Merge branch 'aug-develop' into aug-merge-attempt/feature/vfd_swmr

17 files changed, 573 insertions, 723 deletions

diff --git a/tools/src/h5copy/h5copy.c b/tools/src/h5copy/h5copy.c
index 8805d08..5b19ae7 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5copy/h5copy.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5copy/h5copy.c
@@ -207,10 +207,6 @@ static int parse_flag(const char* s_flag, unsigned *flag)
 int
 main (int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
-    H5E_auto2_t         tools_func;
-    void               *edata;
-    void               *tools_edata;
     hid_t        fid_src = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t        fid_dst = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     unsigned     flag = 0;
@@ -226,17 +222,9 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* init linkinfo struct */
     HDmemset(&linkinfo, 0, sizeof(h5tool_link_info_t));
 
@@ -330,10 +318,8 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
         leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
-    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
 
    /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     * open output file
diff --git a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
index e0e6f8c..a02ad5a 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ static int check_d_input(const char*);
  * Command-line options: The user can specify short or long-named
  * parameters.
  */
-static const char *s_opts = "hVrv:qn:d:p:NcelxE:S";
+static const char *s_opts = "hVrv:qn:d:p:NcelxE:A:S";
 static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
     { "help",               no_arg, 'h' },
     { "version",            no_arg, 'V' },
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
     { "follow-symlinks",    no_arg, 'l' },
     { "no-dangling-links",  no_arg, 'x' },
     { "exclude-path",       require_arg, 'E' },
+    { "exclude-attribute",  require_arg, 'A' },
     { "enable-error-stack", no_arg, 'S' },
     { "vol-value-1",        require_arg, '1' },
     { "vol-name-1",         require_arg, '2' },
@@ -55,7 +56,6 @@ static struct long_options l_opts[] = {
  * Function: check_options
  *
  * Purpose: parse command line input
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static void check_options(diff_opt_t* opts)
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ static void check_options(diff_opt_t* opts)
     /* check between -d , -p, --use-system-epsilon.
      * These options are mutually exclusive.
      */
-    if ((opts->d + opts->p + opts->use_system_epsilon) > 1) {
+    if ((opts->delta_bool + opts->percent_bool + opts->use_system_epsilon) > 1) {
         HDprintf("%s error: -d, -p and --use-system-epsilon options are mutually-exclusive;\n", PROGRAMNAME);
         HDprintf("use no more than one.\n");
         HDprintf("Try '-h' or '--help' option for more information or see the %s entry in the 'HDF5 Reference Manual'.\n", PROGRAMNAME);
@@ -75,27 +75,138 @@ static void check_options(diff_opt_t* opts)
     }
 }
 
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Function:    parse_hsize_list
+ *
+ * Purpose:     Parse a list of comma or space separated integers and return
+ *              them in a list. The string being passed into this function
+ *              should be at the start of the list you want to parse. You are
+ *              responsible for freeing the array returned from here.
+ *
+ *              Lists in the so-called "terse" syntax are separated by
+ *              semicolons (;). The lists themselves can be separated by
+ *              either commas (,) or white spaces.
+ *
+ * Return:      <none>
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static void
+parse_hsize_list(const char *h_list, subset_d *d)
+{
+    hsize_t        *p_list;
+    const char     *ptr;
+    unsigned int    size_count = 0;
+    unsigned int    i = 0;
+    unsigned int    last_digit = 0;
+
+    if (!h_list || !*h_list || *h_list == ';')
+        return;
+
+    H5TOOLS_START_DEBUG(" - h_list:%s", h_list);
+    /* count how many integers do we have */
+    for (ptr = h_list; ptr && *ptr && *ptr != ';' && *ptr != ']'; ptr++)
+        if (HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
+            if (!last_digit)
+                /* the last read character wasn't a digit */
+                size_count++;
+
+            last_digit = 1;
+        }
+        else
+            last_digit = 0;
+
+    if (size_count == 0) {
+        /* there aren't any integers to read */
+        H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("No integers to read");
+        return;
+    }
+    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("Number integers to read=%ld", size_count);
+
+    /* allocate an array for the integers in the list */
+    if((p_list = (hsize_t *)HDcalloc(size_count, sizeof(hsize_t))) == NULL)
+        H5TOOLS_INFO("Unable to allocate space for subset data");
+
+    for (ptr = h_list; i < size_count && ptr && *ptr && *ptr != ';' && *ptr != ']'; ptr++)
+        if(HDisdigit(*ptr)) {
+            /* we should have an integer now */
+            p_list[i++] = (hsize_t)HDstrtoull(ptr, NULL, 0);
+
+            while (HDisdigit(*ptr))
+                /* scroll to end of integer */
+                ptr++;
+        }
+    d->data = p_list;
+    d->len = size_count;
+    H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("");
+}
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Function:    parse_subset_params
+ *
+ * Purpose:     Parse the so-called "terse" syntax for specifying subsetting parameters.
+ *
+ * Return:      Success:    struct subset_t object
+ *              Failure:    NULL
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+static struct subset_t *
+parse_subset_params(const char *dset)
+{
+    struct subset_t *s = NULL;
+    char   *brace;
+
+    H5TOOLS_START_DEBUG(" - dset:%s", dset);
+    if ((brace = HDstrrchr(dset, '[')) != NULL) {
+        *brace++ = '\0';
+
+        s = (struct subset_t *)HDcalloc(1, sizeof(struct subset_t));
+        parse_hsize_list(brace, &s->start);
+
+        while (*brace && *brace != ';')
+            brace++;
+
+        if (*brace)
+            brace++;
+
+        parse_hsize_list(brace, &s->stride);
+
+        while (*brace && *brace != ';')
+            brace++;
+
+        if (*brace)
+            brace++;
+
+        parse_hsize_list(brace, &s->count);
+
+        while (*brace && *brace != ';')
+            brace++;
+
+        if (*brace)
+            brace++;
+
+        parse_hsize_list(brace, &s->block);
+    }
+    H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("");
+
+    return s;
+}
+
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function: parse_command_line
  *
  * Purpose: parse command line input
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 
-void parse_command_line(int argc,
-                        const char* argv[],
-                        const char** fname1,
-                        const char** fname2,
-                        const char** objname1,
-                        const char** objname2,
-                        diff_opt_t* opts)
+void parse_command_line(int argc, const char* argv[], const char** fname1, const char** fname2, const char** objname1, const char** objname2, diff_opt_t* opts)
 {
     int i;
     int opt;
     struct exclude_path_list *exclude_head, *exclude_prev, *exclude_node;
+    struct exclude_path_list *exclude_attr_head, *exclude_attr_prev, *exclude_attr_node;
 
+    H5TOOLS_START_DEBUG("");
     /* process the command-line */
     HDmemset(opts, 0, sizeof (diff_opt_t));
 
@@ -106,15 +217,18 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
     opts->do_nans = 1;
 
     /* not Listing objects that are not comparable */
-    opts->m_list_not_cmp = 0;
+    opts->mode_list_not_cmp = 0;
 
     /* initially no not-comparable. */
     /**this is bad in mixing option with results**/
-    opts->not_cmp=0;
+    opts->not_cmp = 0;
 
     /* init for exclude-path option */
     exclude_head = NULL;
 
+    /* init for exclude-attribute option */
+    exclude_attr_head = NULL;
+
     /* parse command line options */
     while ((opt = get_option(argc, argv, s_opts, l_opts)) != EOF) {
         switch ((char)opt) {
@@ -134,7 +248,7 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
             break;
 
         case 'v':
-            opts->m_verbose = 1;
+            opts->mode_verbose = 1;
             /* This for loop is for handling style like
              * -v, -v1, --verbose, --verbose=1.
              */
@@ -144,11 +258,11 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
                  */
                 if (!strcmp (argv[i], "-v")) {  /* no arg */
                     opt_ind--;
-                    opts->m_verbose_level = 0;
+                    opts->mode_verbose_level = 0;
                     break;
                 }
                 else if (!strncmp (argv[i], "-v", (size_t)2)) {
-                    opts->m_verbose_level = atoi(&argv[i][2]);
+                    opts->mode_verbose_level = atoi(&argv[i][2]);
                     break;
                 }
 
@@ -156,11 +270,11 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
                  * long opt
                  */
                 if (!strcmp (argv[i], "--verbose")) {  /* no arg */
-                    opts->m_verbose_level = 0;
+                    opts->mode_verbose_level = 0;
                     break;
                 }
-                else if ( !strncmp (argv[i], "--verbose", (size_t)9) && argv[i][9]=='=') {
-                    opts->m_verbose_level = atoi(&argv[i][10]);
+                else if (!strncmp (argv[i], "--verbose", (size_t)9) && argv[i][9]=='=') {
+                    opts->mode_verbose_level = atoi(&argv[i][10]);
                     break;
                 }
             }
@@ -168,11 +282,11 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
 
         case 'q':
             /* use quiet mode; supress the message "0 differences found" */
-            opts->m_quiet = 1;
+            opts->mode_quiet = 1;
             break;
 
         case 'r':
-            opts->m_report = 1;
+            opts->mode_report = 1;
             break;
 
         case 'l':
@@ -214,23 +328,47 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
             }
             break;
 
