Merge pull request #1045 in HDFFV/hdf5 from ~LRKNOX/hdf5_lrk:1.10/master to 1.10/masterhdf5-1_10_2

* commit 'cc2eea14f6a6532a201dde13af13353d4d73fd92': (1014 commits)
  Commit release date changes.
  Fix typo in INSTALL_Cygwin.txt
  Update references and merge from 1_10
  Corrected email address
  Commit Barbara's INSTALL* file updates.
  Commit Elena's RELEASE.txt edits and Les'/Lori's README.txt revision.
  ommit Elena's RELEASE.txt edits and Les'/Lori's README.txt revision.
  Remove stray '/'.
  Add subdirectory for CMake-HDF5-1.10.2.zip.
  Correct name of hl compile script
  Add directory in release CMake...tar.gz file.
  Minor edits in RELEASE.txt. Set version for HDF5 1.10.2 release.
  release branch should not generate headers
  Switch default build mode to production. Set version to 1.10.2-pre2..
  HDFF5-1.10.2-pre1 releaseed. Add links for security bug fixes to RELEASE.txt.
  Fix VS2017 binary readme
  Couple fixes to the test routine for HDFFV-10425.
  Add test and release info for the fix to HDFFV-10425 test failure with H5DOwrite_chunk.
  Updated RELEASE.txt
  Remove known probelem that was fixed.
  ...

7 files changed, 725 insertions, 938 deletions

diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/src/h5dump/CMakeLists.txt
index 65a7cdd..1133218 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.2.2)
+cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.10)
 PROJECT (HDF5_TOOLS_SRC_H5DUMP)
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ add_executable (h5dump
     ${HDF5_TOOLS_SRC_H5DUMP_SOURCE_DIR}/h5dump_ddl.c
     ${HDF5_TOOLS_SRC_H5DUMP_SOURCE_DIR}/h5dump_xml.c
 )
-TARGET_NAMING (h5dump STATIC)
 TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (h5dump STATIC " " " ")
 target_link_libraries (h5dump  ${HDF5_TOOLS_LIB_TARGET} ${HDF5_LIB_TARGET})
 set_target_properties (h5dump PROPERTIES FOLDER tools)
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@ if (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
       ${HDF5_TOOLS_SRC_H5DUMP_SOURCE_DIR}/h5dump_ddl.c
       ${HDF5_TOOLS_SRC_H5DUMP_SOURCE_DIR}/h5dump_xml.c
   )
-  TARGET_NAMING (h5dump-shared SHARED)
   TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (h5dump-shared SHARED " " " ")
   target_link_libraries (h5dump-shared  ${HDF5_TOOLS_LIBSH_TARGET} ${HDF5_LIBSH_TARGET})
   set_target_properties (h5dump-shared PROPERTIES FOLDER tools)
@@ -47,10 +45,9 @@ endif ()
 # Rules for Installation of tools using make Install target
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 if (HDF5_EXPORTED_TARGETS)
-  if (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-    INSTALL_PROGRAM_PDB (h5dump-shared ${HDF5_INSTALL_BIN_DIR} toolsapplications)
-  endif ()
-  INSTALL_PROGRAM_PDB (h5dump ${HDF5_INSTALL_BIN_DIR} toolsapplications)
+  foreach (exec ${H5_DEP_EXECUTABLES})
+    INSTALL_PROGRAM_PDB (${exec} ${HDF5_INSTALL_BIN_DIR} toolsapplications)
+  endforeach ()
 
   install (
       TARGETS
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/Makefile.in b/tools/src/h5dump/Makefile.in
index 80626f3..5c7ff6e 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/Makefile.in
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/Makefile.in
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ AM_JAVAFLAGS = @AM_JAVAFLAGS@
 AM_JNIFLAGS = @AM_JNIFLAGS@
 AM_LDFLAGS = @AM_LDFLAGS@ @H5_LDFLAGS@
 AR = @AR@
+AR_FLAGS = @AR_FLAGS@
 ASSERTS = @ASSERTS@
 AUTOCONF = @AUTOCONF@
 AUTOHEADER = @AUTOHEADER@
@@ -646,6 +647,7 @@ dvidir = @dvidir@
 enable_shared = @enable_shared@
 enable_static = @enable_static@
 exec_prefix = @exec_prefix@
+fortran_linux_linker_option = @fortran_linux_linker_option@
 host = @host@
 host_alias = @host_alias@
 host_cpu = @host_cpu@
@@ -738,7 +740,7 @@ LDADD = $(LIBH5TOOLS) $(LIBHDF5)
 # Source files for the program
 h5dump_SOURCES = h5dump.c h5dump_ddl.c h5dump_xml.c
 
-# Automake needs to be taught how to build lib, dyn, progs and tests targets.
+# Automake needs to be taught how to build lib, progs and tests targets.
 # These will be filled in automatically for the most part (e.g.,
 # lib_LIBRARIES are built for lib target), but EXTRA_LIB, EXTRA_PROG, and
 # EXTRA_TEST variables are supplied to allow the user to force targets to
@@ -746,15 +748,14 @@ h5dump_SOURCES = h5dump.c h5dump_ddl.c h5dump_xml.c
 LIB = $(lib_LIBRARIES) $(lib_LTLIBRARIES) $(noinst_LIBRARIES)                 \
       $(noinst_LTLIBRARIES) $(check_LIBRARIES) $(check_LTLIBRARIES) $(EXTRA_LIB)
 
-DYN = $(dyn_LTLIBRARIES)
 PROGS = $(bin_PROGRAMS) $(bin_SCRIPTS) $(noinst_PROGRAMS) $(noinst_SCRIPTS)   \
         $(EXTRA_PROG)
 
 chk_TESTS = $(check_PROGRAMS) $(check_SCRIPTS) $(EXTRA_TEST) 
-dyndir = $(libdir)
 TEST_EXTENSIONS = .sh
 SH_LOG_COMPILER = $(SHELL)
 AM_SH_LOG_FLAGS = 
+REALTIMEOUTPUT = $(realtimeOutput)
 TEST_PROG_CHKEXE = $(TEST_PROG:=.chkexe_)
 TEST_PROG_PARA_CHKEXE = $(TEST_PROG_PARA:=.chkexe_)
 TEST_SCRIPT_CHKSH = $(TEST_SCRIPT:=.chkexe_)
@@ -1258,7 +1259,6 @@ help:
 
 # lib/progs/tests targets recurse into subdirectories. build-* targets
 # build files in this directory.
-build-dyn: $(DYN)
 build-lib: $(LIB)
 build-progs: $(LIB) $(PROGS)
 build-tests: $(LIB) $(PROGS) $(chk_TESTS)
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ build-tests: $(LIB) $(PROGS) $(chk_TESTS)
 # General rule for recursive building targets.
 # BUILT_SOURCES contain targets that need to be built before anything else
 # in the directory (e.g., for Fortran type detection)
-lib dyn progs tests check-s check-p :: $(BUILT_SOURCES)
+lib progs tests check-s check-p :: $(BUILT_SOURCES)
 	@$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) build-$@ || exit 1;
 	@for d in X $(SUBDIRS); do                                             \
 	    if test $$d != X && test $$d != .; then                           \
@@ -1344,28 +1344,62 @@ $(TEST_PROG_CHKEXE) $(TEST_PROG_PARA_CHKEXE) dummy.chkexe_:
 	   if $(top_srcdir)/bin/newer $(@:.chkexe_=.chkexe) $${tname}; then \
 	      echo "No need to test $${tname} again."; \
 	   else \
-	      echo "============================" > $${log}; \
-	      if test "X$(FORTRAN_API)" = "Xyes"; then \
-	         echo "Fortran API: Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
-	         echo "Fortran API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log}; \
-	      elif test "X$(CXX_API)" = "Xyes"; then \
-	         echo "C++ API: Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
-	         echo "C++ API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log};\
-	      else \
-	         echo "Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
-	         echo "$(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log}; \
-	      fi; \
-	      echo "============================" >> $${log}; \
-	      srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
-	         $(TIME) $(RUNEXEC) ./$${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) >> $${log} 2>&1 \
-	         && touch $(@:.chkexe_=.chkexe) || \
-	         (test $$HDF5_Make_Ignore && echo "*** Error ignored") || \
-	         (cat $${log} && false) || exit 1; \
+              if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                 echo "============================" | tee $${log}; \
+              else \
+                 echo "============================" > $${log}; \
+              fi; \
+              if test "X$(FORTRAN_API)" = "Xyes"; then \
+                 echo "Fortran API: Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
+                 if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                    echo "Fortran API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" | tee -a $${log}; \
+                 else \
+                    echo "Fortran API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log}; \
+                 fi; \
+              elif test "X$(CXX_API)" = "Xyes"; then \
+                 echo "C++ API: Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
+                 if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                    echo "C++ API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" | tee -a $${log};\
+                 else \
+                    echo "C++ API: $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log};\
+                 fi; \
+              else \
+                 echo "Testing $(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
+                 if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                    echo "$(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" | tee -a $${log}; \
+                 else \
+                    echo "$(HDF5_DRIVER) $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) Test Log" >> $${log}; \
+                 fi; \
+              fi; \
+              if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                 echo "============================" | tee -a $${log}; \
+              else \
+                 echo "============================" >> $${log}; \
+              fi; \
+              if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                 srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
+                 $(TIME) $(RUNEXEC) ./$${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) | tee -a $${log} 2>&1 \
+                 && touch $(@:.chkexe_=.chkexe) || \
+                 (test $$HDF5_Make_Ignore && echo "*** Error ignored") || \
+                 (cat $${log} && false) || exit 1; \
+              else \
+                 srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
+                 $(TIME) $(RUNEXEC) ./$${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS) >> $${log} 2>&1 \
+                 && touch $(@:.chkexe_=.chkexe) || \
+                 (test $$HDF5_Make_Ignore && echo "*** Error ignored") || \
+                 (cat $${log} && false) || exit 1; \
+              fi; \
 	      echo "" >> $${log}; \
-	      echo "Finished testing $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)" >> $${log}; \
-	      echo "============================" >> $${log}; \
-	      echo "Finished testing $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)"; \
-	      cat $${log}; \
+              if test -n "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                 echo "Finished testing $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)" | tee -a $${log}; \
+                 echo "============================" | tee -a $${log}; \
+              else \
+                 echo "Finished testing $${tname} $(TEST_FLAGS)" >> $${log}; \
+                 echo "============================" >> $${log}; \
+              fi; \
+              if test -z "$(REALTIMEOUTPUT)"; then \
+                 cat $${log}; \
+              fi; \
 	   fi; \
 	fi
 
