset_order failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tset_order failed");
         } /* end if */
         else if(order == H5T_ORDER_BE) {
             if(H5Tset_order(str_type, H5T_ORDER_BE) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tset_order failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tset_order failed");
         } /* end if */
 
         if(H5Tequal(tmp_type, str_type)) {
@@ -2449,9 +2430,9 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
 
         h5tools_str_reset(buffer);
         if(H5Tclose(str_type) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
         if(H5Tclose(tmp_type) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->strblockend);
         break;
@@ -2485,7 +2466,7 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
             char *ttag;
 
             if(NULL == (ttag = H5Tget_tag(type)))
-                H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_tag failed");
+                H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_tag failed");
 
             ctx->need_prefix = TRUE;
 
@@ -2513,7 +2494,7 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
 
     case H5T_COMPOUND:
         if((snmembers = H5Tget_nmembers(type)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_nmembers failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_nmembers failed");
         nmembers = (unsigned)snmembers;
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "H5T_COMPOUND %s", h5tools_dump_header_format->structblockbegin);
@@ -2531,10 +2512,10 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
                 h5tools_str_append(buffer, " \"%s\";", mname);
                 h5tools_render_element(stream, info, ctx, buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
                 if(H5Tclose(mtype) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
             }
             else
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tget_member_type failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tget_member_type failed");
             H5free_memory(mname);
         }
         ctx->indent_level--;
@@ -2563,7 +2544,7 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
 
     case H5T_ENUM:
         if((super = H5Tget_super(type)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_super failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_super failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "H5T_ENUM %s", h5tools_dump_header_format->enumblockbegin);
         h5tools_render_element(stream, info, ctx, buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
@@ -2575,7 +2556,7 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
         h5tools_print_datatype(stream, buffer, info, ctx, super, TRUE);
 
         if(H5Tclose(super) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, ";");
         h5tools_render_element(stream, info, ctx, buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
@@ -2593,14 +2574,14 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
 
     case H5T_VLEN:
         if((super = H5Tget_super(type)) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_super failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_super failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "H5T_VLEN %s ", h5tools_dump_header_format->vlenblockbegin);
 
         h5tools_print_datatype(stream, buffer, info, ctx, super, TRUE);
 
         if(H5Tclose(super) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->vlenblockend);
 
@@ -2621,10 +2602,10 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
                 h5tools_str_append(buffer, " ");
             }
             else
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tget_array_dims2 failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tget_array_dims2 failed");
         }
         else
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tget_array_ndims failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tget_array_ndims failed");
 
         /* Get array base type */
         if((super = H5Tget_super(type)) >= 0) {
@@ -2632,10 +2613,10 @@ h5tools_print_datatype(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_
             h5tools_print_datatype(stream, buffer, info, ctx, super, TRUE);
             /* Close array base type */
             if(H5Tclose(super) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tclose failed");
+                H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tclose failed");
         }
         else
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Tget_super failed");
+            H5TOOLS_ERROR((-1), "H5Tget_super failed");
 
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, " }");
 
@@ -2652,7 +2633,6 @@ done:
 
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -2670,19 +2650,19 @@ CATCH
 int
 h5tools_print_dataspace(h5tools_str_t *buffer, hid_t space)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     hsize_t     size[H5TOOLS_DUMP_MAX_RANK];
     hsize_t     maxsize[H5TOOLS_DUMP_MAX_RANK];
     int         ndims = -1;
     H5S_class_t space_type = -1;
+    hbool_t     past_catch = FALSE;
     int         i;
+    int         ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if((ndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, size, maxsize)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
 
     if((space_type = H5Sget_simple_extent_type(space)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_type failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Sget_simple_extent_type failed");
 
     switch(space_type) {
     case H5S_SCALAR:
@@ -2730,7 +2710,6 @@ h5tools_print_dataspace(h5tools_str_t *buffer, hid_t space)
 
 CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -2749,7 +2728,6 @@ CATCH
 int
 h5tools_print_enum(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t type)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     char         **name = NULL;  /*member names                   */
     unsigned char *value = NULL; /*value array                    */
     unsigned char *copy = NULL;  /*a pointer to value array       */
@@ -2763,21 +2741,22 @@ h5tools_print_enum(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_t *i
     size_t         dst_size;     /*destination value type size    */
     size_t         ncols = 80; /*available output width */
     hsize_t        curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hbool_t        past_catch = FALSE;
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     if (info->line_ncols > 0)
         ncols = info->line_ncols;
 
     if((snmembs = H5Tget_nmembers(type)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_nmembers failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_nmembers failed");
     nmembs = (unsigned)snmembs;
     HDassert(nmembs > 0);
 
     if((super = H5Tget_super(type)) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_super failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_super failed");
 
     if((type_size = H5Tget_size(type)) <= 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size(type) failed");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_size(type) failed");
 