+        case 'A':
+            opts->exclude_attr_path = 1;
+
+            /* create linked list of excluding objects */
+            if( (exclude_attr_node = (struct exclude_path_list*) HDmalloc(sizeof(struct exclude_path_list))) == NULL) {
+                HDprintf("Error: lack of memory!\n");
+                h5diff_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+            }
+
+            /* init */
+            exclude_attr_node->obj_path = opt_arg;
+            exclude_attr_node->obj_type = H5TRAV_TYPE_UNKNOWN;
+            exclude_attr_prev = exclude_attr_head;
+
+            if (NULL == exclude_attr_head) {
+                exclude_attr_head = exclude_attr_node;
+                exclude_attr_head->next = NULL;
+            }
+            else {
+                while(NULL != exclude_attr_prev->next)
+                    exclude_attr_prev = exclude_attr_prev->next;
+
+                exclude_attr_node->next = NULL;
+                exclude_attr_prev->next = exclude_attr_node;
+            }
+            break;
+
         case 'd':
-            opts->d = 1;
+            opts->delta_bool = 1;
 
-            if (check_d_input(opt_arg) == - 1) {
+            if (check_d_input(opt_arg) == -1) {
                 HDprintf("<-d %s> is not a valid option\n", opt_arg);
                 usage();
                 h5diff_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             opts->delta = HDatof(opt_arg);
-
-            /* -d 0 is the same as default */
-            if (H5_DBL_ABS_EQUAL(opts->delta, (double)0.0F))
-                opts->d=0;
+            /* do not check against default, the DBL_EPSILON is being replaced by user */
             break;
 
         case 'p':
-            opts->p = 1;
+            opts->percent_bool = 1;
             if (check_p_input(opt_arg) == -1) {
                 HDprintf("<-p %s> is not a valid option\n", opt_arg);
                 usage();
@@ -240,12 +378,12 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
 
             /* -p 0 is the same as default */
             if (H5_DBL_ABS_EQUAL(opts->percent, (double)0.0F))
-                opts->p = 0;
+                opts->percent_bool = 0;
             break;
 
         case 'n':
-            opts->n = 1;
-            if ( check_n_input(opt_arg) == -1) {
+            opts->count_bool = 1;
+            if (check_n_input(opt_arg) == -1) {
                 HDprintf("<-n %s> is not a valid option\n", opt_arg);
                 usage();
                 h5diff_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -258,7 +396,7 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
             break;
 
         case 'c':
-            opts->m_list_not_cmp = 1;
+            opts->mode_list_not_cmp = 1;
             break;
 
         case 'e':
@@ -266,35 +404,35 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
             break;
 
         case '1':
-            opts->vol_info_1.type = VOL_BY_VALUE;
-            opts->vol_info_1.u.value = (H5VL_class_value_t)HDatoi(opt_arg);
-            opts->custom_vol_1 = TRUE;
+            opts->vol_info[0].type = VOL_BY_VALUE;
+            opts->vol_info[0].u.value = (H5VL_class_value_t)HDatoi(opt_arg);
+            opts->custom_vol[0] = TRUE;
             break;
 
         case '2':
-            opts->vol_info_1.type = VOL_BY_NAME;
-            opts->vol_info_1.u.name = opt_arg;
-            opts->custom_vol_1 = TRUE;
+            opts->vol_info[0].type = VOL_BY_NAME;
+            opts->vol_info[0].u.name = opt_arg;
+            opts->custom_vol[0] = TRUE;
             break;
 
         case '3':
-            opts->vol_info_1.info_string = opt_arg;
+            opts->vol_info[0].info_string = opt_arg;
             break;
 
         case '4':
-            opts->vol_info_2.type = VOL_BY_VALUE;
-            opts->vol_info_2.u.value = (H5VL_class_value_t)HDatoi(opt_arg);
-            opts->custom_vol_2 = TRUE;
+            opts->vol_info[1].type = VOL_BY_VALUE;
+            opts->vol_info[1].u.value = (H5VL_class_value_t)HDatoi(opt_arg);
+            opts->custom_vol[1] = TRUE;
             break;
 
         case '5':
-            opts->vol_info_2.type = VOL_BY_NAME;
-            opts->vol_info_2.u.name = opt_arg;
-            opts->custom_vol_2 = TRUE;
+            opts->vol_info[1].type = VOL_BY_NAME;
+            opts->vol_info[1].u.name = opt_arg;
+            opts->custom_vol[1] = TRUE;
             break;
 
         case '6':
-            opts->vol_info_2.info_string = opt_arg;
+            opts->vol_info[1].info_string = opt_arg;
             break;
         }
     }
@@ -306,30 +444,46 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
     if (opts->exclude_path)
         opts->exclude = exclude_head;
 
+    /* if exclude-attribute option is used, keep the exclude attr list */
+    if (opts->exclude_attr_path)
+        opts->exclude_attr = exclude_attr_head;
+
     /* check for file names to be processed */
-    if (argc <= opt_ind || argv[ opt_ind + 1 ] == NULL) {
+    if (argc <= opt_ind || argv[opt_ind + 1] == NULL) {
         error_msg("missing file names\n");
         usage();
         h5diff_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
-    *fname1 = argv[ opt_ind ];
-    *fname2 = argv[ opt_ind + 1 ];
-    *objname1 = argv[ opt_ind + 2 ];
+    *fname1 = argv[opt_ind];
+    *fname2 = argv[opt_ind + 1];
+    *objname1 = argv[opt_ind + 2];
+    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("file1 = %s", *fname1);
+    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("file2 = %s", *fname2);
 
     if (*objname1 == NULL) {
         *objname2 = NULL;
+        H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("No obj names");
         return;
     }
+    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("objname1 = %s", *objname1);
 
-    if (argv[ opt_ind + 3 ] != NULL) {
-        *objname2 = argv[ opt_ind + 3 ];
+    if (argv[opt_ind + 3] != NULL) {
+        *objname2 = argv[opt_ind + 3];
     }
     else {
         *objname2 = *objname1;
     }
+    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("objname2 = %s", *objname2);
 
+    /*
+     * TRILABS-227 is complete except for an issue with printing indices
+     * the following calls will enable subsetting
+    opts->sset[0] = parse_subset_params(*objname1);
 
+    opts->sset[1] = parse_subset_params(*objname2);
+    */
+    H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("");
 }
 
 
@@ -337,26 +491,25 @@ void parse_command_line(int argc,
  * Function: print_info
  *
  * Purpose: print several information messages after h5diff call
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 void print_info(diff_opt_t* opts)
 {
-    if (opts->m_quiet || opts->err_stat)
+    if (opts->mode_quiet || opts->err_stat)
         return;
 
     if (opts->cmn_objs == 0) {
         HDprintf("No common objects found. Files are not comparable.\n");
-        if (!opts->m_verbose)
+        if (!opts->mode_verbose)
             HDprintf("Use -v for a list of objects.\n");
     }
 
     if (opts->not_cmp == 1) {
-        if (opts->m_list_not_cmp == 0) {
+        if (opts->mode_list_not_cmp == 0) {
             HDprintf("--------------------------------\n");
             HDprintf("Some objects are not comparable\n");
             HDprintf("--------------------------------\n");
-            if (opts->m_verbose)
+            if (opts->mode_verbose)
                 HDprintf("Use -c for a list of objects without details of differences.\n");
             else
                 HDprintf("Use -c for a list of objects.\n");
@@ -370,19 +523,10 @@ void print_info(diff_opt_t* opts)
  * Purpose: check for valid input
  *
  * Return: 1 for ok, -1 for fail
- *
- * Programmer: Pedro Vicente, pvn@ncsa.uiuc.edu
- *
- * Date: May 9, 2003
- *
- * Comments:
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 H5_ATTR_PURE static int
-check_n_input( const char *str )
+check_n_input(const char *str)
 {
     unsigned i;
     char c;
@@ -406,24 +550,17 @@ check_n_input( const char *str )
  * Purpose: check for a valid p option input
  *
  * Return: 1 for ok, -1 for fail
- *
- * Date: May 9, 2003
- *
- * Comments:
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static int
-check_p_input( const char *str )
+check_p_input(const char *str)
 {
     double x;
 
     /*
-    the atof return value on a hexadecimal input is different
-    on some systems; we do a character check for this
-    */
+     * the atof return value on a hexadecimal input is different
+     * on some systems; we do a character check for this
+     */
     if (HDstrlen(str) > 2 && str[0] == '0' && str[1] == 'x')
         return -1;
 
@@ -440,24 +577,17 @@ check_p_input( const char *str )
  * Purpose: check for a valid d option input
  *
  * Return: 1 for ok, -1 for fail
- *
- * Date: November 11, 2007
- *
- * Comments:
- *
- * Modifications:
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static int
-check_d_input( const char *str )
+check_d_input(const char *str)
 {
     double x;
 
     /*
-    the atof return value on a hexadecimal input is different
-    on some systems; we do a character check for this
-    */
+     * the atof return value on a hexadecimal input is different
+     * on some systems; we do a character check for this
+     */
     if (HDstrlen(str) > 2 && str[0] == '0' && str[1] == 'x')
         return -1;
 