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
index b53c212..25e4858 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@
  * If you do not have access to either file, you may request a copy from     *
  * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include "h5dump.h"
 #include "h5dump_ddl.h"
@@ -69,7 +67,7 @@ struct handler_t {
  */
 /* The following initialization makes use of C language cancatenating */
 /* "xxx" "yyy" into "xxxyyy". */
-static const char *s_opts = "hn*peyBHirVa:c:d:f:g:k:l:t:w:xD:uX:o*b*F:s:S:A*q:z:m:RECM:O*N:vG:";
+static const char *s_opts = "hn*peyBHirVa:c:d:f:g:k:l:t:w:xD:uX:o*b*F:s:S:A*q:z:m:RE*CM:O*N:vG:";
 static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
     { "help", no_arg, 'h' },
     { "hel", no_arg, 'h' },
@@ -183,7 +181,7 @@ static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
     { "sort_order", require_arg, 'z' },
     { "format", require_arg, 'm' },
     { "region", no_arg, 'R' },
-    { "enable-error-stack", no_arg, 'E' },
+    { "enable-error-stack", optional_arg, 'E' },
     { "packed-bits", require_arg, 'M' },
     { "no-compact-subset", no_arg, 'C' },
     { "ddl", optional_arg, 'O' },
@@ -193,7 +191,7 @@ static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
     { NULL, 0, '\0' }
 };
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    leave
  *
@@ -216,7 +214,7 @@ leave(int ret)
     HDexit(ret);
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    usage
  *
@@ -275,8 +273,8 @@ usage(const char *prog)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     -m T, --format=T     Set the floating point output format\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     -q Q, --sort_by=Q    Sort groups and attributes by index Q\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     -z Z, --sort_order=Z Sort groups and attributes by order Z\n");
-    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     --enable-error-stack Prints messages from the HDF5 error stack as they\n");
-    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                          occur.\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     --enable-error-stack Prints messages from the HDF5 error stack as they occur.\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                          Optional value 2 also prints file open errors.\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     --no-compact-subset  Disable compact form of subsetting and allow the use\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                          of \"[\" in dataset names.\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "     -w N, --width=N      Set the number of columns of output. A value of 0 (zero)\n");
@@ -368,7 +366,7 @@ usage(const char *prog)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function: table_list_add
  *
@@ -421,7 +419,7 @@ table_list_add(hid_t oid, unsigned long file_no)
     return((ssize_t) idx);
 } /* end table_list_add() */
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function: table_list_visited
  *
@@ -451,7 +449,7 @@ table_list_visited(unsigned long file_no)
     return(-1);
 } /* end table_list_visited() */
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function: table_list_free
  *
@@ -723,96 +721,103 @@ parse_mask_list(const char *h_list)
     const char        *ptr = NULL;
 
     /* sanity check */
-    HDassert(h_list);
+    if(h_list) {
+        HDmemset(packed_mask,0,sizeof(packed_mask));
+
+        packed_bits_num = 0;
+        /* scan in pair of offset,length separated by commas. */
+        ptr = h_list;
+        while (*ptr) {
+            /* scan for an offset which is an unsigned int */
+            if (!HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
+                error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
+            soffset_value = HDatoi(ptr);
+            offset_value = (unsigned)soffset_value;
+            if (soffset_value < 0 || offset_value >= PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX) {
+                error_msg("Packed Bit offset value(%d) must be between 0 and %u\n",
+                        soffset_value, (unsigned)(PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX - 1));
+                return FAIL;
+            }
 
-    HDmemset(packed_mask,0,sizeof(packed_mask));
+            /* skip to end of integer */
+            while (HDisdigit(*++ptr))
+                ;
+            /* Look for the common separator */
+            if (*ptr++ != ',') {
+                error_msg("Bad mask list(%s), missing expected comma separator.\n", h_list);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
 
-    packed_bits_num = 0;
-    /* scan in pair of offset,length separated by commas. */
-    ptr = h_list;
-    while (*ptr) {
-        /* scan for an offset which is an unsigned int */
-        if (!HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
-            error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
-            return FAIL;
-        }
-        soffset_value = HDatoi(ptr);
-        offset_value = (unsigned)soffset_value;
-        if (soffset_value < 0 || offset_value >= PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX) {
-            error_msg("Packed Bit offset value(%d) must be between 0 and %u\n",
-                    soffset_value, (unsigned)(PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX - 1));
-            return FAIL;
-        }
+            /* scan for a length which is a positive int */
+            if (!HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
+                error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
+            slength_value = HDatoi(ptr);
+            if (slength_value <= 0) {
+                error_msg("Packed Bit length value(%d) must be positive.\n", slength_value);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
+            length_value = (unsigned)slength_value;
+            if ((offset_value + length_value) > PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX) {
+                error_msg("Packed Bit offset+length value(%u) too large. Max is %u\n",
+                        offset_value+length_value, (unsigned)PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
 
-        /* skip to end of integer */
-        while (HDisdigit(*++ptr))
-            ;
-        /* Look for the common separator */
-        if (*ptr++ != ',') {
-            error_msg("Bad mask list(%s), missing expected comma separator.\n", h_list);
-            return FAIL;
-        }
+            /* skip to end of int */
+            while (HDisdigit(*++ptr))
+                ;
 
-        /* scan for a length which is a positive int */
-        if (!HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
-            error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
-            return FAIL;
-        }
-        slength_value = HDatoi(ptr);
-        if (slength_value <= 0) {
-            error_msg("Packed Bit length value(%d) must be positive.\n", slength_value);
-            return FAIL;
+            /* store the offset,length pair */
+            if (packed_bits_num >= PACKED_BITS_MAX) {
+                /* too many requests */
+                error_msg("Too many masks requested (max. %d). Mask list(%s)\n", PACKED_BITS_MAX, h_list);
+                return FAIL;
+            }
+            packed_offset[packed_bits_num] = offset_value;
+            packed_length[packed_bits_num] = length_value;
+            /* create the bit mask by left shift 1's by length, then negate it. */
+            /* After packed_mask is calculated, packed_length is not needed but  */
+            /* keep it for debug purpose. */
+            temp_mask = ~0ULL;
+            if(length_value < (int)(8 *sizeof(unsigned long long))) {
+                temp_mask = temp_mask << length_value;
+                packed_mask[packed_bits_num] = ~temp_mask;
+            }
+            else
+                packed_mask[packed_bits_num] = temp_mask;
+            packed_bits_num++;
+
+            /* skip a possible comma separator */
+            if (*ptr == ',') {
+                if (!(*++ptr)) {
+                    /* unexpected end of string */
+                    error_msg("Bad mask list(%s), unexpected end of string.\n", h_list);
+                    return FAIL;
+                }
+            }
         }
-        length_value = (unsigned)slength_value;
-        if ((offset_value + length_value) > PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX) {
-            error_msg("Packed Bit offset+length value(%u) too large. Max is %u\n",
-                       offset_value+length_value, (unsigned)PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX);
+        if(packed_bits_num > PACKED_BITS_MAX) {
+            error_msg("Maximum number of packed bits exceeded\n");
             return FAIL;
         }
-
-        /* skip to end of int */
-        while (HDisdigit(*++ptr))
-            ;
-
-        /* store the offset,length pair */
-        if (packed_bits_num >= PACKED_BITS_MAX) {
-            /* too many requests */
-            error_msg("Too many masks requested (max. %d). Mask list(%s)\n", PACKED_BITS_MAX, h_list);
+        if (packed_bits_num == 0) {
+            /* got no masks! */
+            error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
             return FAIL;
         }
-        packed_offset[packed_bits_num] = offset_value;
-        packed_length[packed_bits_num] = length_value;
-        /* create the bit mask by left shift 1's by length, then negate it. */
-        /* After packed_mask is calculated, packed_length is not needed but  */
-        /* keep it for debug purpose. */
-        temp_mask = ~0ULL;
-        if(length_value < (int)(8 *sizeof(unsigned long long))) {
-            temp_mask = temp_mask << length_value;
-            packed_mask[packed_bits_num] = ~temp_mask;
-        }
-        else
-            packed_mask[packed_bits_num] = temp_mask;
-        packed_bits_num++;
-
-        /* skip a possible comma separator */
-        if (*ptr == ',') {
-            if (!(*++ptr)) {
-                /* unexpected end of string */
-                error_msg("Bad mask list(%s), unexpected end of string.\n", h_list);
-                return FAIL;
-            }
-        }
+        return SUCCEED;
     }
-    HDassert(packed_bits_num <= PACKED_BITS_MAX);
-    if (packed_bits_num == 0) {
-        /* got no masks! */
-        error_msg("Bad mask list(%s)\n", h_list);
+    else  {
+        error_msg("Bad mask list argument\n");
         return FAIL;
     }
-    return SUCCEED;
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    free_handler
  *
@@ -860,7 +865,7 @@ free_handler(struct handler_t *hand, int len)
     }
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    parse_command_line
  *
@@ -915,9 +920,8 @@ parse_start:
         case 'n':
             display_fi = TRUE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
-            if ( opt_arg != NULL) {
+            if (opt_arg != NULL)
                 h5trav_set_verbose(HDatoi(opt_arg));
-            }
             break;
         case 'p':
             display_dcpl = TRUE;
@@ -934,8 +938,9 @@ parse_start:
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'A':
-            if ( opt_arg != NULL) {
-                if(0 == HDatoi(opt_arg)) include_attrs = FALSE;
+            if (opt_arg != NULL) {
+                if(0 == HDatoi(opt_arg))
+                    include_attrs = FALSE;
             }
             else {
                 display_data = FALSE;
@@ -1054,7 +1059,7 @@ parse_start:
             break;
 
