A dataset is a multidimensional array of data elements, together with supporting metadata. To create a dataset, the application program must specify the location to create the dataset, the dataset name, the data type and space of the data array, and the dataset creation properties.
There are two categories of data types in HDF5: atomic and compound data types. An atomic type is a type which cannot be decomposed into smaller units at the API level. A compound data type is a collection of one or more atomic types or small arrays of such types.
Atomic types include integer, float, date and time, string, bit field, and opaque. Figure 5.1 shows the HDF5 data types. Some of the HDF5 predefined atomic data types are listed in Figure 5.2. In this tutorial, we consider only HDF5 predefined integers. For information on data types, see the HDF5 User's Guide.
Fig 5.1 HDF5 data types
+-- integer +-- floating point +---- atomic ----+-- date and time | +-- character string HDF5 datatypes --| +-- bit field | +-- opaque | +---- compoundFig. 5.2 Examples of HDF5 predefined data types
Data Type | Description |
H5T_STD_I32LE | Four-byte, little-endian, signed two's complement integer |
H5T_STD_U16BE | Two-byte, big-endian, unsigned integer |
H5T_IEEE_F32BE | Four-byte, big-endian, IEEE floating point |
H5T_IEEE_F64LE | Eight-byte, little-endian, IEEE floating point |
H5T_C_S1 | One-byte, null-terminated string of eight-bit characters |
Fig 5.3 HDF5 dataspaces
+-- simple HDF5 dataspaces --| +-- complexThe dimensions of a dataset can be fixed (unchanging), or they may be unlimited, which means that they are extendible. A dataspace can also describe portions of a dataset, making it possible to do partial I/O operations on selections.
In HDF5, data types and spaces are independent objects, which are created separately from any dataset that they might be attached to. Because of this the creation of a dataset requires definitions of data type and dataspace. In this tutorial, we use HDF5 predefined data types (integer) and consider only simple dataspaces. Hence, only the creation of dataspace objects is needed.
To create an empty dataset (no data written) the following steps need to be taken:
dataspace_id = H5Screate_simple(rank, dims, maxdims); H5Sclose(dataspace_id );To create a dataset, the calling program must contain the following calls:
dataset_id = H5Dcreate(hid_t loc_id, const char *name, hid_t type_id, hid_t space_id, hid_t create_plist_id); H5Dclose (dataset_id);
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #include <hdf5.h> #define FILE "dset.h5" main() { hid_t file_id, dataset_id, dataspace_id; /* identifiers */ hsize_t dims[2]; herr_t status; /* Create a new file using default properties. */ file_id = H5Fcreate(FILE, H5F_ACC_TRUNC, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT); /* Create the data space for the dataset. */ dims[0] = 4; dims[1] = 6; dataspace_id = H5Screate_simple(2, dims, NULL); /* Create the dataset. */ dataset_id = H5Dcreate(file_id, "/dset", H5T_STD_I32BE, dataspace_id, H5P_DEFAULT); /* End access to the dataset and release resources used by it. */ status = H5Dclose(dataset_id); /* Terminate access to the data space. */ status = H5Sclose(dataspace_id); /* Close the file. */ status = H5Fclose(file_id); } +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
hid_t H5Screate_simple (int rank, const hsize_t * dims, const hsize_t * maxdims)
hid_t H5Dcreate (hid_t loc_id, const char *name, hid_t type_id, hid_t space_id, hid_t create_plist_id)
hid_t H5Dclose (hid_t dataset_id)
Figure 5.4 The Contents of 'dset.h5' | Figure 5.5 'dset.h5' in DDL |
![]() |
HDF5 "dset.h5" { GROUP "/" { DATASET "dset" { DATATYPE { H5T_STD_I32BE } DATASPACE { SIMPLE ( 4, 6 ) / ( 4, 6 ) } DATA { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 } } } } |
Fig. 5.6 HDF5 Dataset Definition
<dataset> ::= DATASET "<dataset_name>" { <data type> <dataspace> <data> <dataset_attribute>* } <data type> ::= DATATYPE { <atomic_type> } <dataspace> ::= DATASPACE { SIMPLE <current_dims> / <max_dims> } <dataset_attribute> ::= <attribute>