@@ -474,7 +604,6 @@ check_d_input( const char *str )
  * Purpose: print a usage message
  *
  * Return: void
- *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 
@@ -499,10 +628,9 @@ void usage(void)
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         Verbose mode with level. Print differences and list of objects.\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         Level of detail depends on value of N:\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          0 : Identical to '-v' or '--verbose'.\n");
- PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          1 : All level 0 information plus one-line attribute\n");
- PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "              status summary.\n");
- PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          2 : All level 1 information plus extended attribute\n");
- PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "              status report.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          1 : All level 0 information plus one-line attribute status summary.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          2 : All level 1 information plus extended attribute status report.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "          3 : All level 2 information plus file names.\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "   -q, --quiet\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         Quiet mode. Do not produce output.\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "   --enable-error-stack\n");
@@ -591,7 +719,14 @@ void usage(void)
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         excluded.\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         This option can be used repeatedly to exclude multiple paths.\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
-
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "   --exclude-attribute \"path/to/object/with/attribute\"\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         Exclude attributes on the specified path to an object when comparing files or groups.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         If there are multiple paths to an object, only the specified path(s)\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         will be excluded; the comparison will include any path not explicitly\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         excluded.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "         This option can be used repeatedly to exclude multiple paths.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, " Modes of output:\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  Default mode: print the number of differences found and where they occured\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  -r Report mode: print the above plus the differences\n");
@@ -622,7 +757,22 @@ void usage(void)
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "      (The option --follow-symlinks overrides the default behavior when\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "       symbolic links are compared.).\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
-
+ /*
+  * TRILABS-227 is complete except for an issue with printing indices
+  * the following will be needed for subsetting
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, " Subsetting options:\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  Subsetting is available by using the fcompact form of subsetting, as follows:\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "    obj1 /foo/mydataset[START;STRIDE;COUNT;BLOCK]\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  It is not required to use all parameters, but until the last parameter value used,\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  all of the semicolons (;) are required, even when a parameter value is not specified. Example:\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "    obj1 /foo/mydataset[START;;COUNT;BLOCK]\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "    obj1 /foo/mydataset[START]\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  The STRIDE, COUNT, and BLOCK parameters are optional and will default to 1 in\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  each dimension. START is optional and will default to 0 in each dimension.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  Each of START, STRIDE, COUNT, and BLOCK must be a comma-separated list of integers with\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  one integer for each dimension of the dataset.\n");
+ PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
+*/
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, " Exit code:\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "  0 if no differences, 1 if differences found, 2 if error\n");
  PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
diff --git a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_main.c b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_main.c
index c5a0cbf..33d6570 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_main.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_main.c
@@ -69,10 +69,7 @@
 int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
     int        ret;
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
-    H5E_auto2_t         tools_func;
-    void               *edata;
-    void               *tools_edata;
+    int        i;
     const char *fname1 = NULL;
     const char *fname2 = NULL;
     const char *objname1  = NULL;
@@ -83,27 +80,17 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     * process the command-line
     *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     */
     parse_command_line(argc, argv, &fname1, &fname2, &objname1, &objname2, &opts);
 
-    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     * do the diff
@@ -130,6 +117,23 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     if (opts.err_stat)
         ret = 2;
 
+    /* free any buffers */
+    for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        if (opts.sset[i]) {
+            if(opts.sset[i]->start.data)
+                HDfree(opts.sset[i]->start.data);
+            if(opts.sset[i]->stride.data)
+                HDfree(opts.sset[i]->stride.data);
+            if(opts.sset[i]->count.data)
+                HDfree(opts.sset[i]->count.data);
+            if(opts.sset[i]->block.data)
+                HDfree(opts.sset[i]->block.data);
+
+            HDfree(opts.sset[i]);
+            opts.sset[i]=NULL;
+        }
+    }
+
     h5diff_exit(ret);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
index dfaff17..2b21b1c 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
@@ -655,12 +655,12 @@ parse_hsize_list(const char *h_list, subset_d *d)
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 static struct subset_t *
-parse_subset_params(char *dset)
+parse_subset_params(const char *dset)
 {
     struct subset_t *s = NULL;
     char   *brace;
 
-    if (!disable_compact_subset && ((brace = HDstrrchr(dset, '[')) != NULL)) {
+    if (!dump_opts.disable_compact_subset && ((brace = HDstrrchr(dset, '[')) != NULL)) {
         *brace++ = '\0';
 
         s = (struct subset_t *)HDcalloc(1, sizeof(struct subset_t));
@@ -891,50 +891,50 @@ parse_command_line(int argc, const char *argv[])
 parse_start:
         switch ((char)opt) {
         case 'R':
-            display_region = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_region = TRUE;
             region_output = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'B':
-            display_bb = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_bb = TRUE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'n':
-            display_fi = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_fi = TRUE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             if (opt_arg != NULL)
                 h5trav_set_verbose(HDatoi(opt_arg));
             break;
         case 'p':
-            display_dcpl = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_dcpl = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'y':
-            display_ai = FALSE;
+            dump_opts.display_ai = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'e':
-            display_escape = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_escape = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'H':
-            display_data = FALSE;
-            display_attr_data = FALSE;
+            dump_opts.display_data = FALSE;
+            dump_opts.display_attr_data = FALSE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'A':
             if (opt_arg != NULL) {
                 if(0 == HDatoi(opt_arg))
-                    include_attrs = FALSE;
+                    dump_opts.include_attrs = FALSE;
             }
             else {
-                display_data = FALSE;
-                display_attr_data = TRUE;
+                dump_opts.display_data = FALSE;
+                dump_opts.display_attr_data = TRUE;
                 last_was_dset = FALSE;
             }
             break;
         case 'i':
-            display_oid = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_oid = TRUE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'r':
-            display_char = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_char = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'V':
             print_version(h5tools_getprogname());
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ parse_start:
             }
             break;
         case 'N':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ parse_start:
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'a':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ parse_start:
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'd':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -996,7 +996,7 @@ parse_start:
             driver_name_g = opt_arg;
             break;
         case 'g':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ parse_start:
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 'l':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ parse_start:
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             break;
         case 't':
-            display_all = 0;
+            dump_opts.display_all = 0;
 
             for (i = 0; i < argc; i++)
                 if (!hand[i].func) {
@@ -1047,13 +1047,13 @@ parse_start:
                 }
             }
             else {
-                if(display_attr_data && !display_data) {
+                if(dump_opts.display_attr_data && !dump_opts.display_data) {
                     if (h5tools_set_attr_output_file(opt_arg, 0) < 0) {
                         usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                         goto error;
                     }
                 }
-                if(display_data || display_all) {
+                if(dump_opts.display_data || dump_opts.display_all) {
                     if (h5tools_set_data_output_file(opt_arg, 0) < 0) {
                         usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                         goto error;
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ parse_start:
                 }
             }
 
-            usingdasho = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.usingdasho = TRUE;
             last_was_dset = FALSE;
             outfname_g = opt_arg;
             break;
@@ -1111,14 +1111,14 @@ parse_start:
                 usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                 goto error;
             }
-            display_packed_bits = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_packed_bits = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'v':
-            display_vds_first = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.display_vds_first = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'G':
-            vds_gap_size = HDatoi(opt_arg);
-            if (vds_gap_size < 0) {
+            dump_opts.vds_gap_size = HDatoi(opt_arg);
+            if (dump_opts.vds_gap_size < 0) {
                 usage(h5tools_getprogname());
                 goto error;
             }
@@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ end_collect:
                 enable_error_stack = 1;
             break;
         case 'C':
-            disable_compact_subset = TRUE;
+            dump_opts.disable_compact_subset = TRUE;
             break;
         case 'h':
             usage(h5tools_getprogname());
@@ -1357,14 +1357,10 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     hid_t               fid = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t               gid = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t               fapl_id = H5P_DEFAULT;
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
-    H5E_auto2_t         tools_func;
     H5O_info2_t         oi;
     struct handler_t   *hand = NULL;
     int                 i;
     unsigned            u;
-    void               *edata;
-    void               *tools_edata;
     char               *fname = NULL;
 
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
@@ -1373,17 +1369,9 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     dump_function_table = &ddl_function_table;
     dump_indent = 0;
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     if((hand = parse_command_line(argc, argv))==NULL) {
         goto done;
     }
@@ -1394,34 +1382,29 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         goto done;
     }
 
-    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
-
     /* Check for conflicting options */
     if (doxml_g) {
-        if (!display_all) {
+        if (!dump_opts.display_all) {
             error_msg("option \"%s\" not available for XML\n", "to display selected objects");
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
             goto done;
         }
-        else if (display_bb) {
+        else if (dump_opts.display_bb) {
             error_msg("option \"%s\" not available for XML\n", "--boot-block");
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
             goto done;
         }
-        else if (display_oid == 1) {
+        else if (dump_opts.display_oid == 1) {
             error_msg("option \"%s\" not available for XML\n", "--object-ids");
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
             goto done;
         }
-        else if (display_char == TRUE) {
+        else if (dump_opts.display_char == TRUE) {
             error_msg("option \"%s\" not available for XML\n", "--string");
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
             goto done;
         }
-        else if (usingdasho) {
+        else if (dump_opts.usingdasho) {
             error_msg("option \"%s\" not available for XML\n", "--output");
             h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
             goto done;
@@ -1439,6 +1422,10 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
         goto done;
     }
+
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     /* Initialize indexing options */
     h5trav_set_index(sort_by, sort_order);
 
@@ -1584,7 +1571,7 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         }
 
         if (!doxml_g) {
-            if (display_fi) {
+            if (dump_opts.display_fi) {
                 PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
                 dump_fcontents(fid);
                 end_obj(h5tools_dump_header_format->fileend,h5tools_dump_header_format->fileblockend);
@@ -1592,11 +1579,11 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
                 goto done;
             }
 