         case 'o':
-            if ( bin_output ) {
+            if (bin_output) {
                 if (h5tools_set_data_output_file(opt_arg, 1) < 0) {
                     usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                     goto error;
@@ -1081,8 +1086,8 @@ parse_start:
             break;
 
         case 'b':
-            if ( opt_arg != NULL) {
-                if ( ( bin_form = set_binary_form(opt_arg)) < 0) {
+            if (opt_arg != NULL) {
+                if ((bin_form = set_binary_form(opt_arg)) < 0) {
                     /* failed to set binary form */
                     usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                     goto error;
@@ -1101,7 +1106,7 @@ parse_start:
             break;
 
         case 'q':
-            if ( ( sort_by = set_sort_by(opt_arg)) < 0) {
+            if ((sort_by = set_sort_by(opt_arg)) < 0) {
                 /* failed to set "sort by" form */
                 usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                 goto error;
@@ -1109,7 +1114,7 @@ parse_start:
             break;
 
         case 'z':
-            if ( ( sort_order = set_sort_order(opt_arg)) < 0) {
+            if ((sort_order = set_sort_order(opt_arg)) < 0) {
                 /* failed to set "sort order" form */
                 usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                 goto error;
@@ -1263,7 +1268,10 @@ end_collect:
         /** end subsetting parameters **/
 
         case 'E':
-            enable_error_stack = TRUE;
+            if (opt_arg != NULL)
+                enable_error_stack = HDatoi(opt_arg);
+            else
+                enable_error_stack = 1;
             break;
         case 'C':
             disable_compact_subset = TRUE;
@@ -1301,7 +1309,7 @@ error:
     return hand;
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    main
  *
@@ -1383,7 +1391,7 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         goto done;
     }
 
-    if (enable_error_stack) {
+    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
         H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
         H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
     }
@@ -1710,13 +1718,18 @@ h5_fileaccess(void)
         HDmemset(memb_name, 0, sizeof memb_name);
         HDmemset(memb_addr, 0, sizeof memb_addr);
 
-        HDassert(HDstrlen(multi_letters)==H5FD_MEM_NTYPES);
-        for (mt=H5FD_MEM_DEFAULT; mt<H5FD_MEM_NTYPES; H5_INC_ENUM(H5FD_mem_t,mt)) {
-            memb_fapl[mt] = H5P_DEFAULT;
-            memb_map[mt] = mt;
-            sprintf(sv[mt], "%%s-%c.h5", multi_letters[mt]);
-            memb_name[mt] = sv[mt];
-            memb_addr[mt] = (haddr_t)MAX(mt - 1, 0) * (HADDR_MAX / 10);
+        if(HDstrlen(multi_letters)==H5FD_MEM_NTYPES) {
+            for (mt=H5FD_MEM_DEFAULT; mt<H5FD_MEM_NTYPES; H5_INC_ENUM(H5FD_mem_t,mt)) {
+                memb_fapl[mt] = H5P_DEFAULT;
+                memb_map[mt] = mt;
+                sprintf(sv[mt], "%%s-%c.h5", multi_letters[mt]);
+                memb_name[mt] = sv[mt];
+                memb_addr[mt] = (haddr_t)MAX(mt - 1, 0) * (HADDR_MAX / 10);
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            error_msg("Bad multi_letters list\n");
+            return FAIL;
         }
 
         if (H5Pset_fapl_multi(fapl, memb_map, memb_fapl, memb_name, memb_addr, FALSE) < 0)
@@ -1754,7 +1767,7 @@ h5_fileaccess(void)
     return fapl;
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    init_prefix
  *
@@ -1769,11 +1782,13 @@ h5_fileaccess(void)
 static void
 init_prefix(char **prfx, size_t prfx_len)
 {
-    HDassert(prfx_len > 0);
-    *prfx = (char *)HDcalloc(prfx_len, 1);
+    if(prfx_len > 0)
+        *prfx = (char *)HDcalloc(prfx_len, 1);
+    else
+        error_msg("unable to allocate prefix buffer\n");
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    add_prefix
  *
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
index 211fd14..801f60d 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
@@ -78,10 +78,6 @@ int          include_attrs     = TRUE; /* Display attributes */
 int          display_vds_first = FALSE; /* vds display to all by default*/
 int          vds_gap_size       = 0; /* vds skip missing files default is none */
 
-/* sort parameters */
-H5_index_t   sort_by           = H5_INDEX_NAME; /*sort_by [creation_order | name]  */
-H5_iter_order_t sort_order     = H5_ITER_INC; /*sort_order [ascending | descending]   */
-
 #define PACKED_BITS_MAX         8  /* Maximum number of packed-bits to display */
 #define PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX    (8*sizeof(long long))  /* Maximum bits size of integer types of packed-bits */
 /* mask list for packed bits */
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
index 8ce6cd6..6646626 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@
  * If you do not have access to either file, you may request a copy from     *
  * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include "H5private.h"
 #include "h5tools.h"
@@ -157,7 +155,7 @@ dump_attr_cb(hid_t oid, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *
     return ret;
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    dump_all_cb
  *
@@ -250,17 +248,19 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
 
                 /* Keep copy of prefix before iterating into group */
                 old_prefix = HDstrdup(prefix);
-                HDassert(old_prefix);
-
-                /* Append group name to prefix */
-                add_prefix(&prefix, &prefix_len, name);
+                if (old_prefix) {
+                    /* Append group name to prefix */
+                    add_prefix(&prefix, &prefix_len, name);
 
-                /* Iterate into group */
-                dump_function_table->dump_group_function(obj, name);
+                    /* Iterate into group */
+                    dump_function_table->dump_group_function(obj, name);
 
-                /* Restore old prefix name */
-                HDstrcpy(prefix, old_prefix);
-                HDfree(old_prefix);
+                    /* Restore old prefix name */
+                    HDstrcpy(prefix, old_prefix);
+                    HDfree(old_prefix);
+                }
+                else
+                    error_msg("warning: null prefix\n");
 
                 /* Close group */
                 H5Gclose(obj);
@@ -291,7 +291,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
                         ctx.indent_level++;
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -303,7 +302,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
                         error_msg("internal error (file %s:line %d)\n", __FILE__, __LINE__);
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -327,7 +325,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
                     }
                     else if(found_obj->displayed) {
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -348,7 +345,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
                         ctx.indent_level--;
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -410,135 +406,134 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
 
         switch(linfo->type) {
         case H5L_TYPE_SOFT:
-            targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size);
-            HDassert(targbuf);
-
-            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-
-            /* Render the element */
-            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s \"%s\" %s",
-                    h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkbegin, name,
-                    h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockbegin);
-            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-
-            ctx.indent_level++;
-
-            if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
-                error_msg("unable to get link value\n");
+            if((targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size)) == NULL) {
+                error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 ret = FAIL;
             }
             else {
-                /* print the value of a soft link */
-                /* Standard DDL: no modification */
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "LINKTARGET \"%s\"", targbuf);
+                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s \"%s\" %s",
+                        h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkbegin, name,
+                        h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockbegin);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-            }
 
-            ctx.indent_level--;
+                ctx.indent_level++;
 
-            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
+                    error_msg("unable to get link value\n");
+                    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                    ret = FAIL;
+                }
+                else {
+                    /* print the value of a soft link */
+                    /* Standard DDL: no modification */
+                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-            /* Render the element */
-            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-            if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockend)) {
-                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockend);
-                if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend))
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " ");
-            }
-            if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend))
-                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend);
-            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                    /* Render the element */
+                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "LINKTARGET \"%s\"", targbuf);
+                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                }
 
-            HDfree(targbuf);
-            break;
+                ctx.indent_level--;
 
-        case H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL:
-            targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size);
-            HDassert(targbuf);
+                ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                /* Render the element */
+                h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockend)) {
+                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkblockend);
+                    if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend))
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " ");
+                }
+                if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend))
+                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->softlinkend);
+                h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-            /* Render the element */
-            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s \"%s\" %s",
-                    h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkbegin, name,
-                    h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockbegin);
-            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                HDfree(targbuf);
+            }
+            break;
 
-            if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
-                indentation(dump_indent);
-                error_msg("unable to get external link value\n");
+        case H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL:
+            if((targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size)) == NULL) {
+                error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 ret = FAIL;
-            } /* end if */
+            }
             else {
-                const char *filename;
-                const char *targname;
+                ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-                if(H5Lunpack_elink_val(targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, NULL, &filename, &targname) < 0) {
+                /* Render the element */
+                h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s \"%s\" %s",
+                        h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkbegin, name,
+                        h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockbegin);
+                h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+
+                if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                     indentation(dump_indent);
-                    error_msg("unable to unpack external link value\n");
+                    error_msg("unable to get external link value\n");
                     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                     ret = FAIL;
                 } /* end if */
                 else {
-                    ctx.indent_level++;
+                    const char *filename;
+                    const char *targname;
 
-                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                    if(H5Lunpack_elink_val(targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, NULL, &filename, &targname) < 0) {
+                        indentation(dump_indent);
+                        error_msg("unable to unpack external link value\n");
+                        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                        ret = FAIL;
+                    } /* end if */
+                    else {
+                        ctx.indent_level++;
 