     /*
      * Determine what datatype to use for the native values.  To simplify
@@ -2790,7 +2769,7 @@ h5tools_print_enum(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_t *i
         dst_size = sizeof(long long);
 
         if((sign_type = H5Tget_sign(type))<0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_sign failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_sign failed");
         if(H5T_SGN_NONE == sign_type)
             native = H5T_NATIVE_ULLONG;
         else
@@ -2801,20 +2780,20 @@ h5tools_print_enum(FILE *stream, h5tools_str_t *buffer, const h5tool_format_t *i
 
     /* Get the names and raw values of all members */
     if(NULL == (name = (char **)HDcalloc((size_t)nmembs, sizeof(char *))))
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for member name");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for member name");
     if(NULL == (value = (unsigned char *)HDcalloc((size_t)nmembs, MAX(type_size, dst_size))))
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not allocate buffer for member value");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not allocate buffer for member value");
 
     for (i = 0; i < nmembs; i++) {
         name[i] = H5Tget_member_name(type, i);
         if(H5Tget_member_value(type, i, value + i * type_size) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_member_value failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tget_member_value failed");
     }
 
     /* Convert values to native datatype */
     if (native > 0)
         if(H5Tconvert(super, native, (size_t)nmembs, value, NULL, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0)
-            H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tconvert failed");
+            H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "H5Tconvert failed");
 
     /*
      * Sort members by increasing value
@@ -2871,13 +2850,12 @@ CATCH
         HDfree(value);
 
     if(super >= 0 && H5Tclose(super) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_THROW(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not close datatype's super class");
+        H5TOOLS_THROW((-1), "Could not close datatype's super class");
 
     if(0 == nmembs)
         h5tools_str_append(buffer, "\n<empty>");
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -3992,7 +3970,6 @@ h5tools_dump_subsetting_header(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tool
 void
 h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t obj_id, int obj_data)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     H5S_class_t space_type;
     int         ndims;
     size_t      i;
@@ -4011,7 +3988,6 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
     h5tool_format_t    outputformat;
     H5R_ref_t         *ref_buf = NULL;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter file=%p", (void*)stream);
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("rawdata file=%p", (void*)rawdatastream);
     /* setup */
@@ -4060,7 +4036,7 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
         datactx = *ctx;
         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("reference class type");
         if (!H5Tequal(f_type, H5T_STD_REF) && !H5Tequal(f_type, H5T_STD_REF_DSETREG) && !H5Tequal(f_type, H5T_STD_REF_OBJ)) {
-            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE(SUCCEED);
+            H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
         }
 
         ndims = (int)H5Sget_simple_extent_npoints(space);
@@ -4080,13 +4056,15 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
             if(obj_data) {
                 if(H5Dread(obj_id, H5T_STD_REF, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, ref_buf) < 0) {
                     HDfree(ref_buf);
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dread reference failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dread reference failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
                 }
             }
             else {
                 if(H5Aread(obj_id, H5T_STD_REF, ref_buf) < 0) {
                     HDfree(ref_buf);
-                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Aread reference failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Aread reference failed");
+                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
                 }
             }
             for(i = 0; i < ndims; i++, datactx.cur_elmt++, elmt_counter++) {
@@ -4113,12 +4091,12 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                                         h5tools_dump_data(stream, &outputformat, &datactx, new_obj_id, TRUE);
                                         datactx.indent_level--;
                                         if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dclose H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
                                         if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
                                     }
                                     else
-                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
+                                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
                                     break;
 
                                 case H5O_TYPE_GROUP:
@@ -4131,7 +4109,7 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                             } /* end switch */
                         }
                         else
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_DATASET_REGION1:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION1");
@@ -4140,12 +4118,12 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                             h5tools_dump_data(stream, &outputformat, &datactx, new_obj_id, TRUE);
                             datactx.indent_level--;
                             if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                             if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         }
                         else
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_OBJECT2:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_OBJECT2");
@@ -4160,12 +4138,12 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                                         h5tools_dump_data(stream, &outputformat, &datactx, new_obj_id, TRUE);
                                         datactx.indent_level--;
                                         if(H5Oclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                                         if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                                     }
                                     else
-                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                                     break;
 