-            if (display_bb)
+            if (dump_opts.display_bb)
                 dump_fcpl(fid);
         }
 
-        if(display_all) {
+        if(dump_opts.display_all) {
             if((gid = H5Gopen2(fid, "/", H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0) {
                 error_msg("unable to open root group\n");
                 h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -1661,9 +1648,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 
     /* To Do:  clean up XML table */
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-
     leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 
 done:
@@ -1693,9 +1677,6 @@ done:
 
     /* To Do:  clean up XML table */
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-
     leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 } /* main */
 
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
index ca1fef6..548af09 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.h
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ typedef struct h5dump_table_list_t {
 
 h5dump_table_list_t  table_list = {0, 0, NULL};
 table_t             *group_table = NULL, *dset_table = NULL, *type_table = NULL;
-unsigned            dump_indent = 0;              /*how far in to indent the line         */
 
+unsigned     dump_indent = 0;    /* how far in to indent the line */
 int          unamedtype = 0;     /* shared datatype with no name */
 hbool_t      hit_elink = FALSE;  /* whether we have traversed an external link */
 size_t       prefix_len = 1024;
@@ -61,23 +61,26 @@ char         *prefix = NULL;
 const char   *fp_format = NULL;
 
 /* things to display or which are set via command line parameters */
-int          display_all       = TRUE;
-int          display_oid       = FALSE;
-int          display_data      = TRUE;
-int          display_attr_data = TRUE;
-int          display_char      = FALSE; /*print 1-byte numbers as ASCII */
-int          usingdasho        = FALSE;
-int          display_bb        = FALSE; /*superblock */
-int          display_dcpl      = FALSE; /*dcpl */
-int          display_fi        = FALSE; /*file index */
-int          display_ai        = TRUE;  /*array index */
-int          display_escape    = FALSE; /*escape non printable characters */
-int          display_region    = FALSE; /*print region reference data */
-int          disable_compact_subset= FALSE; /* disable compact form of subset notation */
-int          display_packed_bits = FALSE; /*print 1-8 byte numbers as packed bits*/
-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 */
+typedef struct {
+    int          display_all;
+    int          display_oid;
+    int          display_data;
+    int          display_attr_data;
+    int          display_char;           /* print 1-byte numbers as ASCII */
+    int          usingdasho;
+    int          display_bb;             /* superblock */
+    int          display_dcpl;           /* dcpl */
+    int          display_fi;             /* file index */
+    int          display_ai;             /* array index */
+    int          display_escape;         /* escape non printable characters */
+    int          display_region;         /* print region reference data */
+    int          disable_compact_subset; /* disable compact form of subset notation */
+    int          display_packed_bits;    /* print 1-8 byte numbers as packed bits */
+    int          include_attrs;          /* Display attributes */
+    int          display_vds_first;      /* vds display to all by default */
+    int          vds_gap_size;           /* vds skip missing files default is none */
+} dump_opt_t;
+dump_opt_t dump_opts = {TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, 0};
 
 #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 */
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
index 1df205c..b50ce52 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_ddl.c
@@ -103,13 +103,13 @@ dump_attr_cb(hid_t oid, 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;
-    ctx.display_index = display_ai;
-    ctx.display_char = display_char;
+    ctx.display_index = dump_opts.display_ai;
+    ctx.display_char = dump_opts.display_char;
 
     attr_id = H5Aopen(oid, attr_name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-    oid_output = display_oid;
-    data_output = display_data;
-    attr_data_output = display_attr_data;
+    oid_output = dump_opts.display_oid;
+    data_output = dump_opts.display_data;
+    attr_data_output = dump_opts.display_attr_data;
 
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ dump_attr_cb(hid_t oid, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     h5dump_type_table = type_table;
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info2_t *linfo, void H5_ATT
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     /* Build the object's path name */
@@ -242,16 +242,16 @@ dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info2_t *linfo, void H5_ATT
             break;
 
         case H5O_TYPE_DATASET:
-            if(display_data) {
+            if(dump_opts.display_data) {
                 if ((dapl_id = H5Pcreate(H5P_DATASET_ACCESS)) < 0) {
                     error_msg("error in creating default access property list ID\n");
                 }
-                if (display_vds_first) {
+                if (dump_opts.display_vds_first) {
                     if(H5Pset_virtual_view(dapl_id, H5D_VDS_FIRST_MISSING) < 0)
                         error_msg("error in setting access property list ID, virtual_view\n");
                 }
-                if (vds_gap_size > 0) {
-                    if(H5Pset_virtual_printf_gap(dapl_id, (hsize_t)vds_gap_size) < 0)
+                if (dump_opts.vds_gap_size > 0) {
+                    if(H5Pset_virtual_printf_gap(dapl_id, (hsize_t)dump_opts.vds_gap_size) < 0)
                         error_msg("error in setting access property list ID, virtual_printf_gap\n");
                 }
             }
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ attr_iteration(hid_t gid, unsigned attr_crt_order_flags)
 {
     /* attribute iteration: if there is a request to do H5_INDEX_CRT_ORDER and tracking order is set
        in the group for attributes, then, sort by creation order, otherwise by name */
-    if(include_attrs) {
+    if(dump_opts.include_attrs) {
         if((sort_by == H5_INDEX_CRT_ORDER) && (attr_crt_order_flags & H5P_CRT_ORDER_TRACKED)) {
             if(H5Aiterate2(gid, sort_by, sort_order, NULL, dump_attr_cb, NULL) < 0) {
                 error_msg("error getting attribute information\n");
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ dump_named_datatype(hid_t tid, const char *name)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     if ((tcpl_id = H5Tget_create_plist(tid)) < 0) {
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
             }
     } /* end if */
 
-    if(display_oid)
+    if(dump_opts.display_oid)
         h5tools_dump_oid(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, gid);
 
     h5tools_dump_comment(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, gid);
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t *sset)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     if ((dcpl_id = H5Dget_create_plist(did)) < 0) {
@@ -967,11 +967,11 @@ dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t *sset)
     h5tools_dump_dataspace(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, space);
     H5Sclose(space);
 
-    if(display_oid) {
+    if(dump_opts.display_oid) {
         h5tools_dump_oid(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, did);
     }
 
-    if(display_dcpl) {
+    if(dump_opts.display_dcpl) {
         h5dump_type_table = type_table;
         h5tools_dump_dcpl(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, dcpl_id, type, did);
         h5dump_type_table = NULL;
@@ -979,16 +979,16 @@ dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t *sset)
     H5Pclose(dcpl_id);
 
     ctx.sset = sset;
-    ctx.display_index = display_ai;
-    ctx.display_char = display_char;
-    if(display_data) {
+    ctx.display_index = dump_opts.display_ai;
+    ctx.display_char = dump_opts.display_char;
+    if(dump_opts.display_data) {
         unsigned  data_loop = 1;
         unsigned  u;
 
-        if(display_packed_bits)
+        if(dump_opts.display_packed_bits)
             data_loop = packed_bits_num;
         for(u = 0; u < data_loop; u++) {
-            if(display_packed_bits) {
+            if(dump_opts.display_packed_bits) {
                 ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
                 h5tools_simple_prefix(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, (hsize_t)0, 0);
                 /* Render the element */
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t *sset, int display_index)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ dump_data(hid_t obj_id, int obj_data, struct subset_t *sset, int display_index)
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
     ctx.sset = sset;
     ctx.display_index = display_index;
-    ctx.display_char = display_char;
+    ctx.display_char = dump_opts.display_char;
 
     if(obj_data == DATASET_DATA)
         print_dataset = TRUE;
@@ -1527,8 +1527,8 @@ handle_attributes(hid_t fid, const char *attr, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED *data, int H5
     HDmemset(&ctx, 0, sizeof(ctx));
     ctx.indent_level = dump_indent / COL;
     ctx.cur_column = dump_indent;
-    ctx.display_index = display_ai;
-    ctx.display_char = display_char;
+    ctx.display_index = dump_opts.display_ai;
+    ctx.display_char = dump_opts.display_char;
 
     string_dataformat = *outputformat;
 
@@ -1544,7 +1544,7 @@ handle_attributes(hid_t fid, const char *attr, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED *data, int H5
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     attr_name = h5tools_str_replace(attr + j + 1, "\\/", "/");
@@ -1583,9 +1583,9 @@ handle_attributes(hid_t fid, const char *attr, void H5_ATTR_UNUSED *data, int H5
     } /* end if */
 
     attr_id = H5Aopen(oid, attr_name, H5P_DEFAULT);
-    oid_output = display_oid;
-    data_output = display_data;
-    attr_data_output = display_attr_data;
+    oid_output = dump_opts.display_oid;
+    data_output = dump_opts.display_data;
+    attr_data_output = dump_opts.display_attr_data;
 
     h5dump_type_table = type_table;
     h5tools_dump_attribute(rawoutstream, outputformat, &ctx, attr_name, attr_id);
@@ -1637,16 +1637,16 @@ handle_datasets(hid_t fid, const char *dset, void *data, int pe, const char *dis
     struct subset_t *sset = (struct subset_t *)data;
     const char      *real_name = display_name ? display_name : dset;
 