-                    /* Render the element */
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "TARGETFILE \"%s\"", filename);
-                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                        /* Render the element */
+                        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "TARGETFILE \"%s\"", filename);
+                        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-                    /* Render the element */
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "TARGETPATH \"%s\"", targname);
-                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
+
+                        /* Render the element */
+                        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "TARGETPATH \"%s\"", targname);
+                        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-                    /* dump the external link */
-                    dump_extlink(group, name, targname);
-                    ctx.indent_level--;
+                        /* dump the external link */
+                        dump_extlink(group, name, targname);
+                        ctx.indent_level--;
+                    } /* end else */
                 } /* end else */
-            } /* end else */
-            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-            /* Render the element */
-            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-            if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockend)) {
-                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockend);
+                /* Render the element */
+                h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockend)) {
+                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkblockend);
+                    if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkend))
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " ");
+                }
                 if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkend))
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " ");
-            }
-            if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkend))
-                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkend);
-            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%s", h5tools_dump_header_format->extlinkend);
+                h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-            HDfree(targbuf);
+                HDfree(targbuf);
+            }
             break;
 
         case H5L_TYPE_ERROR:
         case H5L_TYPE_MAX:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         case H5L_TYPE_HARD:
         default:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -550,7 +545,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
             ctx.indent_level++;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "LINKCLASS %d", linfo->type);
@@ -559,7 +553,6 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR
             ctx.indent_level--;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
             if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->udlinkblockend)) {
@@ -920,7 +913,6 @@ dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     ctx.indent_level--;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1084,7 +1076,7 @@ dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t *sset)
             case H5T_NO_CLASS:
             case H5T_NCLASSES:
             default:
-                HDassert(0);
+                error_msg("invalid H5TCLASS type\n");
                 break;
             } /* end switch */
         } /* for(u=0; u<data_loop; u++) */
@@ -1163,7 +1155,7 @@ dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t *sset, int display_index)
     h5tools_dump_data(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, obj_id, print_dataset, sset, display_index, display_char);
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    dump_fcpl
  *
@@ -1185,10 +1177,10 @@ dump_fcpl(hid_t fid)
     size_t   off_size;  /* size of offsets in the file */
     size_t   len_size;  /* size of lengths in the file */
     H5F_fspace_strategy_t  fs_strategy;  /* file space strategy */
-    hbool_t fs_persist; 	/* Persisting free-space or not */
-    hsize_t fs_threshold;   	/* free-space section threshold */
-    hsize_t fsp_size;    	/* file space page size */
-    H5F_info2_t finfo;  	/* file information */
+    hbool_t fs_persist;     /* Persisting free-space or not */
+    hsize_t fs_threshold;       /* free-space section threshold */
+    hsize_t fsp_size;        /* file space page size */
+    H5F_info2_t finfo;      /* file information */
 #ifdef SHOW_FILE_DRIVER
     hid_t    fapl;      /* file access property list ID */
     hid_t    fdriver;   /* file driver */
@@ -1608,7 +1600,6 @@ handle_attributes(hid_t fid, const char *attr, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED * data, int H
         HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1620,7 +1611,6 @@ handle_attributes(hid_t fid, const char *attr, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED * data, int H
         error_msg("unable to open object \"%s\"\n", obj_name);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         if(HDstrlen(h5tools_dump_header_format->attributeblockend)) {
@@ -1982,8 +1972,6 @@ handle_links(hid_t fid, const char *links, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED * data, int H5_AT
 
         case H5L_TYPE_ERROR:
         case H5L_TYPE_MAX:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         case H5L_TYPE_HARD:
         default:
             begin_obj(h5tools_dump_header_format->udlinkbegin, links, h5tools_dump_header_format->udlinkblockbegin);
@@ -2077,7 +2065,7 @@ handle_datatypes(hid_t fid, const char *type, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED * data, int pe
     }
 }
 
-
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    dump_extlink
  *
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
index 22aca73..00d3bd2 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
@@ -77,10 +77,6 @@ extern int          include_attrs; /* Display attributes */
 extern int          display_vds_first; /* vds display to first missing */
 extern int          vds_gap_size; /* vds skip missing files */
 
-/* sort parameters */
-extern H5_index_t   sort_by; /*sort_by [creation_order | name]  */
-extern H5_iter_order_t sort_order; /*sort_order [ascending | descending]   */
-
 #define PACKED_BITS_MAX         8  /* Maximum number of packed-bits to display */
 #define PACKED_BITS_SIZE_MAX    8*sizeof(long long)  /* Maximum bits size of integer types of packed-bits */
 /* mask list for packed bits */
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
index 49d1ba8..4e13df3 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@
  * If you do not have access to either file, you may request a copy from     *
  * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include "H5private.h"
 #include "h5tools.h"
@@ -108,7 +106,7 @@ static h5tool_format_t         xml_dataformat = {
 
 
 /* internal functions */
-static int      xml_name_to_XID(const char *, char *, int , int );
+static int              xml_name_to_XID(const char *, char *, int , int );
 
 /* internal functions used by XML option */
 static void             xml_print_datatype(hid_t, unsigned);
@@ -122,34 +120,26 @@ static char            *xml_escape_the_name(const char *);
  * Function:    xml_dump_all_cb
  *
  * Purpose:     function callback called by H5Literate,
- *                displays everything in the specified object
+ *              displays everything in the specified object
  *
  * Return:      Success:        SUCCEED
  *
  *              Failure:        FAIL
  *
  * Programmer:  Ruey-Hsia Li
- *
- * Modifications:
- *  RMcG, November 2000
- *   Added XML support. Also, optionally checks the op_data argument
- *
- * PVN, May 2008
- *   Dump external links
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static herr_t
 xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED *op_data)
 {
-    hid_t       obj;
-    herr_t      ret = SUCCEED;
-    char       *obj_path = NULL;    /* Full path of object */
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    hid_t             obj;
+    herr_t            ret = SUCCEED;
+    char             *obj_path = NULL;    /* Full path of object */
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;             /* string into which to render */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;                /* print context */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;       /* total data element position */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -157,7 +147,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -180,7 +170,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
     if(!obj_path) {
         ret = FAIL;
         goto done;
-    } 
+    }
 
     HDstrcpy(obj_path, prefix);
     HDstrcat(obj_path, "/");
@@ -208,18 +198,22 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                 char *old_prefix; /* Pointer to previous prefix */
 
                 /* Keep copy of prefix before iterating into group */
-                old_prefix = HDstrdup(prefix);
-                HDassert(old_prefix);
-
-                /* Append group name to prefix */
-                add_prefix(&prefix, &prefix_len, name);
+                if((old_prefix = HDstrdup(prefix)) == NULL)  {
+                    error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
+                    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                    ret = FAIL;
+                }
+                else {
+                    /* Append group name to prefix */
+                    add_prefix(&prefix, &prefix_len, name);
 
-                /* Iterate into group */
-                dump_function_table->dump_group_function(obj, name);
+                    /* Iterate into group */
+                    dump_function_table->dump_group_function(obj, name);
 
-                /* Restore old prefix name */
-                HDstrcpy(prefix, old_prefix);
-                HDfree(old_prefix);
+                    /* Restore old prefix name */
+                    HDstrcpy(prefix, old_prefix);
+                    HDfree(old_prefix);
+                }
 
                 /* Close group */
                 H5Gclose(obj);
@@ -237,7 +231,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         ctx.indent_level++;
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -249,7 +242,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         error_msg("internal error (file %s:line %d)\n", __FILE__, __LINE__);
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -268,7 +260,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         ret = FAIL;
                         H5Dclose(obj);
                         goto done;
-                    } 
+                    }
                     else if(found_obj->displayed) {
                         /* the XML version */
                         char *t_obj_path = xml_escape_the_name(obj_path);
@@ -284,7 +276,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -304,7 +295,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         ctx.indent_level++;
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -316,7 +306,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         ctx.indent_level--;
 
                         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                         /* Render the element */
                         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -330,14 +319,14 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
 
                         H5Dclose(obj);
                         goto done;
-                    } 
+                    }
                     else
                         found_obj->displayed = TRUE;
                 } /* end if */
 
                 dump_function_table->dump_dataset_function(obj, name, NULL);
                 H5Dclose(obj);
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 error_msg("unable to dump dataset \"%s\"\n", name);
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -350,7 +339,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                 error_msg("unable to dump datatype \"%s\"\n", name);
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 ret = FAIL;
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 dump_function_table->dump_named_datatype_function(obj, name);
                 H5Tclose(obj);
@@ -370,161 +359,164 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
 
         switch(linfo->type) {
         case H5L_TYPE_SOFT:
-            targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size);
-            HDassert(targbuf);
-
-            if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
-                error_msg("unable to get link value\n");
+            if((targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size)) == NULL)  {
+                error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 ret = FAIL;
-            } 
+            }
             else {
-                /* print the value of a soft link */
-                /* XML */
-                char linkxid[100];
-                char parentxid[100];
-                char targetxid[100];
-                char *t_prefix = xml_escape_the_name(HDstrcmp(prefix,"") ? prefix : "/");
-                char *t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name);
-                char *t_targbuf = xml_escape_the_name(targbuf);
-                char *t_obj_path = xml_escape_the_name(obj_path);
-                char *t_link_path;
-                int res;
-
-                t_link_path = (char *)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(prefix) + linfo->u.val_size + 1);
-                if(targbuf[0] == '/')
-                    HDstrcpy(t_link_path, targbuf);
+                if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
+                    error_msg("unable to get link value\n");
+                    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                    ret = FAIL;
+                }
                 else {
-                    HDstrcpy(t_link_path, prefix);
-                    HDstrcat(HDstrcat(t_link_path, "/"), targbuf);
-                } /* end else */
+                    /* print the value of a soft link */
+                    /* XML */
+                    char linkxid[100];
+                    char parentxid[100];
+                    char targetxid[100];
+                    char *t_prefix = xml_escape_the_name(HDstrcmp(prefix,"") ? prefix : "/");
+                    char *t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name);
+                    char *t_targbuf = xml_escape_the_name(targbuf);
+                    char *t_obj_path = xml_escape_the_name(obj_path);
+                    char *t_link_path;
+                    int res;
 
-                /* Create OBJ-XIDs for the parent and object */
-                xml_name_to_XID(t_obj_path, linkxid, (int)sizeof(linkxid), 1);
-                xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
+                    t_link_path = (char *)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(prefix) + linfo->u.val_size + 1);
+                    if(targbuf[0] == '/')
+                        HDstrcpy(t_link_path, targbuf);
+                    else {
+                        HDstrcpy(t_link_path, prefix);
+                        HDstrcat(HDstrcat(t_link_path, "/"), targbuf);
+                    } /* end else */
 