                                 case H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE:
@@ -4179,7 +4157,7 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                             } /* end switch */
                         }
                         else
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
                         break;
                     case H5R_DATASET_REGION2:
                         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
@@ -4189,7 +4167,7 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
 
                         /* if (new_obj_id < 0) - could mean that no reference was written do not throw failure */
                         if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_object((const H5R_ref_t *)&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                         else {
                             if((new_obj_sid = H5Ropen_region((const H5R_ref_t *)&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
                                 if (h5tools_is_zero(&ref_buf[i], H5Tget_size(H5T_STD_REF))) {
@@ -4230,17 +4208,17 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                                                             &buffer, &curr_pos, ncols, i, elmt_counter);
                                     }
                                     else
-                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "invalid region type");
+                                        H5TOOLS_INFO("invalid region type");
                                 } /* end else to if (h5tools_is_zero(... */
                                 if(H5Sclose(new_obj_sid) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             }
                             else
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                             if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
                         }
                         break;
                     case H5R_ATTR:
@@ -4249,9 +4227,9 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                             h5tools_dump_region_attribute(new_obj_id, stream, &outputformat, &datactx,
                                                 &buffer, &curr_pos, ncols, i, elmt_counter);
                             if(H5Aclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Aclose H5R_ATTR failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Aclose H5R_ATTR failed");
                             if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
+                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
                         }
                         else {
                             H5TOOLS_DEBUG("NULL H5R_ATTR");
@@ -4276,7 +4254,7 @@ h5tools_dump_data(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *
                             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "}");
                             h5tools_render_element(stream, &outputformat, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-                            H5TOOLS_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Ropen_attr H5R_ATTR failed");
+                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_attr H5R_ATTR failed");
                         }
                         break;
                     case H5R_BADTYPE:
@@ -4392,6 +4370,5 @@ done:
 
     h5tools_str_close(&buffer);
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools_error.h b/tools/lib/h5tools_error.h
index 9ad54bc..784b86a 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools_error.h
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools_error.h
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@
 
 /* tools-HDF5 Error variables */
 H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5tools_ERR_STACK_g;
+H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g;
 H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5tools_ERR_CLS_g;
+H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5tools_DBG_ERR_CLS_g;
 H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5E_tools_g;
 H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5E_tools_min_id_g;
 H5TOOLS_DLLVAR hid_t H5E_tools_min_info_id_g;
@@ -51,6 +53,9 @@ do {
     if ((H5tools_ERR_STACK_g = H5Ecreate_stack()) < 0)                                                  \
         HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to create HDF5 tools error stack\n");                                 \
                                                                                                         \
+    /* Create new HDF5 error stack for debugging, if tools debugging is enabled */                      \
+    H5TOOLS_CREATE_DEBUG_STACK();                                                                       \
+                                                                                                        \
     /* Register errors from the HDF5 tools as a new error class */                                      \
     if ((H5tools_ERR_CLS_g = H5Eregister_class("H5tools", "HDF5:tools", lib_str)) < 0)                  \
         HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to register HDF5 tools error class\n");                               \
@@ -91,41 +96,15 @@ do {
     if (H5Eunregister_class(H5tools_ERR_CLS_g) < 0)                                                  \
         HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to unregister the HDF5 tools error class\n");                      \
                                                                                                      \
+    /* Close the tools debugging error stack, if it was created */                                   \
+    H5TOOLS_CLOSE_DEBUG_STACK();                                                                     \
+                                                                                                     \
     /* Close the tools error stack */                                                                \
     if (H5Eclose_stack(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g) < 0)                                                     \
         HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to close HDF5 tools error stack\n");                               \
 } while(0)
 
 /*
- * H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT macro, used to facilitate error reporting. Declaration and assignments of error variables.
- * Use at the beginning of a function using error handling macros.
- */
-#define H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(ret_typ, ret_init)    \
-    hid_t   pstack_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;       \
-    hid_t   estack_id = H5tools_ERR_STACK_g;   \
-    hbool_t past_catch = FALSE;                \
-    ret_typ ret_value = ret_init;
-
-/*
- * H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK macro, used to create a new error stack.
- */
-#define H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK() {                \
-        pstack_id = estack_id;                \
-        estack_id = H5Ecreate_stack();        \
-}
-
-/*
- * H5TOOLS_POP_STACK macro, used to release a new error stack.
- */
-#define H5TOOLS_POP_STACK() {                 \
-        if (H5I_INVALID_HID != pstack_id) {   \
-            H5Eclose_stack(estack_id);        \
-            estack_id = pstack_id;            \
-            pstack_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;      \
-        }                                     \
-}
-
-/*
  * H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR macro, used to push an error to an error stack. Not meant to
  * be called directly.
  */
@@ -176,6 +155,15 @@ do {                               \
 } while(0)
 