-    if(display_data) {
+    if(dump_opts.display_data) {
         if ((dapl_id = H5Pcreate(H5P_DATASET_ACCESS)) < 0) {
             error_msg("error in creating default access property list ID\n");
         }
-        if (display_vds_first) {
+        if (dump_opts.display_vds_first) {
             if(H5Pset_virtual_view(dapl_id, H5D_VDS_FIRST_MISSING) < 0)
                 error_msg("error in setting access property list ID, virtual_view\n");
         }
-        if (vds_gap_size > 0) {
-            if(H5Pset_virtual_printf_gap(dapl_id, (hsize_t)vds_gap_size) < 0)
+        if (dump_opts.vds_gap_size > 0) {
+            if(H5Pset_virtual_printf_gap(dapl_id, (hsize_t)dump_opts.vds_gap_size) < 0)
                 error_msg("error in setting access property list ID, virtual_printf_gap\n");
         }
     }
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
index 00d3bd2..c615621 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_extern.h
@@ -50,32 +50,35 @@ typedef struct h5dump_table_list_t {
 
 extern h5dump_table_list_t  table_list;
 extern table_t             *group_table, *dset_table, *type_table;
-extern unsigned                  dump_indent;              /*how far in to indent the line         */
 
-extern int          unamedtype;     /* shared datatype with no name */
-extern hbool_t      hit_elink;  /* whether we have traversed an external link */
+extern unsigned     dump_indent;  /* how far in to indent the line */
+extern int          unamedtype;   /* shared datatype with no name */
+extern hbool_t      hit_elink;    /* whether we have traversed an external link */
 extern size_t       prefix_len;
 extern char         *prefix;
 extern const char   *fp_format;
 
 /* things to display or which are set via command line parameters */
-extern int          display_all;
-extern int          display_oid;
-extern int          display_data;
-extern int          display_attr_data;
-extern int          display_char; /*print 1-byte numbers as ASCII */
-extern int          usingdasho;
-extern int          display_bb; /*superblock */
-extern int          display_dcpl; /*dcpl */
-extern int          display_fi; /*file index */
-extern int          display_ai;  /*array index */
-extern int          display_escape; /*escape non printable characters */
-extern int          display_region; /*print region reference data */
-extern int          disable_compact_subset; /* disable compact form of subset notation */
-extern int          display_packed_bits; /*print 1-8 byte numbers as packed bits*/
-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 */
+typedef struct {
+    int          display_all;
+    int          display_oid;
+    int          display_data;
+    int          display_attr_data;
+    int          display_char;           /* print 1-byte numbers as ASCII */
+    int          usingdasho;
+    int          display_bb;             /* superblock */
+    int          display_dcpl;           /* dcpl */
+    int          display_fi;             /* file index */
+    int          display_ai;             /* array index */
+    int          display_escape;         /* escape non printable characters */
+    int          display_region;         /* print region reference data */
+    int          disable_compact_subset; /* disable compact form of subset notation */
+    int          display_packed_bits;    /* print 1-8 byte numbers as packed bits */
+    int          include_attrs;          /* Display attributes */
+    int          display_vds_first;      /* vds display to all by default */
+    int          vds_gap_size;           /* vds skip missing files default is none */
+} dump_opt_t;
+extern dump_opt_t dump_opts;
 
 #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 */
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
index 7086388..696841d 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump_xml.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ xml_dump_all_cb(hid_t group, const char *name, const H5L_info2_t *linfo, void H5
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     /* Build the object's path name */
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ xml_print_datatype(hid_t type, unsigned in_group)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     if(!in_group && H5Tcommitted(type) > 0) {
@@ -1538,7 +1538,7 @@ xml_dump_datatype(hid_t type)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.indent_level++;
@@ -1669,7 +1669,7 @@ xml_dump_dataspace(hid_t space)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.indent_level++;
@@ -1992,7 +1992,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
@@ -2014,7 +2014,7 @@ xml_dump_attr(hid_t attr, const char *attr_name, const H5A_info_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED
         ctx.indent_level++;
         dump_indent += COL;
 
-        if (display_attr_data && space_type != H5S_NULL) {
+        if (dump_opts.display_attr_data && space_type != H5S_NULL) {
             switch (H5Tget_class(type)) {
             case H5T_INTEGER:
             case H5T_FLOAT:
@@ -2293,7 +2293,7 @@ xml_dump_named_datatype(hid_t type, const char *name)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     dtxid = (char *)HDmalloc((size_t)100);
@@ -2506,7 +2506,7 @@ xml_dump_group(hid_t gid, const char *name)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     if(HDstrcmp(name, "/") == 0) {
@@ -2889,7 +2889,7 @@ xml_print_refs(hid_t did, int source)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     for (i = 0; i < (hsize_t)ssiz; i++) {
@@ -3039,7 +3039,7 @@ xml_print_strs(hid_t did, int source)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     for (i = 0; i < (hsize_t)ssiz; i++) {
@@ -3151,7 +3151,7 @@ check_filters(hid_t dcpl)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     nfilt = H5Pget_nfilters(dcpl);
@@ -3287,7 +3287,7 @@ xml_dump_fill_value(hid_t dcpl, hid_t type)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     ctx.indent_level++;
@@ -3627,7 +3627,7 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *ss
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     xml_name_to_XID(did, tmp, rstr, 100, 1);
@@ -3916,7 +3916,7 @@ xml_dump_dataset(hid_t did, const char *name, struct subset_t H5_ATTR_UNUSED *ss
     dump_indent -= COL;
     tempi = H5Dget_storage_size(did);
 
-    if (display_data && (tempi > 0)) {
+    if (dump_opts.display_data && (tempi > 0)) {
         switch (H5Tget_class(type)) {
         case H5T_INTEGER:
         case H5T_FLOAT:
@@ -4172,7 +4172,7 @@ xml_print_enum(hid_t type)
     else
         string_dataformat.line_ncols = h5tools_nCols;
 
-    string_dataformat.do_escape = display_escape;
+    string_dataformat.do_escape = dump_opts.display_escape;
     outputformat = &string_dataformat;
 
     nmembs = (unsigned)H5Tget_nmembers(type);
diff --git a/tools/src/h5format_convert/h5format_convert.c b/tools/src/h5format_convert/h5format_convert.c
index 2c4cf41..e60097b 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5format_convert/h5format_convert.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5format_convert/h5format_convert.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static void usage(const char *prog)
  * Purpose: parse command line input
  *
  * Return: Success: 0
- *  	   Failure: 1
+ *         Failure: 1
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -127,47 +127,47 @@ parse_command_line(int argc, const char **argv)
 
     /* parse command line options */
     while ((opt = get_option(argc, argv, s_opts, l_opts)) != EOF) {
-    switch((char) opt) {
-        case 'h':
-        usage(h5tools_getprogname());
-        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
-        goto error;
-
-        case 'V':
-        print_version(h5tools_getprogname());
-        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
-        goto error;
-
-        case 'v':
-        verbose_g = TRUE;
-        break;
-
-        case 'd': /* -d dname */
-        if(opt_arg != NULL && *opt_arg)
-            dname_g = HDstrdup(opt_arg);
-        if(dname_g == NULL) {
-            h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
-            error_msg("No dataset name\n", opt_arg);
-            usage(h5tools_getprogname());
-            goto error;
-        }
-        dset_g = TRUE;
-        break;
-
-        case 'n': /* -n */
-        noop_g = TRUE;
-        break;
-
-        case 'E':
-        enable_error_stack = 1;
-        break;
-
-        default:
-        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
-        usage(h5tools_getprogname());
-        goto error;
-        break;
-    } /* switch */
+        switch((char) opt) {
+            case 'h':
+                usage(h5tools_getprogname());
+                h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+                goto error;
+
+            case 'V':
+                print_version(h5tools_getprogname());
+                h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+                goto error;
+
+            case 'v':
+                verbose_g = TRUE;
+                break;
+
+            case 'd': /* -d dname */
+                if(opt_arg != NULL && *opt_arg)
+                    dname_g = HDstrdup(opt_arg);
+                if(dname_g == NULL) {
+                    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                    error_msg("No dataset name\n", opt_arg);
+                    usage(h5tools_getprogname());
+                    goto error;
+                }
+                dset_g = TRUE;
+                break;
+
+            case 'n': /* -n */
+                noop_g = TRUE;
+                break;
+
+            case 'E':
+                enable_error_stack = 1;
+                break;
+
+            default:
+                h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                usage(h5tools_getprogname());
+                goto error;
+                break;
+        } /* switch */
     } /* while */
 
     if (argc <= opt_ind) {
@@ -207,17 +207,17 @@ leave(int ret)
  * Function: convert()
  *
  * Purpose: To downgrade a dataset's indexing type or layout version:
- *		For chunked:
- *		  Downgrade the chunk indexing type to version 1 B-tree
- *	    	  If type is already version 1 B-tree, no further action
- *		For compact/contiguous:
- *		  Downgrade the layout version from 4 to 3
- *		  If version is already <= 3, no further action
- *		For virtual:
- *		  No further action
+ *        For chunked:
+ *          Downgrade the chunk indexing type to version 1 B-tree
+ *              If type is already version 1 B-tree, no further action
+ *        For compact/contiguous:
+ *          Downgrade the layout version from 4 to 3
+ *          If version is already <= 3, no further action
+ *        For virtual:
+ *          No further action
  *
  * Return: Success: 0
- *  	   Failure: 1
+ *         Failure: 1
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ convert(hid_t fid, const char *dname)
     }
 
     if(verbose_g)
-	HDfprintf(stdout, "Converting the dataset...\n");
+        HDfprintf(stdout, "Converting the dataset...\n");
 