-                /* Try to create an OBJ-XID for the object pointed to */
-                res = xml_name_to_XID(t_link_path, targetxid, (int)sizeof(targetxid), 0);
-                if (res == 0) {
-                    /* target obj found */
-                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                    /* Create OBJ-XIDs for the parent and object */
+                    xml_name_to_XID(t_obj_path, linkxid, (int)sizeof(linkxid), 1);
+                    xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
 
-                    /* Render the element */
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sSoftLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
-                            "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
-                            "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
-                            "TargetPath=\"%s\" TargetObj=\"%s\" "
-                            "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
-                            xmlnsprefix,
-                            t_name,         /* LinkName */
-                            linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
-                            t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
-                            t_targbuf,      /* TargetPath */
-                            targetxid,      /* TargetObj */
-                            parentxid,      /* Parents */
-                            t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
-                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                } 
-                else {
-                    /* dangling link -- omit from xml attributes */
-                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                    /* Try to create an OBJ-XID for the object pointed to */
+                    res = xml_name_to_XID(t_link_path, targetxid, (int)sizeof(targetxid), 0);
+                    if (res == 0) {
+                        /* target obj found */
+                        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-                    /* Render the element */
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sSoftLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
-                            "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
-                            "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
-                            "TargetPath=\"%s\"  "
-                            "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
-                            xmlnsprefix,
-                            t_name,         /* LinkName */
-                            linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
-                            t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
-                            t_targbuf,      /* TargetPath */
-                            parentxid,      /* Parents */
-                            t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
-                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                        /* Render the element */
+                        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sSoftLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
+                                "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
+                                "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
+                                "TargetPath=\"%s\" TargetObj=\"%s\" "
+                                "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
+                                xmlnsprefix,
+                                t_name,         /* LinkName */
+                                linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
+                                t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
+                                t_targbuf,      /* TargetPath */
+                                targetxid,      /* TargetObj */
+                                parentxid,      /* Parents */
+                                t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
+                        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        /* dangling link -- omit from xml attributes */
+                        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
+
+                        /* Render the element */
+                        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sSoftLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
+                                "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
+                                "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
+                                "TargetPath=\"%s\"  "
+                                "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
+                                xmlnsprefix,
+                                t_name,         /* LinkName */
+                                linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
+                                t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
+                                t_targbuf,      /* TargetPath */
+                                parentxid,      /* Parents */
+                                t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
+                        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+                    }
+
+                    HDfree(t_prefix);
+                    HDfree(t_name);
+                    HDfree(t_targbuf);
+                    HDfree(t_obj_path);
+                    HDfree(t_link_path);
                 }
 
-                HDfree(t_prefix);
-                HDfree(t_name);
-                HDfree(t_targbuf);
-                HDfree(t_obj_path);
-                HDfree(t_link_path);
+                HDfree(targbuf);
             }
-
-            HDfree(targbuf);
             break;
 
         case H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL:
-            targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size);
-            HDassert(targbuf);
-
-            if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
-                error_msg("unable to get external link value\n");
+            if((targbuf = (char *)HDmalloc(linfo->u.val_size)) == NULL)  {
+                error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 ret = FAIL;
-            } /* end if */
+            }
             else {
-                const char *filename;
-                const char *targname;
-
-                if(H5Lunpack_elink_val(targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, NULL, &filename, &targname) < 0) {
-                    error_msg("unable to unpack external link value\n");
+                if(H5Lget_val(group, name, targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
+                    error_msg("unable to get external link value\n");
                     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                     ret = FAIL;
                 } /* end if */
                 else {
-                    char linkxid[100];
-                    char parentxid[100];
-                    char *t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name);
-                    char *t_prefix = xml_escape_the_name(HDstrcmp(prefix,"") ? prefix : "/");
-                    char *t_obj_path = xml_escape_the_name(obj_path);
-                    char *t_filename = xml_escape_the_name(filename);
-                    char *t_targname = xml_escape_the_name(targname);
+                    const char *filename;
+                    const char *targname;
 
-                    /* Create OBJ-XIDs for the parent and object */
-                    xml_name_to_XID(t_obj_path, linkxid, (int)sizeof(linkxid), 1);
-                    xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
+                    if(H5Lunpack_elink_val(targbuf, linfo->u.val_size, NULL, &filename, &targname) < 0) {
+                        error_msg("unable to unpack external link value\n");
+                        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                        ret = FAIL;
+                    } /* end if */
+                    else {
+                        char linkxid[100];
+                        char parentxid[100];
+                        char *t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name);
+                        char *t_prefix = xml_escape_the_name(HDstrcmp(prefix,"") ? prefix : "/");
+                        char *t_obj_path = xml_escape_the_name(obj_path);
+                        char *t_filename = xml_escape_the_name(filename);
+                        char *t_targname = xml_escape_the_name(targname);
 
-                    ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+                        /* Create OBJ-XIDs for the parent and object */
+                        xml_name_to_XID(t_obj_path, linkxid, (int)sizeof(linkxid), 1);
+                        xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
 
-                    /* Render the element */
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sExternalLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
-                            "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
-                            "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
-                            "TargetFilename=\"%s\"  "
-                            "TargetPath=\"%s\"  "
-                            "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
-                            xmlnsprefix,
-                            t_name,         /* LinkName */
-                            linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
-                            t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
-                            filename,       /* TargetFilename */
-                            targname,       /* TargetPath*/
-                            parentxid,      /* Parents */
-                            t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
-                    h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                    
-                    HDfree(t_prefix);
-                    HDfree(t_name);
-                    HDfree(t_filename);
-                    HDfree(t_targname);
-                    HDfree(t_obj_path);
+                        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
+
+                        /* Render the element */
+                        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sExternalLink LinkName=\"%s\" "
+                                "OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
+                                "H5SourcePath=\"%s\" "
+                                "TargetFilename=\"%s\"  "
+                                "TargetPath=\"%s\"  "
+                                "Parents=\"%s\" H5ParentPaths=\"%s\" />",
+                                xmlnsprefix,
+                                t_name,         /* LinkName */
+                                linkxid,        /* OBJ-XID */
+                                t_obj_path,     /* H5SourcePath */
+                                filename,       /* TargetFilename */
+                                targname,       /* TargetPath*/
+                                parentxid,      /* Parents */
+                                t_prefix);      /* H5ParentPaths */
+                        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+
+                        HDfree(t_prefix);
+                        HDfree(t_name);
+                        HDfree(t_filename);
+                        HDfree(t_targname);
+                        HDfree(t_obj_path);
+                    } /* end else */
                 } /* end else */
-            } /* end else */
-            HDfree(targbuf);
+                HDfree(targbuf);
+            }
             break;
 
         case H5L_TYPE_ERROR:
         case H5L_TYPE_MAX:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         case H5L_TYPE_HARD:
         default:
             {
@@ -539,7 +531,6 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                 xml_name_to_XID(prefix, parentxid, (int)sizeof(parentxid), 1);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -556,7 +547,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void H5_
                         parentxid,          /* Parents */
                         t_prefix);          /* H5ParentPaths */
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                
+
                 HDfree(t_prefix);
                 HDfree(t_name);
                 HDfree(t_obj_path);
@@ -598,18 +589,18 @@ xml_name_to_XID(const char *str , char *outstr, int outlen, int gen)
                     objno = ref_path_table_gen_fake(str);
                     sprintf(outstr, "xid_"H5_PRINTF_HADDR_FMT, objno);
                     return 0;
-                } 
+                }
                 else {
                     return 1;
                 }
             }
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             if (gen) {
                 objno = ref_path_table_gen_fake(str);
                 sprintf(outstr, "xid_"H5_PRINTF_HADDR_FMT, objno);
                 return 0;
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 return 1;
             }
@@ -636,9 +627,6 @@ static const char      *apos = "&apos;";
  * Return:      The revised string.
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static char                   *
@@ -687,27 +675,26 @@ xml_escape_the_name(const char *str)
     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
         size_t esc_len;
 
-        HDassert(ncp_len);
         if (*cp == '\'') {
             HDstrncpy(ncp, apos, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(apos);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (*cp == '<') {
             HDstrncpy(ncp, lt, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(lt);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (*cp == '>') {
             HDstrncpy(ncp, gt, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(gt);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (*cp == '\"') {
             HDstrncpy(ncp, quote, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(quote);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (*cp == '&') {
             HDstrncpy(ncp, amp, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(amp);
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             *ncp = *cp;
             esc_len = 1;
@@ -730,9 +717,6 @@ xml_escape_the_name(const char *str)
  * Return:      The revised string.
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static char                   *
@@ -784,7 +768,6 @@ xml_escape_the_string(const char *str, int slen)
     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
         size_t esc_len;
 