 /*
+ * H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET macro, used to facilitate normal return within a function body.
+ * Control simply branches to the `done' label without setting any return value.
+ */
+#define H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET() \
+do {                               \
+    goto done;                     \
+} while(0)
+
+/*
  * H5TOOLS_INFO macro, used to facilitate error reporting. The arguments are
  * a description of the error.
  */
@@ -184,29 +172,63 @@ do {
     H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_info_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
 } while(0)
 
-/*
- * H5TOOLS_DEBUG macro, used to facilitate error reporting. The arguments are the
- * minor error number, and a description of the error.
- */
 #ifdef H5_TOOLS_DEBUG
-#define H5TOOLS_DEBUG(...)                                                                                        \
-do {                                                                                                              \
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_dbg_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
+
+#define H5TOOLS_CREATE_DEBUG_STACK()                                                             \
+do {                                                                                             \
+    /* Create new HDF5 error stack for debugging */                                              \
+    if ((H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g = H5Ecreate_stack()) < 0)                                       \
+        HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to create HDF5 tools debugging error stack\n");                \
+                                                                                                 \
+    /* Register debugging output from the HDF5 tools as a new error class */                     \
+    if ((H5tools_DBG_ERR_CLS_g = H5Eregister_class("H5tools-debug", "HDF5:tools", lib_str)) < 0) \
+        HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to register HDF5 tools debugging error class\n");              \
 } while(0)
-#define H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG(...)                                                                                     \
-do {                                                                                                              \
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_dbg_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
-    H5Eprint2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, stderr);                                                                       \
+
+#define H5TOOLS_CLOSE_DEBUG_STACK()                                                       \
+do {                                                                                      \
+    /* Unregister the HDF5 tools debugging error class */                                 \
+    if (H5Eunregister_class(H5tools_DBG_ERR_CLS_g) < 0)                                   \
+        HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to unregister the HDF5 tools debugging error class\n"); \
+                                                                                          \
+    /* Close the tools debugging error stack */                                           \
+    if (H5Eclose_stack(H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g) < 0)                                      \
+        HDfprintf(stderr, "Failed to close HDF5 tools debugging error stack\n");          \
+} while(0)
+
+#define H5TOOLS_DEBUG(...)                                                                                                \
+do {                                                                                                                      \
+    H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_DBG_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_dbg_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
 } while(0)
+
+#define H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG(...)                                                                                             \
+do {                                                                                                                      \
+    H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_DBG_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_dbg_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
+    H5Eprint2(H5tools_DBG_ERR_STACK_g, stderr);                                                                           \
+} while(0)
+
 #else
+
+#define H5TOOLS_CREATE_DEBUG_STACK() \
+do {                                 \
+    ;                                \
+} while(0)
+
+#define H5TOOLS_CLOSE_DEBUG_STACK() \
+do {                                \
+    ;                               \
+} while(0)
+
 #define H5TOOLS_DEBUG(...) \
 do {                       \
     ;                      \
 } while(0)
+
 #define H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG(...) \
 do {                          \
     ;                         \
 } while(0)
+
 #endif
 
 
@@ -236,10 +258,11 @@ do {                          \
  * The return value is assigned to a variable `ret_value' and control branches
  * to the `catch_except' label, if we're not already past it.
  */
-#define H5TOOLS_THROW(fail_value, min_id, ...) {        \
-    H5Epush2(estack_id, __FILE__, FUNC, __LINE__, H5tools_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, min_id, __VA_ARGS__);     \
-    H5_LEAVE(fail_value)                               \
-}
+#define H5TOOLS_THROW(ret_val, ...)                                                                           \
+do {                                                                                                          \
+    H5TOOLS_PUSH_ERROR(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, H5tools_ERR_CLS_g, H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, __VA_ARGS__); \
+    H5_LEAVE(ret_val)                                                                                         \
+} while(0)
 