     /* Downgrade the dataset */
     if(H5Dformat_convert(did) < 0) {
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ convert_dsets_cb(const char *path, const H5O_info2_t *oi, const char *already_vi
             if(verbose_g)
                 HDfprintf(stdout, "Going to process dataset:%s...\n", path);
             if(convert(fid, path) < 0)
-            goto error;
+                goto error;
         } /* end if */
     } /* end if */
 
@@ -392,57 +392,56 @@ error:
  * Function: main
  *
  * Purpose: To convert the chunk indexing type of a dataset in a file to
- *	    version 1 B-tree.
+ *        version 1 B-tree.
  *
  * Return: Success: 0
- *  	   Failure: 1
+ *         Failure: 1
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 int
 main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
-    H5E_auto2_t func;
-    void *edata;
     hid_t fid = H5I_INVALID_HID;
 
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
     /* Parse command line options */
     if(parse_command_line(argc, argv) < 0)
-	goto done;
+        goto done;
     else if(verbose_g)
-	HDfprintf(stdout, "Process command line options\n");
+        HDfprintf(stdout, "Process command line options\n");
 
     if(noop_g && verbose_g)
-	HDfprintf(stdout, "It is noop...\n");
+        HDfprintf(stdout, "It is noop...\n");
+
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
 
     /* Open the HDF5 file */
     if((fid = h5tools_fopen(fname_g, H5F_ACC_RDWR, H5P_DEFAULT, FALSE, NULL, 0)) < 0) {
-	error_msg("unable to open file \"%s\"\n", fname_g);
-	h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
-	goto done;
-    } else if(verbose_g)
-	HDfprintf(stdout, "Open the file %s\n", fname_g);
+        error_msg("unable to open file \"%s\"\n", fname_g);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
+    }
+    else if(verbose_g)
+        HDfprintf(stdout, "Open the file %s\n", fname_g);
 
     if(dset_g) { /* Convert a specified dataset in the file */
-	if(verbose_g)
-	    HDfprintf(stdout, "Going to process dataset: %s...\n", dname_g);
-	if(convert(fid, dname_g) < 0)
-	    goto done;
-    } else { /* Convert all datasets in the file */
-	if(verbose_g)
-	    HDfprintf(stdout, "Processing all datasets in the file...\n");
-	if(h5trav_visit(fid, "/", TRUE, TRUE, convert_dsets_cb, NULL, &fid, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0)
-	    goto done;
+        if(verbose_g)
+            HDfprintf(stdout, "Going to process dataset: %s...\n", dname_g);
+        if(convert(fid, dname_g) < 0)
+            goto done;
+    }
+    else { /* Convert all datasets in the file */
+        if(verbose_g)
+            HDfprintf(stdout, "Processing all datasets in the file...\n");
+        if(h5trav_visit(fid, "/", TRUE, TRUE, convert_dsets_cb, NULL, &fid, H5O_INFO_BASIC) < 0)
+            goto done;
     } /* end else */
 
     if(verbose_g) {
@@ -464,19 +463,20 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 done:
     /* Close the file */
     if(fid >= 0) {
-	if(H5Fclose(fid) < 0) {
-	    error_msg("unable to close file \"%s\"\n", fname_g);
-	    h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
-	} else if(verbose_g)
-	    HDfprintf(stdout, "Close the file\n");
+        if(H5Fclose(fid) < 0) {
+            error_msg("unable to close file \"%s\"\n", fname_g);
+            h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        }
+        else if(verbose_g) {
+            HDfprintf(stdout, "Close the file\n");
+        }
     }  /* end if */
 
     if(fname_g)
-	HDfree(fname_g);
+        HDfree(fname_g);
     if(dname_g)
-	HDfree(dname_g);
+        HDfree(dname_g);
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
     leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 
 } /* end main() */
diff --git a/tools/src/h5import/h5import.c b/tools/src/h5import/h5import.c
index b11fe7f..4a642e0 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5import/h5import.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5import/h5import.c
@@ -3735,8 +3735,8 @@ static int getExternalFilename(struct Input *in, FILE *strm)
         return (-1);
     }
 
-    in->externFilename = (char *) HDmalloc ((size_t) (HDstrlen(temp)) * sizeof(char));
-    (void) HDstrcpy(in->externFilename, temp);
+    in->externFilename = (char *) HDmalloc ((size_t) (HDstrlen(temp) + 1) * sizeof(char));
+    (void) HDstrncpy(in->externFilename, temp, HDstrlen(temp) + 1);
     return (0);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/src/h5jam/h5jam.c b/tools/src/h5jam/h5jam.c
index 009e527..8b61112 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5jam/h5jam.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5jam/h5jam.c
@@ -120,13 +120,6 @@ usage (const char *prog)
 static void
 leave(int ret)
 {
-    if (ub_file)
-        HDfree (ub_file);
-    if (input_file)
-        HDfree (input_file);
-    if (output_file)
-        HDfree (output_file);
-
     h5tools_close();
 
     HDexit(ret);
@@ -195,8 +188,6 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     int         ufid = -1;
     int         h5fid = -1;
     int         ofid = -1;
-    void       *edata;
-    H5E_auto2_t func;
     hid_t       ifile = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t       plist = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     herr_t      status;
@@ -214,20 +205,20 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
     parse_command_line(argc, argv);
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     if (ub_file == NULL) {
         /* no user block */
         error_msg("missing argument for -u <user_file>.\n");
         help_ref_msg(stderr);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     testval = H5Fis_accessible(ub_file, H5P_DEFAULT);
@@ -235,13 +226,15 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     if (testval > 0) {
         error_msg("-u <user_file> cannot be HDF5 file, but it appears to be an HDF5 file.\n");
         help_ref_msg(stderr);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     if (input_file == NULL) {
         error_msg("missing argument for -i <HDF5 file>.\n");
         help_ref_msg(stderr);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     testval = H5Fis_accessible(input_file, H5P_DEFAULT);
@@ -249,45 +242,49 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     if (testval <= 0) {
         error_msg("Input HDF5 file \"%s\" is not HDF5 format.\n", input_file);
         help_ref_msg(stderr);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     ifile = H5Fopen(input_file, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, H5P_DEFAULT);
 
     if (ifile < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't open input HDF5 file \"%s\"\n", input_file);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     plist = H5Fget_create_plist(ifile);
     if (plist < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't get file creation plist for file \"%s\"\n", input_file);
-        H5Fclose(ifile);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     status = H5Pget_userblock(plist, &usize);
     if (status < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't get user block for file \"%s\"\n", input_file);
-        H5Pclose(plist);
-        H5Fclose(ifile);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     H5Pclose(plist);
+    plist = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     H5Fclose(ifile);
+    ifile = H5I_INVALID_HID;
 
     ufid = HDopen(ub_file, O_RDONLY);
     if(ufid < 0) {
         error_msg("unable to open user block file \"%s\"\n", ub_file);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     res = HDfstat(ufid, &sbuf);
     if(res < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't stat file \"%s\"\n", ub_file);
-        HDclose (ufid);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     fsize = (off_t)sbuf.st_size;
@@ -295,16 +292,15 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5fid = HDopen(input_file, O_RDONLY);
     if(h5fid < 0) {
         error_msg("unable to open HDF5 file for read \"%s\"\n", input_file);
-        HDclose (ufid);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     res = HDfstat(h5fid, &sbuf2);
     if(res < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't stat file \"%s\"\n", input_file);
-        HDclose (h5fid);
-        HDclose (ufid);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     }
 
     h5fsize = (hsize_t)sbuf2.st_size;
@@ -314,9 +310,8 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
 
         if (ofid < 0) {
             error_msg("unable to open output file \"%s\"\n", output_file);
-            HDclose (h5fid);
-            HDclose (ufid);
-            leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+            h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+            goto done;
         }
     }
     else {
@@ -324,9 +319,8 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
 
         if (ofid < 0) {
             error_msg("unable to create output file \"%s\"\n", output_file);
-            HDclose (h5fid);
-            HDclose (ufid);
-            leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+            h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+            goto done;
         }
     }
 
@@ -365,12 +359,11 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     /* pad the ub */
     if(write_pad(ofid, where, &where) < 0) {
         error_msg("Can't pad file \"%s\"\n", output_file);
-        HDclose (h5fid);
-        HDclose (ufid);
-        HDclose (ofid);
-        leave (EXIT_FAILURE);
+        h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        goto done;
     } /* end if */
 
+done:
     if(ub_file)
         HDfree(ub_file);
     if(input_file)
@@ -378,6 +371,11 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     if(output_file)
         HDfree(output_file);
 
+    if(plist >= 0)
+        H5Pclose(plist);
+    if(ifile >= 0)
+        H5Fclose(ifile);
+
     if(ufid >= 0)
         HDclose(ufid);
     if(h5fid >= 0)
@@ -385,7 +383,7 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     if(ofid >= 0)
         HDclose(ofid);
 
-    return h5tools_getstatus();
+    leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tools/src/h5jam/h5unjam.c b/tools/src/h5jam/h5unjam.c
index 203522b..b48e2c1 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5jam/h5unjam.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5jam/h5unjam.c
@@ -185,6 +185,13 @@ done:
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
 }
 