-        HDassert(ncp_len);
         if (*cp == '\\') {
             *ncp++ = '\\';
             *ncp = *cp;
@@ -796,20 +779,20 @@ xml_escape_the_string(const char *str, int slen)
             esc_len = 1;
         }
         else if (*cp == '\'') {
-            HDstrncpy(ncp, apos, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(apos);
+            HDstrncpy(ncp, apos, esc_len);
         }
         else if (*cp == '<') {
-            HDstrncpy(ncp, lt, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(lt);
+            HDstrncpy(ncp, lt, esc_len);
         }
         else if (*cp == '>') {
-            HDstrncpy(ncp, gt, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(gt);
+            HDstrncpy(ncp, gt, esc_len);
         }
         else if (*cp == '&') {
-            HDstrncpy(ncp, amp, ncp_len);
             esc_len = HDstrlen(amp);
+            HDstrncpy(ncp, amp, esc_len);
         }
         else {
             *ncp = *cp;
@@ -838,9 +821,6 @@ xml_escape_the_string(const char *str, int slen)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static void
@@ -865,12 +845,12 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
     size_t                  mpos;
     size_t                  msize;
     int                     nmembs;
-    htri_t                  is_vlstr=FALSE;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
-    h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
-    h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    htri_t                  is_vlstr = FALSE;
+    h5tools_str_t           buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t       ctx;             /* print context  */
+    h5tool_format_t        *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
+    h5tool_format_t         string_dataformat;
+    hsize_t                 curr_pos = 0;     /* total data element position   */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -878,7 +858,7 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -916,20 +896,18 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                    as it's name.  */
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNamedDataTypePtr OBJ-XID=\"/%s\"/>",
                         xmlnsprefix, dtxid);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 /* point to the NDT by name */
                 char *t_objname = xml_escape_the_name(found_obj->objname);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -939,10 +917,9 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 HDfree(t_objname);
             }
             HDfree(dtxid);
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -950,12 +927,11 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
-    } 
+    }
     else {
         switch (H5Tget_class(type)) {
             case H5T_INTEGER:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -968,7 +944,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 sgn = H5Tget_sign(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -988,9 +963,9 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "ERROR_UNKNOWN");
                         break;
                 } /* end switch */
-                
+
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "\" Sign=\"");
-                
+
                 switch (sgn) {
                     case H5T_SGN_NONE:
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "false");
@@ -1004,7 +979,7 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "ERROR_UNKNOWN");
                         break;
                 } /* end switch */
-                
+
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "\" Size=\"");
                 sz = H5Tget_size(type);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%lu", (unsigned long)sz);
@@ -1013,7 +988,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1029,7 +1003,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ord = H5Tget_order(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1038,12 +1011,11 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sFloatType ByteOrder=\"",xmlnsprefix);
-                
+
                 switch (ord) {
                     case H5T_ORDER_LE:
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "LE");
@@ -1060,7 +1032,7 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     default:
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "ERROR_UNKNOWN");
                 } /* end switch */
-                
+
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "\" Size=\"");
                 sz = H5Tget_size(type);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%lu", (unsigned long)sz);
@@ -1072,7 +1044,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1082,7 +1053,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
 
             case H5T_TIME:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1091,7 +1061,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1101,7 +1070,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1117,7 +1085,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 is_vlstr = H5Tis_variable_str(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1127,7 +1094,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1155,7 +1121,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1168,7 +1133,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ord = H5Tget_order(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1177,12 +1141,11 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sBitfieldType ByteOrder=\"",xmlnsprefix);
-                
+
                 switch (ord) {
                     case H5T_ORDER_LE:
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "LE");
@@ -1197,14 +1160,13 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     default:
                         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "ERROR_UNKNOWN");
                 } /* end switch */
-                
+
                 size = H5Tget_size(type);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "\" Size=\"%lu\"/>", (unsigned long)size);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1216,7 +1178,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 /* <hdf5:OpaqueType Tag="tag" Size="bytes" /> */
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1226,7 +1187,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 mname = H5Tget_tag(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1238,7 +1198,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1253,7 +1212,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 nmembers = (unsigned)H5Tget_nmembers(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1273,7 +1231,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     t_fname = xml_escape_the_name(mname);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1286,7 +1243,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     ctx.indent_level++;
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1299,7 +1255,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     ctx.indent_level--;
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1309,7 +1264,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                     ctx.indent_level--;
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1320,7 +1274,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1330,7 +1283,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
 
             case H5T_REFERENCE:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1340,7 +1292,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 /*  Only Object references supported at this time */
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1349,7 +1300,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1358,7 +1308,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1367,7 +1316,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1380,7 +1328,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 nmembs = H5Tget_nmembers(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1390,7 +1337,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1399,7 +1345,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 xml_print_enum(type);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1409,7 +1354,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1419,7 +1363,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
 
             case H5T_VLEN:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1430,7 +1373,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1443,7 +1385,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1453,7 +1394,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1469,7 +1409,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
 
                 /* Print lead-in */
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1485,7 +1424,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
                 for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++) {
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1498,7 +1436,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level++;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1511,7 +1448,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1521,7 +1457,6 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1533,11 +1468,8 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
 
             case H5T_NO_CLASS:
             case H5T_NCLASSES:
-                HDassert(0);
-                /* fall through */
             default:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1559,19 +1491,16 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
 xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
 {
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -1579,7 +1508,7 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -1622,20 +1551,18 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
                  */
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNamedDataTypePtr OBJ-XID=\"%s\"/>",
                         xmlnsprefix, dtxid);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 /* pointer to a named datatype already in XML */
                 char *t_objname = xml_escape_the_name(found_obj->objname);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1645,10 +1572,9 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
                 HDfree(t_objname);
             }
             HDfree(dtxid);
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1658,7 +1584,6 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
     }
     else {
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1671,7 +1596,6 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
         dump_indent -= COL;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1692,25 +1616,22 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
 xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
 {
-    hsize_t         size[H5DUMP_MAX_RANK];
-    hsize_t         maxsize[H5DUMP_MAX_RANK];
-    int             i;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    hsize_t           size[H5DUMP_MAX_RANK];
+    hsize_t           maxsize[H5DUMP_MAX_RANK];
+    int               i;
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
-    
-    int             ndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, size, maxsize);
-    H5S_class_t     space_type = H5Sget_simple_extent_type(space);
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
+
+    int               ndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, size, maxsize);
+    H5S_class_t       space_type = H5Sget_simple_extent_type(space);
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -1718,7 +1639,7 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -1739,7 +1660,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
     ctx.indent_level++;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1752,7 +1672,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
         /* scalar dataspace (just a tag, no XML attrs. defined */
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1765,7 +1684,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
         /* <hdf5:SimpleDataspace Ndims="nd"> */
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1777,27 +1695,24 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
         for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++) {
             if (maxsize[i] == H5S_UNLIMITED) {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sDimension  DimSize=\"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u\" MaxDimSize=\"UNLIMITED\"/>",
                         xmlnsprefix,size[i]);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-            } 
+            }
             else if (maxsize[i] == (hsize_t) 0) {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sDimension  DimSize=\"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u\" MaxDimSize=\"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u\"/>",
                         xmlnsprefix,size[i], size[i]);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-            } 
+            }
             else {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1809,7 +1724,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1824,7 +1738,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
         h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNullDataspace />",xmlnsprefix);
@@ -1836,7 +1749,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
     case H5S_NO_CLASS:
     default:
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1847,7 +1759,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
     ctx.indent_level--;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -1868,9 +1779,6 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
@@ -1886,19 +1794,19 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
     int                 status = -1;
     void               *buf = NULL;
     hsize_t             curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
-    h5tools_str_t       buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t   ctx;             /* print context  */
+    h5tools_str_t       buffer;              /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t   ctx;                 /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t    *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t     string_dataformat;
 
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     /* Print all the values. */
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -1921,8 +1829,7 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -1931,15 +1838,14 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
     ctx.indent_level++;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sDataFromFile>", xmlnsprefix);
     h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
     ctx.indent_level--;
-    
+
     dump_indent += COL;
     ctx.indent_level++;
 
@@ -1957,7 +1863,7 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
             datactx.cur_column = ctx.cur_column;
             status = h5tools_dump_dset(rawoutstream, outputformat, &datactx, obj_id, NULL);
         }
-    } 
+    }
     else {
         /* Attribute data */
         type = H5Aget_type(obj_id);
@@ -1970,15 +1876,15 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
              */
             status = xml_print_refs(obj_id, ATTRIBUTE_DATA);
             H5Tclose(type);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (H5Tget_class(type) == H5T_STRING) {
             status = xml_print_strs(obj_id, ATTRIBUTE_DATA);
-        } 
+        }
         else {  /* all other data */
             /* VL data special information */
             unsigned int vl_data = 0; /* contains VL datatypes */
-            
-            p_type = h5tools_get_native_type(type);
+
+            p_type = H5Tget_native_type(type, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT);
 
             /* Check if we have VL data in the dataset's datatype */
             if (h5tools_detect_vlen(p_type) == TRUE)
@@ -1987,28 +1893,36 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
             H5Tclose(type);
 
             space = H5Aget_space(obj_id);
-
-            ndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, size, NULL);
-
-            for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++)
-                nelmts *= size[i];
-
-            buf = HDmalloc((size_t)(nelmts * MAX(H5Tget_size(type), H5Tget_size(p_type))));
-            HDassert(buf);
-            
-            if (H5Aread(obj_id, p_type, buf) >= 0) {
-                h5tools_context_t datactx;
-                HDmemset(&datactx, 0, sizeof(datactx));
-                datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                datactx.indent_level = ctx.indent_level;
-                datactx.cur_column = ctx.cur_column;
-                status = h5tools_dump_mem(rawoutstream, outputformat, &datactx, obj_id, p_type, space, buf);
+            if(space == H5S_NULL || space == H5S_NO_CLASS) {
+                status = SUCCEED;
             }
-            /* Reclaim any VL memory, if necessary */
-            if (vl_data)
-                H5Dvlen_reclaim(p_type, space, H5P_DEFAULT, buf);
+            else {
+                ndims = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, size, NULL);
+
+                for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++)
+                    nelmts *= size[i];
+
+                if((buf = HDmalloc((size_t)(nelmts * MAX(H5Tget_size(type), H5Tget_size(p_type))))) == NULL)  {
+                    error_msg("unable to allocate buffer\n");
+                    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                    status = FAIL;
+                }
+                else {
+                    if (H5Aread(obj_id, p_type, buf) >= 0) {
+                        h5tools_context_t datactx;
+                        HDmemset(&datactx, 0, sizeof(datactx));
+                        datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
+                        datactx.indent_level = ctx.indent_level;
+                        datactx.cur_column = ctx.cur_column;
+                        status = h5tools_dump_mem(rawoutstream, outputformat, &datactx, obj_id, p_type, space, buf);
+                    }
+                    /* Reclaim any VL memory, if necessary */
+                    if (vl_data)
+                        H5Dvlen_reclaim(p_type, space, H5P_DEFAULT, buf);
 