 #endif /* H5TOOLS_ERROR_H_ */
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools_filters.c b/tools/lib/h5tools_filters.c
index 13e075b..0e4c476 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools_filters.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools_filters.c
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ int
 h5tools_canreadf(const char* name,     /* object name, serves also as boolean print */
                      hid_t dcpl_id)    /* dataset creation property list */
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 1)
     int nfilters;       /* number of filters */
     H5Z_filter_t filtn; /* filter identification number */
     int i;              /* index */
     int udfilter_avail; /* index */
+    int ret_value = 1;
 
     /* get information about filters */
     if ((nfilters = H5Pget_nfilters(dcpl_id)) < 0)
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ done:
 H5_ATTR_CONST int
 h5tools_can_encode(H5Z_filter_t filtn)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 1)
+    int ret_value = 1;
 
     switch (filtn) {
     /* user defined filter     */
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools_str.c b/tools/lib/h5tools_str.c
index c555a61..0aa5152 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools_str.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools_str.c
@@ -289,11 +289,9 @@ char *
 h5tools_str_prefix(h5tools_str_t *str/*in,out*/, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     hsize_t elmtno, unsigned ndims, h5tools_context_t *ctx)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     size_t    i = 0;
     hsize_t   curr_pos = elmtno;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("elmtno=%ld, ctx->ndims=%d", elmtno, ctx->ndims);
@@ -328,7 +326,6 @@ h5tools_str_prefix(h5tools_str_t *str/*in,out*/, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("str=%s", str->s);
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 
     /* Add prefix and suffix to the index */
     return h5tools_str_fmt(str, (size_t)0, OPT(info->idx_fmt, "%s: "));
@@ -684,7 +681,6 @@ char *
 h5tools_str_sprint(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t container,
                    hid_t type, void *vp, h5tools_context_t *ctx)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(char*, NULL)
     size_t         nsize, offset, size=0, nelmts, start;
     H5T_sign_t     nsign;
     char          *name = NULL;
@@ -695,8 +691,8 @@ h5tools_str_sprint(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
     static char    fmt_llong[8], fmt_ullong[8];
     H5T_str_t      pad;
     H5T_class_t    type_class;
+    char          *ret_value = NULL;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
     /* Build default formats for long long types */
     if(!fmt_llong[0]) {
@@ -1110,10 +1106,10 @@ h5tools_str_sprint(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
                                 if((obj = H5Ropen_object(ref_vp, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
                                     H5Oget_info2(obj, &oi, H5O_INFO_BASIC);
                                     if(H5Oclose(obj) < 0)
-                                        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(NULL, "H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
+                                        H5TOOLS_ERROR(NULL, "H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
                                 }
                                 else
-                                    H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(NULL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
+                                    H5TOOLS_ERROR(NULL, "H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
 
                                 /* Print object type and close object */
                                 switch (obj_type) {
@@ -1339,12 +1335,9 @@ h5tools_str_sprint(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info, hid_t contai
     }
 
 done:
-
-CATCH
     ret_value = h5tools_str_fmt(str, start, OPT(info->elmt_fmt, "%s"));
 
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit with %s", ret_value);
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
     return ret_value;
 }
 
@@ -1361,10 +1354,8 @@ void
 h5tools_str_sprint_reference(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info,
         hid_t container, H5R_ref_t *ref_vp)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
-    ssize_t  buf_size;
+    ssize_t buf_size;
 
-    H5TOOLS_PUSH_STACK();
     H5TOOLS_DEBUG("enter");
 
     h5tools_str_append(str, " \"");
@@ -1407,9 +1398,7 @@ h5tools_str_sprint_reference(h5tools_str_t *str, const h5tool_format_t *info,
     }
     h5tools_str_append(str, "\"");
 
-CATCH
     H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("exit");
-    H5TOOLS_POP_STACK();
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5tools_utils.c b/tools/lib/h5tools_utils.c
index 4924e4e..1036199 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5tools_utils.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5tools_utils.c
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ herr_t
 init_objs(hid_t fid, find_objs_t *info, table_t **group_table,
     table_t **dset_table, table_t **type_table)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
+    herr_t ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
     /* Initialize the tables */
     init_table(group_table);
@@ -1047,9 +1047,9 @@ h5tools_getstatus(void)
 int
 h5tools_getenv_update_hyperslab_bufsize(void)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, 1)
     const char *env_str = NULL;
     long hyperslab_bufsize_mb;
+    int  ret_value = 1;
 