+static void
+leave(int ret)
+{
+   h5tools_close();
+   HDexit(ret);
+}
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    main
  *
@@ -197,8 +204,6 @@ done:
 int
 main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
-    void               *edata;
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
     hid_t               ifile = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hid_t               plist = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     off_t               fsize;
@@ -211,16 +216,15 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting  */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib  */
     h5tools_init();
 
     if(EXIT_FAILURE == parse_command_line(argc, argv))
         goto done;
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     if (input_file == NULL) {
         /* no user block  */
         error_msg("missing argument for HDF5 file input.\n");
@@ -319,9 +323,7 @@ done:
         HDfree(ub_file);
     }
 
-    h5tools_close();
-
-    return h5tools_getstatus();
+    leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c b/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
index f2401b2..bbfbc79 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
@@ -1301,230 +1301,6 @@ print_type(h5tools_str_t *buffer, hid_t type, int ind)
     h5tools_str_append(buffer,"%lu-byte class-%u unknown", (unsigned long)H5Tget_size(type), (unsigned)data_class);
 }
 
-/*
- *
- */
-static void
-dump_reference(FILE *stream, const h5tool_format_t *info, h5tools_context_t *ctx, hid_t container, H5R_ref_t *ref_buf, int ndims)
-{
-    hid_t               new_obj_id = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    hid_t               new_obj_sid = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    hsize_t             elmt_counter = 0;  /*counts the # elements printed. */
-    size_t              ncols = 80;        /* available output width        */
-    int                 i;
-    hsize_t             curr_pos = 0;      /* total data element position   */
-    h5tools_str_t       buffer;            /* string into which to render   */
-    h5tools_context_t   datactx;           /* print context  */
-
-    H5TOOLS_START_DEBUG("");
-
-    datactx = *ctx;  /* print context  */
-    /* Assume entire data space to be printed */
-    if (datactx.ndims > 0)
-        for (i = 0; (unsigned)i < datactx.ndims; i++)
-            datactx.p_min_idx[i] = 0;
-    datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-
-    HDmemset(&buffer, 0, sizeof(h5tools_str_t));
-    for(i = 0; i < ndims; i++, datactx.cur_elmt++, elmt_counter++) {
-        H5O_type_t obj_type = -1;   /* Object type */
-        H5R_type_t ref_type;   /* Reference type */
-
-        H5TOOLS_DEBUG("reference loop:%d with curr_pos=%ld", i, curr_pos);
-
-        datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-        h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-        H5TOOLS_DEBUG("reference loop - h5tools_str_sprint with H5T_STD_REF:%d", i);
-        h5tools_str_sprint(&buffer, info, container, H5T_STD_REF, &ref_buf[i], &datactx);
-        h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)i, (hsize_t)ndims);
-
-        ref_type = H5Rget_type((const H5R_ref_t *)&ref_buf[i]);
-        switch (ref_type) {
-            case H5R_OBJECT1:
-                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_OBJECT1");
-                if (H5Rget_obj_type3(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, &obj_type) >= 0) {
-                    switch (obj_type) {
-                        case H5O_TYPE_DATASET:
-                            if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_object(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
-                                datactx.indent_level++;
-                                h5tools_dump_dset(stream, info, &datactx, new_obj_id);
-                                datactx.indent_level--;
-                                if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
-                                if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
-                            }
-                            else
-                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT1:H5O_TYPE_DATASET failed");
-                            break;
-
-                        case H5O_TYPE_GROUP:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_MAP:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_UNKNOWN:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_NTYPES:
-                        default:
-                            break;
-                    } /* end switch */
-                }
-                else
-                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT1 failed");
-                break;
-            case H5R_DATASET_REGION1:
-                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION1");
-                if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_object(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
-                    datactx.indent_level++;
-                    h5tools_dump_dset(stream, info, &datactx, new_obj_id);
-                    datactx.indent_level--;
-                    if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
-                    if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
-                }
-                else
-                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION1 failed");
-                break;
-            case H5R_OBJECT2:
-                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_OBJECT2");
-                if (H5Rget_obj_type3(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, &obj_type) >= 0) {
-                    switch (obj_type) {
-                        case H5O_TYPE_GROUP:
-                            break;
-
-                        case H5O_TYPE_DATASET:
-                            if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_object(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
-                                datactx.indent_level++;
-                                h5tools_dump_dset(stream, info, &datactx, new_obj_id);
-                                datactx.indent_level--;
-                                if(H5Oclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Oclose H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
-                                if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
-                            }
-                            else
-                                H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
-                            break;
-
-                        case H5O_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE:
-                            break;
-
-                        case H5O_TYPE_MAP:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_UNKNOWN:
-                        case H5O_TYPE_NTYPES:
-                        default:
-                            break;
-                    } /* end switch */
-                }
-                else
-                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rget_obj_type3 H5R_OBJECT2 failed");
-                break;
-            case H5R_DATASET_REGION2:
-                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
-
-                if (info->line_ncols > 0)
-                    ncols = info->line_ncols;
-
-                /* if (new_obj_id < 0) - could mean that no reference was written do not throw failure */
-                if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_object(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_object H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
-                else {
-                    if((new_obj_sid = H5Ropen_region(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
-                        if (h5tools_is_zero(&ref_buf[i], H5Tget_size(H5T_STD_REF))) {
-                            H5TOOLS_DEBUG("NULL H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
-
-                            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " {");
-                            h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-
-                            datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                            datactx.indent_level++;
-                            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "NULL");
-                            h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                            datactx.indent_level--;
-                            datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-
-                            h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                            h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "}");
-                            h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                        }
-                        else {
-                            H5S_sel_type region_type;
-
-                            region_type = H5Sget_select_type(new_obj_sid);
-                            if(region_type == H5S_SEL_POINTS) {
-                                /* Print point information */
-                                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5S_SEL_POINTS H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
-                                h5tools_dump_region_data_points(new_obj_sid, new_obj_id, stream, info, &datactx,
-                                                    &buffer, &curr_pos, ncols, (hsize_t)i, elmt_counter);
-                            }
-                            else if(region_type == H5S_SEL_HYPERSLABS) {
-                                /* Print block information */
-                                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("H5S_SEL_HYPERSLABS H5R_DATASET_REGION2");
-                                h5tools_dump_region_data_blocks(new_obj_sid, new_obj_id, stream, info, &datactx,
-                                                    &buffer, &curr_pos, ncols, (hsize_t)i, elmt_counter);
-                            }
-                            else
-                                H5TOOLS_INFO("invalid region type");
-                        } /* end else to if (h5tools_is_zero(... */
-                        if(H5Sclose(new_obj_sid) < 0)
-                            H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Sclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
-                    }
-                    else
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_region H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
-                    if(H5Dclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dclose H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
-                    if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_DATASET_REGION2 failed");
-                }
-                break;
-            case H5R_ATTR:
-                H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ref_type is H5R_ATTR");
-                if((new_obj_id = H5Ropen_attr(&ref_buf[i], H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) >= 0) {
-                    h5tools_dump_region_attribute(new_obj_id, stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                    if(H5Aclose(new_obj_id) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Aclose H5R_ATTR failed");
-                    if(H5Rdestroy(&ref_buf[i]) < 0)
-                        H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Rdestroy H5R_ATTR failed");
-                }
-                else {
-                    H5TOOLS_DEBUG("NULL H5R_ATTR");
-
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, " {");
-                    h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-
-                    datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-                    datactx.indent_level++;
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "NULL");
-                    h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                    datactx.indent_level--;
-                    datactx.need_prefix = TRUE;
-
-                    h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
-                    h5tools_str_append(&buffer, "}");
-                    h5tools_render_element(stream, info, &datactx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-
-                    H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Ropen_attr H5R_ATTR failed");
-                }
-                break;
-            case H5R_BADTYPE:
-            case H5R_MAXTYPE:
-            default:
-                break;
-        } /* end switch */
-
-        H5TOOLS_DEBUG("finished reference loop:%d",i);
-    } /* end for(i = 0; i < ndims; i++, ctx->cur_elmt++, elmt_counter++) */
-
-    h5tools_str_close(&buffer);
-
-    PRINTVALSTREAM(stream, "\n");
-
-    H5TOOLS_ENDDEBUG("");
-}
-
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Function:    dump_dataset_values
  *
@@ -1540,7 +1316,6 @@ dump_dataset_values(hid_t dset)
     hid_t               space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hsize_t             total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK];
     int                 ndims;
-    size_t              i;
     char                string_prefix[64];
     static char         fmt_double[16];
     static char         fmt_float[16];
@@ -1658,13 +1433,9 @@ dump_dataset_values(hid_t dset)
         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ndims=%d - ctx.ndims=%d", ndims, ctx.ndims);
 