-            HDfree(buf);
+                    HDfree(buf);
+                }
+            }
             H5Tclose(p_type);
             H5Sclose(space);
             H5Tclose(type);
@@ -2019,8 +1933,7 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "Unable to print data.");
@@ -2036,7 +1949,7 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
     ctx.indent_level++;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sDataFromFile>",xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2045,8 +1958,7 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
     ctx.indent_level--;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2063,9 +1975,6 @@ xml_dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * sset,
  * Return:      herr_t
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 herr_t
@@ -2077,11 +1986,11 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
     hid_t             space = -1;
     H5S_class_t       space_type;
     hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
-    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;           /* print context  */
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;              /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;                 /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    
+
     char *t_aname = xml_escape_the_name(attr_name);
 
     /* setup */
@@ -2090,7 +1999,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -2109,8 +2018,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sAttribute Name=\"%s\">", xmlnsprefix, t_aname);
@@ -2145,40 +2053,35 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
                 dump_indent += COL;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- Time data not yet implemented. -->");
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNoData/>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<hdf5:Data>");
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2190,8 +2093,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
 
             case H5T_COMPOUND:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- Note: format of compound data not specified -->");
@@ -2201,24 +2103,21 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
 
             case H5T_REFERENCE:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
                 if (!H5Tequal(type, H5T_STD_REF_OBJ)) {
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                    
+
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- Note: Region references not supported -->");
                     h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                    
+
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNoData />", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2226,8 +2125,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
                 }
                 else {
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                    
+
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sDataFromFile>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2236,8 +2134,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
                     xml_print_refs(attr_id, ATTRIBUTE_DATA);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                    
+
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sDataFromFile>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2245,8 +2142,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
                 }
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2255,8 +2151,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
 
             case H5T_VLEN:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- Note: format of VL data not specified -->");
@@ -2266,36 +2161,30 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
                 break;
             case H5T_NO_CLASS:
             case H5T_NCLASSES:
-                HDassert(0);
-                /* fall through */
             default:
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- Unknown datatype: %d -->", H5Tget_class(type));
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNoData/>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2307,8 +2196,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
             /* The case of an attribute never yet written ??
              * Or dataspace is H5S_NULL. */
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-            
+
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2317,8 +2205,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
             ctx.indent_level++;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-            
+
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNoData/>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2327,8 +2214,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
             ctx.indent_level--;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-            
+
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sData>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2342,8 +2228,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
         H5Aclose(attr_id);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sAttribute>", xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2357,8 +2242,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<!-- h5dump error: unable to open attribute. -->");
@@ -2367,15 +2251,14 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sAttribute>", xmlnsprefix);
         h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
         h5tools_str_close(&buffer);
-        
+
         h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
         return FAIL;
     }
@@ -2389,17 +2272,14 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
  * Return:      herr_t
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
 xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
 {
     hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
-    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;              /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;                 /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
     char             *tmp;
@@ -2420,7 +2300,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -2457,8 +2337,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
          */
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNamedDataType Name=\"%s\" OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
@@ -2467,13 +2346,12 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
                 name, dtxid,
                 parentxid, HDstrcmp(prefix,"") ? t_prefix : "/");
         h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-    } 
+    }
     else {
         H5O_info_t  oinfo;          /* Object info */
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-        
+
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
         h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNamedDataType Name=\"%s\" OBJ-XID=\"%s\" "
@@ -2496,7 +2374,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
                 error_msg("internal error (file %s:line %d)\n", __FILE__, __LINE__);
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 goto done;
-            } 
+            }
             else if(found_obj->displayed) {
                 /* We have already printed this named datatype, print it as a
                  * NamedDatatypePtr
@@ -2505,29 +2383,27 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
                 char *t_objname = xml_escape_the_name(found_obj->objname);
 
                 ctx.indent_level++;
-                
+
                 xml_name_to_XID(found_obj->objname, pointerxid, (int)sizeof(pointerxid), 1);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sNamedDatatypePtr OBJ-XID=\"%s\" H5Path=\"%s\"/>", xmlnsprefix, pointerxid, t_objname);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                
+
                 ctx.indent_level--;
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-                
+
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sNamedDataType>", xmlnsprefix);
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
                 HDfree(t_objname);
                 goto done;
-            } 
+            }
             else
                 found_obj->displayed = TRUE;
         }
@@ -2537,8 +2413,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
     dump_indent += COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sDataType>",xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2549,10 +2424,9 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
     xml_print_datatype(type,1);
     ctx.indent_level--;
     dump_indent -= COL;
-    
+
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sDataType>",xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2562,8 +2436,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
     dump_indent -= COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-    
+
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
     h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sNamedDataType>",xmlnsprefix);
@@ -2589,11 +2462,6 @@ done:
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *  Pedro Vicente, October 9, 2007
- *   added parameters to H5A(L)iterate to allow for other iteration orders
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
@@ -2611,11 +2479,11 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     char                   *cp = NULL;
     char                   *tmp = NULL;
     char                   *par = NULL;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
-    h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
-    h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    h5tools_str_t           buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t       ctx;             /* print context  */
+    h5tool_format_t        *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
+    h5tool_format_t         string_dataformat;
+    hsize_t                 curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     if ((gcpl_id = H5Gget_create_plist(gid)) < 0) {
         error_msg("error in getting group creation property list ID\n");
@@ -2645,7 +2513,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -2707,7 +2575,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     xml_name_to_XID("/", grpxid, 100, 1);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2722,7 +2589,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     xml_name_to_XID(par, parentxid, 100, 1);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2733,7 +2599,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
                     HDfree(t_objname);
                     HDfree(par_name);
-                    
+
                     ctx.indent_level++;
 
                     t_objname = xml_escape_the_name(found_obj->objname);/* point to the NDT by name */
@@ -2742,7 +2608,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     xml_name_to_XID(par, parentxid, 100, 1);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2751,7 +2616,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                                 xmlnsprefix,
                                 ptrstr, t_objname, parentxid, par_name);
                     h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                    
+
                     ctx.indent_level--;
 
                     HDfree(t_objname);
@@ -2766,7 +2631,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     xml_name_to_XID("/", grpxid, 100, 1);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2782,7 +2646,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                     xml_name_to_XID(par, parentxid, 100, 1);
 
                     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                     /* Render the element */
                     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2797,7 +2660,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
                 found_obj->displayed = TRUE;
 
                 /* 1.  do all the attributes of the group */
-                
+
                 ctx.indent_level++;
                 dump_indent += COL;
 
@@ -2852,7 +2715,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
         char *parentxid = (char *)HDmalloc((size_t)100);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2880,7 +2742,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
         HDfree(parentxid);
 
         /* 1.  do all the attributes of the group */
-        
+
         ctx.indent_level++;
         dump_indent += COL;
 
@@ -2925,7 +2787,6 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     }
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -2936,7 +2797,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
     h5tools_str_close(&buffer);
-    
+
     if(par)
         HDfree(par);
     if(tmp)
@@ -2951,27 +2812,24 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static int
 xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
 {
-    herr_t      e;
-    hid_t       type    = -1;
-    hid_t       space   = -1;
-    hssize_t    ssiz    = -1;
-    hsize_t     i;
-    size_t      tsiz;
-    hobj_ref_t *refbuf = NULL;
-    char       *buf = NULL;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    herr_t            e;
+    hid_t             type    = -1;
+    hid_t             space   = -1;
+    hssize_t          ssiz    = -1;
+    hsize_t           i;
+    size_t            tsiz;
+    hobj_ref_t       *refbuf = NULL;
+    char             *buf = NULL;
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     if (source == DATASET_DATA) {
         type = H5Dget_type(did);
@@ -3031,7 +2889,7 @@ xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -3055,7 +2913,6 @@ xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
 
         if (!path) {
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3066,7 +2923,6 @@ xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
             char *t_path = xml_escape_the_string(path, -1);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3085,7 +2941,7 @@ xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
     H5Tclose(type);
     H5Sclose(space);
     return SUCCEED;
-    
+
 error:
     if(buf)
         HDfree(buf);
@@ -3105,30 +2961,27 @@ error:
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static int
 xml_print_strs(hid_t did, int source)
 {
-    herr_t      e;
-    hid_t       type    = -1;
-    hid_t       space   = -1;
-    hssize_t    ssiz    = -1;
-    htri_t      is_vlstr = FALSE;
-    size_t      tsiz    = 0;
-    hsize_t     i;
-    size_t      str_size = 0;
-    char       *bp = NULL;
-    char       *onestring = NULL;
-    void       *buf = NULL;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    herr_t            e;
+    hid_t             type    = -1;
+    hid_t             space   = -1;
+    hssize_t          ssiz    = -1;
+    htri_t            is_vlstr = FALSE;
+    size_t            tsiz    = 0;
+    hsize_t           i;
+    size_t            str_size = 0;
+    char             *bp = NULL;
+    char             *onestring = NULL;
+    void             *buf = NULL;
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     if (source == DATASET_DATA)
         type = H5Dget_type(did);
@@ -3184,7 +3037,7 @@ xml_print_strs(hid_t did, int source)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -3215,7 +3068,6 @@ xml_print_strs(hid_t did, int source)
 
