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1 files changed, 22 insertions, 9 deletions
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+++ b/doc/html/RM_H5G.html
@@ -347,19 +347,32 @@ create or access function.
<em>const char *</em><code>name</code>
)
<dt><strong>Purpose:</strong>
- <dd>Removes the specified <code>name</code> from the group graph and
- decrements the link count for the object to which <code>name</code> points
+ <dd>Removes the link to an object from a group.
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
- <dd><code>H5Gunlink</code> removes an association between a name and an object.
- Object headers keep track of how many hard links refer to the object;
- when the hard link count reaches zero, the object can be removed
+ <dd><code>H5Gunlink</code> removes the object specified by
+ <code>name</code> from the group graph and decrements the
+ link count for the object to which <code>name</code> points.
+ This action eliminates any association between <code>name</code>
+ and the object to which <code>name</code> pointed.
+ <p>
+ Object headers keep track of how many hard links refer to an object;
+ when the link count reaches zero, the object can be removed
from the file. Objects which are open are not removed until all
identifiers to the object are closed.
<p>
- If the link count reaches zero, all file-space associated with
- the object will be reclaimed. If the object is open, the
- reclamation of the file space is delayed until all handles to the
- object are closed.
+ If the link count reaches zero, all file space associated with
+ the object will be released, i.e., identified in memory as freespace.
+ If the any object identifier is open for the object, the space
+ will not be released until after the object identifier is closed.
+ <p>
+ <!-- editingcomment: freespace and file packing -->
+ Note that space identified as freespace is available for re-use
+ only as long as the file remains open; once a file has been
+ closed, the HDF5 library loses track of freespace.
+ Identifying freespace does not imply that the file
+ will be packed or that, if the file is closed and later reopened,
+ that the space will be available for re-use.
+ Such functionality has not yet been implemented in the HDF5 library.
<dt><strong>Warning:</strong>
<dd>Exercise care in unlinking groups as it is possible to render data in
a file inaccessible with <code>H5Gunlink</code>.