         /* Assume entire data space to be printed */
-        if (ctx.ndims > 0)
-            for (i = 0; i < (size_t)ctx.ndims; i++)
-                ctx.p_min_idx[i] = 0;
-
         H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, total_size, NULL);
-        if (ctx.ndims > 0)
-            init_acc_pos(&ctx, total_size);
+        init_acc_pos(ctx.ndims, total_size, ctx.acc, ctx.pos, ctx.p_min_idx);
+
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
         if (NULL != (ref_buf = (H5R_ref_t *)HDcalloc(MAX(sizeof(unsigned), sizeof(H5R_ref_t)), (size_t)ndims))) {
@@ -1674,7 +1445,9 @@ dump_dataset_values(hid_t dset)
                 H5TOOLS_INFO("H5Dread reference failed");
                 H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
             }
-            dump_reference(rawoutstream, info, &ctx, dset, ref_buf, ndims);
+            h5tools_dump_reference(rawoutstream, info, &ctx, dset, ref_buf, ndims);
+
+            PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
             HDfree(ref_buf);
         }
     }
@@ -1712,7 +1485,6 @@ dump_attribute_values(hid_t attr)
     hid_t               space = H5I_INVALID_HID;
     hsize_t             total_size[H5S_MAX_RANK];
     int                 ndims;
-    size_t              i;
     char                string_prefix[64];
     static char         fmt_double[16];
     static char         fmt_float[16];
@@ -1829,13 +1601,9 @@ dump_attribute_values(hid_t attr)
         H5TOOLS_DEBUG("ndims=%d - ctx.ndims=%d", ndims, ctx.ndims);
 
         /* Assume entire data space to be printed */
-        if (ctx.ndims > 0)
-            for (i = 0; i < (size_t)ctx.ndims; i++)
-                ctx.p_min_idx[i] = 0;
-
         H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space, total_size, NULL);
-        if (ctx.ndims > 0)
-            init_acc_pos(&ctx, total_size);
+        init_acc_pos(ctx.ndims, total_size, ctx.acc, ctx.pos, ctx.p_min_idx);
+
         ctx.need_prefix = TRUE;
 
         if (NULL != (ref_buf = (H5R_ref_t *)HDcalloc(MAX(sizeof(unsigned), sizeof(H5R_ref_t)), (size_t)ndims))) {
@@ -1846,7 +1614,9 @@ dump_attribute_values(hid_t attr)
                 H5TOOLS_GOTO_DONE_NO_RET();
             }
             ctx.indent_level++;
-            dump_reference(rawoutstream, info, &ctx, attr, ref_buf, ndims);
+            h5tools_dump_reference(rawoutstream, info, &ctx, attr, ref_buf, ndims);
+
+            PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "\n");
             ctx.indent_level--;
             HDfree(ref_buf);
         }
@@ -2862,10 +2632,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     int          err_exit = 0;
     uint64_t poll_nanosecs = 1000;
     hid_t        fapl_id = H5P_DEFAULT;
-    H5E_auto2_t  func;
-    H5E_auto2_t  tools_func;
-    void        *edata;
-    void        *tools_edata;
     hbool_t custom_vol_fapl = FALSE;
     h5tools_vol_info_t vol_info;
 
@@ -2895,17 +2661,9 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize fapl info struct */
     HDmemset(&vol_info, 0, sizeof(h5tools_vol_info_t));
 
@@ -3180,6 +2938,9 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         }
     } /* end for */
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     /* If no arguments remain then print a usage message (instead of doing
      * absolutely nothing ;-) */
     if (argno >= argc) {
@@ -3234,11 +2995,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         }
     }
 
-    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
-
     /* Each remaining argument is an hdf5 file followed by an optional slash
      * and object name.
      *
@@ -3301,7 +3057,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
             x = oname;
             if (NULL == (oname = HDstrdup(oname))) {
                 HDfprintf(rawerrorstream, "memory allocation failed\n");
-                H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
                 leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             *x = '\0';
@@ -3346,7 +3101,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
                 h5tools_str_reset(&buffer);
                 print_obj_name(&buffer, &iter, oname, "**NOT FOUND**");
                 h5tools_render_element(rawoutstream, info, &ctx, &buffer, &curr_pos, (size_t)info->line_ncols, (hsize_t)0, (hsize_t)0);
-                H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
                 leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
             } /* end if */
         } /* end if */
@@ -3362,7 +3116,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
             /* Open the object and display it's information */
             if (li.type == H5L_TYPE_HARD) {
                 if (visit_obj(file_id, oname, &iter) < 0) {
-                    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
                     leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             } /* end if(li.type == H5L_TYPE_HARD) */
@@ -3397,12 +3150,10 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     if (fapl_id != H5P_DEFAULT) {
         if (0 < H5Pclose(fapl_id)) {
             HDfprintf(rawerrorstream, "Error: Unable to set close fapl entry\n\n");
-            H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
             leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
     }
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
     if (err_exit)
         leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
     else
diff --git a/tools/src/h5repack/h5repack_main.c b/tools/src/h5repack/h5repack_main.c
index f7822ca..0ad61c0 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5repack/h5repack_main.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5repack/h5repack_main.c
@@ -804,10 +804,6 @@ done:
 int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
     pack_opt_t          options; /*the global options */
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
-    H5E_auto2_t         tools_func;
-    void               *edata;
-    void               *tools_edata;
     int                 parse_ret;
 
     HDmemset(&options, 0, sizeof(pack_opt_t));
@@ -818,14 +814,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* update hyperslab buffer size from H5TOOLS_BUFSIZE env if exist */
     if (h5tools_getenv_update_hyperslab_bufsize() < 0) {
         HDprintf("Error occurred while retrieving H5TOOLS_BUFSIZE value\n");
@@ -855,10 +843,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
         goto done;
     }
 
-    if (enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
 
     /* pack it */
     if (h5repack(infile, outfile, &options) < 0) {
diff --git a/tools/src/h5stat/h5stat.c b/tools/src/h5stat/h5stat.c
index 1a43d70..1d587e1 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5stat/h5stat.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5stat/h5stat.c
@@ -1786,27 +1786,15 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     iter_t              iter;
     const char         *fname = NULL;
     hid_t               fid = H5I_INVALID_HID;
-    H5E_auto2_t         func;
-    H5E_auto2_t         tools_func;
-    void               *edata;
-    void               *tools_edata;
     struct handler_t   *hand = NULL;
     hid_t               fapl_id = H5P_DEFAULT;
 
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, &func, &edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    /* Disable tools error reporting */
-    H5Eget_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, &tools_func, &tools_edata);
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     HDmemset(&iter, 0, sizeof(iter));
 
     if(parse_command_line(argc, argv, &hand) < 0)
@@ -1814,6 +1802,9 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 
     fname = argv[opt_ind];
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     if (drivername) {
         h5tools_vfd_info_t vfd_info;
 
@@ -1844,11 +1835,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         }
     }
 
-    if(enable_error_stack > 0) {
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-        H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, tools_func, tools_edata);
-    }
-
     /* Check for filename given */
     if(fname) {
         hid_t               fcpl;
@@ -1953,8 +1939,6 @@ done:
         h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_FAILURE);
     } /* end if */
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, func, edata);
-
     leave(h5tools_getstatus());
 } /* end main() */
 
diff --git a/tools/src/misc/h5clear.c b/tools/src/misc/h5clear.c
index 2c85e75..96cbf9c 100644
--- a/tools/src/misc/h5clear.c
+++ b/tools/src/misc/h5clear.c
@@ -101,8 +101,13 @@ static void usage(const char *prog)
     HDfprintf(stdout, "   -s, --status              Clear the status_flags field in the file's superblock\n");
     HDfprintf(stdout, "   -m, --image               Remove the metadata cache image from the file\n");
     HDfprintf(stdout, "   --filesize                Print the file's EOA and EOF\n");
-    HDfprintf(stdout, "   --increment=C             Set the file's EOA to the maximum of (EOA, EOF) + C for the file <file_name>\n");
-    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             C is >= 0; C is optional and will default to 1M when not set");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "   --increment=C             Set the file's EOA to the maximum of (EOA, EOF) + C for\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             the file <file_name>.\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             C is >= 0; C is optional and will default to 1M when not set.\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             This option helps to repair a crashed file where the stored EOA\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             in the superblock is different from the actual EOF.\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             The file’s EOA and EOF will be the same after applying\n");
+    HDfprintf(stdout, "                             this option to the file.\n");
     HDfprintf(stdout, "\n");
     HDfprintf(stdout, "Examples of use:\n");
     HDfprintf(stdout, "\n");
@@ -261,14 +266,9 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable the HDF5 library's error reporting */
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5tools_ERR_STACK_g, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Parse command line options */
     if(parse_command_line(argc, argv) < 0)
         goto done;
@@ -276,6 +276,9 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
     if(fname_g == NULL)
         goto done;
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     /* Print usage/exit if not using at least one of the options */
     if(!clear_status_flags && !remove_cache_image &&
        !increment_eoa_eof && !print_filesize) {
@@ -382,7 +385,6 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
             warn_msg("No cache image in the file\n");
     }
 
-
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
 done:
diff --git a/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c b/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
index cbd6e6d..ad3b7b8 100644
--- a/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
+++ b/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
@@ -268,9 +268,6 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     h5tools_setprogname(PROGRAMNAME);
     h5tools_setstatus(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
-    /* Disable the HDF5 library's error reporting */
-    H5Eset_auto2(H5E_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL);
-
     /* Initialize h5tools lib */
     h5tools_init();
 
@@ -289,6 +286,9 @@ main(int argc, const char *argv[])
         leave(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
+    /* enable error reporting if command line option */
+    h5tools_error_report();
+
     /* Check for creating groups with new format version */
     if(params_g.latest) {
         /* Set the "use the latest version of the format" bounds */