         if (!onestring) {
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3252,7 +3104,7 @@ xml_print_strs(hid_t did, int source)
     H5Tclose(type);
     H5Sclose(space);
     return SUCCEED;
-    
+
 error:
     if(buf)
         HDfree(buf);
@@ -3273,26 +3125,23 @@ error:
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static void
 check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
 {
-    int             nfilt;
-    int             i;
-    H5Z_filter_t    filter;
-    char            namebuf[120];
-    size_t          cd_nelmts = 20;
-    unsigned int    cd_values[20];
-    unsigned int    flags;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    int               nfilt;
+    int               i;
+    H5Z_filter_t      filter;
+    char              namebuf[120];
+    size_t            cd_nelmts = 20;
+    unsigned int      cd_values[20];
+    unsigned int      flags;
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -3300,7 +3149,7 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -3326,7 +3175,6 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
         if (filter == H5Z_FILTER_DEFLATE) {
             ctx.indent_level++;
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3345,7 +3193,6 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
         else if (filter == H5Z_FILTER_FLETCHER32) {
             ctx.indent_level++;
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3356,7 +3203,6 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
         else if (filter == H5Z_FILTER_SHUFFLE) {
             ctx.indent_level++;
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3368,7 +3214,6 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
             ctx.indent_level++;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3423,16 +3268,16 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
 static void
 xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
 {
-    size_t      sz;
-    size_t      i;
-    hsize_t     space;
-    void       *buf;
-    char       *name;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
+    size_t            sz;
+    size_t            i;
+    hsize_t           space;
+    void             *buf;
+    char             *name;
+    h5tools_str_t     buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    hsize_t           curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -3440,7 +3285,7 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -3452,7 +3297,7 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = 65535;
         string_dataformat.line_per_line = 1;
     }
-    else 
+    else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
     string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
@@ -3462,7 +3307,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
     dump_indent += COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3480,7 +3324,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         const char * path = lookup_ref_path(*(hobj_ref_t *) buf);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3488,7 +3331,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
         if (!path) {
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3499,7 +3341,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             char *t_path = xml_escape_the_string(path, -1);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3509,7 +3350,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         }
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3519,7 +3359,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
     else if (H5Tget_class(type) == H5T_STRING) {
         /* ????? */
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3527,7 +3366,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3539,7 +3377,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         switch (H5Tget_class(type)) {
         case H5T_INTEGER:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3555,7 +3392,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3564,7 +3400,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_FLOAT:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3580,7 +3415,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3590,7 +3424,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
         case H5T_BITFIELD:
         case H5T_OPAQUE:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3612,7 +3445,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3621,7 +3453,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_ENUM:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3639,7 +3470,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             if(name)
                 H5free_memory(name);
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3648,7 +3478,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_ARRAY:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3656,7 +3485,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3665,7 +3493,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_TIME:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3673,7 +3500,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3682,7 +3508,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_COMPOUND:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3690,7 +3515,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3699,7 +3523,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_VLEN:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3707,7 +3530,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3716,13 +3538,10 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             break;
         case H5T_NO_CLASS:
         case H5T_NCLASSES:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         case H5T_STRING:
         case H5T_REFERENCE:
         default:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3730,7 +3549,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3744,7 +3562,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
     dump_indent -= COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3764,11 +3581,6 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *  Pedro Vicente, October 9, 2007
- *   added parameters to H5Aiterate2 to allow for other iteration orders
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void
@@ -3791,11 +3603,11 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     char               *t_prefix;
     unsigned            attr_crt_order_flags;
     h5tools_str_t       buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t   ctx;            /* print context  */
+    h5tools_context_t   ctx;             /* print context  */
     h5tool_format_t    *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
     h5tool_format_t     string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t             curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
-    
+    hsize_t             curr_pos = 0;    /* total data element position   */
+
     char *rstr = (char*) HDmalloc((size_t)100);
     char *pstr = (char*) HDmalloc((size_t)100);
 
@@ -3814,7 +3626,7 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name);
     t_tmp = xml_escape_the_name(tmp);
     t_prefix = xml_escape_the_name(prefix);
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -3836,7 +3648,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     xml_name_to_XID(prefix, pstr, 100, 1);
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3861,97 +3672,93 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
 
     /* Print information about storage layout */
     if (H5D_CHUNKED == H5Pget_layout(dcpl)) {
-        maxdims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(space);
-        HDassert(maxdims >= 0);
-        chsize = (hsize_t *)HDmalloc((size_t)maxdims * sizeof(hsize_t));
-        ctx.indent_level++;
-        dump_indent += COL;
+        if((maxdims = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(space)) < 0)  {
+            error_msg("unable to get maxdims\n");
+            h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        }
+        else {
+            chsize = (hsize_t *)HDmalloc((size_t)maxdims * sizeof(hsize_t));
+            ctx.indent_level++;
+            dump_indent += COL;
 
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sStorageLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-        ctx.indent_level++;
-        dump_indent += COL;
+            /* Render the element */
+            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sStorageLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
+            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            ctx.indent_level++;
+            dump_indent += COL;
 
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sChunkedLayout ", xmlnsprefix);
-        ndims = H5Pget_chunk(dcpl, maxdims, chsize);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "Ndims=\"%d\">", ndims);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            /* Render the element */
+            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sChunkedLayout ", xmlnsprefix);
+            ndims = H5Pget_chunk(dcpl, maxdims, chsize);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "Ndims=\"%d\">", ndims);
+            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-        ctx.indent_level++;
-        dump_indent += COL;
+            ctx.indent_level++;
+            dump_indent += COL;
 
-        for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++) {
+            for (i = 0; i < ndims; i++) {
+
+                ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
+
+                /* Render the element */
+                h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+                h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sChunkDimension DimSize=\"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u\" />", xmlnsprefix, chsize[i]);
+                h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            }
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sChunkDimension DimSize=\"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u\" />", xmlnsprefix, chsize[i]);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sRequiredFilter>", xmlnsprefix);
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-        }
 
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
-
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "<%sRequiredFilter>", xmlnsprefix);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            ctx.indent_level++;
+            dump_indent += COL;
+            check_filters(dcpl);
+            ctx.indent_level--;
+            dump_indent -= COL;
 
-        ctx.indent_level++;
-        dump_indent += COL;
-        check_filters(dcpl);
-        ctx.indent_level--;
-        dump_indent -= COL;
+            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+            /* Render the element */
+            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sRequiredFilter>", xmlnsprefix);
+            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sRequiredFilter>", xmlnsprefix);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            ctx.indent_level--;
+            dump_indent -= COL;
 
-        ctx.indent_level--;
-        dump_indent -= COL;
-        
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sChunkedLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-        ctx.indent_level--;
-        dump_indent -= COL;
+            /* Render the element */
+            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sChunkedLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
+            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            ctx.indent_level--;
+            dump_indent -= COL;
 
-        ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
+            ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
-        /* Render the element */
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sStorageLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
-        h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-        ctx.indent_level--;
-        dump_indent -= COL;
-        HDfree(chsize);
+            /* Render the element */
+            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
+            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "</%sStorageLayout>", xmlnsprefix);
+            h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
+            ctx.indent_level--;
+            dump_indent -= COL;
+            HDfree(chsize);
+        }
     }
     else if (H5D_CONTIGUOUS == H5Pget_layout(dcpl)) {
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3960,7 +3767,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3969,7 +3775,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3981,7 +3786,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3990,7 +3794,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -3999,7 +3802,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4015,7 +3817,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     dump_indent += COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4033,8 +3834,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "FillIfSet");
             break;
         case H5D_FILL_TIME_ERROR:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         default:
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "?");
             break;
@@ -4054,8 +3853,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             break;
         case H5D_ALLOC_TIME_DEFAULT:
         case H5D_ALLOC_TIME_ERROR:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
         default:
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "?");
             break;
@@ -4068,7 +3865,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     dump_indent += COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4080,7 +3876,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4093,7 +3888,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     }
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4104,7 +3898,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     dump_indent -= COL;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4157,7 +3950,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             ctx.indent_level++;
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4165,7 +3957,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4173,7 +3964,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4181,7 +3971,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4193,7 +3982,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
 
         case H5T_COMPOUND:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4209,7 +3997,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
 
         case H5T_REFERENCE:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4217,7 +4004,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
             if (!H5Tequal(type, H5T_STD_REF_OBJ)) {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4225,7 +4011,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4234,7 +4019,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             }
             else {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4244,7 +4028,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
                 xml_print_refs(did, DATASET_DATA);
 
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
                 /* Render the element */
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4253,7 +4036,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             }
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4265,7 +4047,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             ctx.indent_level--;
             dump_indent -= COL;
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4282,12 +4063,8 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             break;
         case H5T_NO_CLASS:
         case H5T_NCLASSES:
-            HDassert(0);
-            /* fall through */
-
         default:
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4295,7 +4072,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4303,7 +4079,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4311,7 +4086,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
             h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
             ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-            h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
             /* Render the element */
             h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4325,7 +4099,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4334,7 +4107,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level++;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4343,7 +4115,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4357,7 +4128,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
     H5Pclose(dcpl);
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4376,9 +4146,6 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED * s
  * Return:      void
  *
  * Programmer:  REMcG
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static void
@@ -4392,11 +4159,11 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
     size_t              dst_size;       /*destination value type size    */
     unsigned            i;              /*miscellaneous counters         */
     size_t              j;
-    h5tools_str_t buffer;          /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t ctx;            /* print context  */
-    h5tool_format_t  *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
-    h5tool_format_t   string_dataformat;
-    hsize_t     curr_pos = 0;        /* total data element position   */
+    h5tools_str_t       buffer;         /* string into which to render   */
+    h5tools_context_t   ctx;            /* print context  */
+    h5tool_format_t    *outputformat = &xml_dataformat;
+    h5tool_format_t     string_dataformat;
+    hsize_t             curr_pos = 0;   /* total data element position   */
 
     /* setup */
     HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
@@ -4404,7 +4171,7 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    
+
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
     if (fp_format) {
@@ -4426,7 +4193,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
     super = H5Tget_super(type);
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4436,7 +4202,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
     xml_print_datatype(super,0);
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-    h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
     /* Render the element */
     h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4455,11 +4220,11 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
 
         if (H5T_SGN_NONE == H5Tget_sign(type)) {
             native = H5T_NATIVE_ULLONG;
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             native = H5T_NATIVE_LLONG;
         }
-    } 
+    }
     else {
         dst_size = H5Tget_size(type);
     }
@@ -4487,7 +4252,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
         char *t_name = xml_escape_the_name(name[i]);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4505,7 +4269,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4513,7 +4276,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
         h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)outputformat->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
@@ -4530,11 +4292,11 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
 
             for (j = 0; j < dst_size; j++)
                 h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "%02x", value[i * dst_size + j]);
-        } 
+        }
         else if (H5T_SGN_NONE == H5Tget_sign(native)) {
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer,"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "u", *((unsigned long long *)
                        ((void *) (value + i * dst_size))));
-        } 
+        }
         else {
             h5tools_str_append(&buffer,"%" H5_PRINTF_LL_WIDTH "d",
                       *((long long *) ((void *) (value + i * dst_size))));
@@ -4543,7 +4305,6 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
         ctx.indent_level--;
 
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
 
         /* Render the element */
         h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);