     /* check if environment variable is set for the hyperslab buffer size */
     if (NULL != (env_str = HDgetenv ("H5TOOLS_BUFSIZE"))) {
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5trav.c b/tools/lib/h5trav.c
index a30da9b..1ecd5c0 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5trav.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5trav.c
@@ -254,12 +254,12 @@ static int
 traverse(hid_t file_id, const char *grp_name, hbool_t visit_start,
         hbool_t recurse, const trav_visitor_t *visitor, unsigned fields)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     H5O_info_t  oinfo;          /* Object info for starting group */
+    int         ret_value = 0;
 
     /* Get info for starting object */
     if(H5Oget_info_by_name2(file_id, grp_name, &oinfo, fields, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Oget_info_by_name failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Oget_info_by_name failed");
 
     /* Visit the starting object */
     if(visit_start && visitor->visit_obj)
@@ -289,12 +289,12 @@ traverse(hid_t file_id, const char *grp_name, hbool_t visit_start,
         if(recurse) {
             /* Visit all links in group, recursively */
             if(H5Lvisit_by_name(file_id, grp_name, trav_index_by, trav_index_order, traverse_cb, &udata, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Lvisit_by_name failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Lvisit_by_name failed");
         } /* end if */
         else {
             /* Iterate over links in group */
             if(H5Literate_by_name(file_id, grp_name, trav_index_by, trav_index_order, NULL, traverse_cb, &udata, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0)
-                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "H5Literate_by_name failed");
+                H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "H5Literate_by_name failed");
         } /* end else */
 
         /* Free visited addresses table */
@@ -429,8 +429,8 @@ trav_info_visit_lnk(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
 int
 h5trav_getinfo(hid_t file_id, trav_info_t *info)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     trav_visitor_t info_visitor;        /* Visitor structure for trav_info_t's */
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
     /* Init visitor structure */
     info_visitor.visit_obj = trav_info_visit_obj;
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ h5trav_getinfo(hid_t file_id, trav_info_t *info)
 
     /* Traverse all objects in the file, visiting each object & link */
     if(traverse(file_id, "/", TRUE, TRUE, &info_visitor, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "traverse failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "traverse failed");
 
 done:
     return ret_value;
@@ -595,8 +595,8 @@ trav_table_visit_lnk(const char *path, const H5L_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *linfo, v
 int
 h5trav_gettable(hid_t fid, trav_table_t *table)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     trav_visitor_t table_visitor;       /* Visitor structure for trav_table_t's */
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
     /* Init visitor structure */
     table_visitor.visit_obj = trav_table_visit_obj;
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ h5trav_gettable(hid_t fid, trav_table_t *table)
 
     /* Traverse all objects in the file, visiting each object & link */
     if(traverse(fid, "/", TRUE, TRUE, &table_visitor, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "traverse failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "traverse failed");
 
 done:
     return ret_value;
@@ -1017,9 +1017,9 @@ trav_print_visit_lnk(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
 int
 h5trav_print(hid_t fid)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     trav_print_udata_t print_udata;     /* User data for traversal */
     trav_visitor_t print_visitor;       /* Visitor structure for printing objects */
+    int ret_value = 0;
 
     /* Init user data for printing */
     print_udata.fid = fid;
@@ -1052,8 +1052,8 @@ h5trav_visit(hid_t fid, const char *grp_name, hbool_t visit_start,
     hbool_t recurse, h5trav_obj_func_t visit_obj, h5trav_lnk_func_t visit_lnk,
     void *udata, unsigned fields)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED)
     trav_visitor_t visitor;             /* Visitor structure for objects */
+    int            ret_value = 0;
 
     /* Init visitor structure */
     visitor.visit_obj = visit_obj;
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ h5trav_visit(hid_t fid, const char *grp_name, hbool_t visit_start,
 
     /* Traverse all objects in the file, visiting each object & link */
     if(traverse(fid, grp_name, visit_start, recurse, &visitor, fields) < 0)
-        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR(FAIL, "traverse failed");
+        H5TOOLS_GOTO_ERROR((-1), "traverse failed");
 
 done:
     return ret_value;
@@ -1080,8 +1080,8 @@ done:
 herr_t
 symlink_visit_add(symlink_trav_t *visited, H5L_type_t type, const char *file, const char *path)
 {
-    H5TOOLS_ERR_INIT(herr_t, SUCCEED)
-    size_t    idx;         /* Index of address to use */
+    size_t idx;         /* Index of address to use */
+    herr_t ret_value = SUCCEED;
 
     /* Allocate space if necessary */
     if(visited->nused == visited->nalloc) {