summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/c++/test/tvlstr.cpp
blob: f49dbc0bcf6a91575caffa6d57b777e67f35f20b (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * Copyright by The HDF Group.                                               *
 * Copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.         *
 * All rights reserved.                                                      *
 *                                                                           *
 * This file is part of HDF5.  The full HDF5 copyright notice, including     *
 * terms governing use, modification, and redistribution, is contained in    *
 * the COPYING file, which can be found at the root of the source code       *
 * distribution tree, or in https://support.hdfgroup.org/ftp/HDF5/releases.  *
 * If you do not have access to either file, you may request a copy from     *
 * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

/*****************************************************************************
   FILE
   tvlstr.cpp - HDF5 C++ testing the Variable-Length String functionality

   EXTERNAL ROUTINES/VARIABLES:

 ***************************************************************************/

#ifdef OLD_HEADER_FILENAME
#include <iostream.h>
#else
#include <iostream>
#endif
#include <string>

#ifndef H5_NO_STD
    using std::cerr;
    using std::endl;
#endif  // H5_NO_STD

#include "H5Cpp.h"      // C++ API header file
using namespace H5;

#include "h5cpputil.h"  // C++ utilility header file

// Data file used in most test functions
const H5std_string FILENAME("tvlstr.h5");

// 1-D dataset with fixed dimensions
const int SPACE1_RANK = 1;
const hsize_t SPACE1_DIM1 = 4;

/****************************************************************
**
**  test_vlstr_alloc_custom(): Test VL datatype custom memory
**      allocation routines.  This routine just uses malloc to
**      allocate the memory and increments the amount of memory
**      allocated.  It is passed into setVlenMemManager.
**
**  Note: exact copy from the C version.
**  (Not used now)
****************************************************************/
#if 0 // not used now
static void *test_vlstr_alloc_custom(size_t size, void *info)
{
    void *ret_value=NULL;       // Pointer to return
    size_t *mem_used=(size_t *)info;  // Get the pointer to the memory used
    size_t extra;               // Extra space needed

    /*
     *  This weird contortion is required on the DEC Alpha to keep the
     *  alignment correct - QAK
     */

    extra=MAX(sizeof(void *),sizeof(size_t));

    if((ret_value=HDmalloc(extra+size))!=NULL) {
        *(size_t *)ret_value=size;
        *mem_used+=size;
    } // end if
    ret_value = ((unsigned char *)ret_value) + extra;

    return(ret_value);
}
#endif

/****************************************************************
**
**  test_vlstr_free_custom(): Test VL datatype custom memory
**      allocation routines.  This routine just uses free to
**      release the memory and decrements the amount of memory
**      allocated.  It is passed into setVlenMemManager.
**
**  Note: exact copy from the C version.
**  (Not used now)
****************************************************************/
#if 0 // not used now
static void test_vlstr_free_custom(void *_mem, void *info)
{
    unsigned char *mem;
    size_t *mem_used=(size_t *)info;  // Get the pointer to the memory used
    size_t extra;               // Extra space needed

    /*
     *  This weird contortion is required on the DEC Alpha to keep the
     *  alignment correct - QAK
     */

    extra=MAX(sizeof(void *),sizeof(size_t));

    if(_mem!=NULL) {
        mem=((unsigned char *)_mem)-extra;
        *mem_used-=*(size_t *)mem;
        HDfree(mem);
    } // end if
}
#endif

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstring_dataset
 *
 * Purpose:     Test writing/reading VL strings on datasets.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
// String for testing datasets
// static char stastring_ds_write[1]={'A'};

// Info for a string dataset
const H5std_string DSET1_NAME("String_ds");
const H5std_string DSET1_DATA("String Dataset");

static void test_vlstring_dataset()
{
    char *dynstring_ds_write = NULL;
    char *string_ds_check = NULL;

    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("VL String on Datasets");

    try {
        // Open the file
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Open the root group.
        Group root = file1.openGroup("/");

        // Create dataspace for the dataset.
        DataSpace ds_space (H5S_SCALAR);

        // Create an dataset in the root group.
        DataSet dset1 = root.createDataSet(DSET1_NAME, vlst, ds_space);

        // Write data to the dataset.
        dset1.write(DSET1_DATA, vlst);

        // Read and verify the dataset string as a string of chars.
        dset1.read(&string_ds_check, vlst);
        if(HDstrcmp(string_ds_check, DSET1_DATA.c_str())!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Attribute data different: DSET1_DATA=%s,string_ds_check=%s\n",__LINE__, DSET1_DATA.c_str(), string_ds_check);

        HDfree(string_ds_check);  // note: no need for std::string test
        string_ds_check = NULL;

        // Read and verify the dataset string as an std::string.
        H5std_string read_str;
        dset1.read(read_str, vlst);
        if (read_str != DSET1_DATA)
            TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Attribute data different: DSET1_DATA=%s,read_str=%s\n",__LINE__, DSET1_DATA.c_str(), read_str.c_str());

        // Close the dataset.
        dset1.close();

        // Test scalar type dataset with 1 value.
        dset1 = root.createDataSet("test_scalar_small", vlst, ds_space);

        dynstring_ds_write = (char*)HDcalloc(1, sizeof(char));
        HDmemset(dynstring_ds_write, 'A', 1);

        // Write data to the dataset, then read it back.
        dset1.write(&dynstring_ds_write, vlst);
        dset1.read(&string_ds_check, vlst);

        // Verify data read.
        if(HDstrcmp(string_ds_check,dynstring_ds_write)!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("VL string datasets don't match!, dynstring_ds_write=%s, string_ds_check=%s\n",dynstring_ds_write,string_ds_check);
        HDfree(string_ds_check);
        string_ds_check = NULL;
        dset1.close();

        // Open dataset DSET1_NAME again.
        dset1 = root.openDataSet(DSET1_NAME);

        // Close dataset and file
        dset1.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try block

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstring_dataset()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }

    if(dynstring_ds_write)
        HDfree(dynstring_ds_write);
    if(string_ds_check)
        HDfree(string_ds_check);
}   // test_vlstring_dataset()

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstring_array_dataset
 *
 * Purpose:     Test writing/reading VL string array to/from datasets.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler
 *              July, 2009
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
const H5std_string DSSTRARR_NAME("StringArray_dset");
static void test_vlstring_array_dataset()
{
    const char *string_ds_array[SPACE1_DIM1]= {
        "Line 1", "Line 2", "Line 3", "Line 4"
        };   // Information to write

    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("VL String Array on Datasets");

    H5File* file1 = NULL;
    try {
        // Create file.
        file1 = new H5File(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR);

        // Create dataspace for datasets.
        hsize_t dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
        DataSpace ds_space(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Create and write a dataset.
        DataSet dataset(file1->createDataSet(DSSTRARR_NAME, vlst, ds_space));
        dataset.write(string_ds_array, vlst);

        // Read and verify the dataset using strings of chars as buffer.
        // Note: reading by array of H5std_string doesn't work yet.
        char *string_ds_check[SPACE1_DIM1];
        dataset.read(string_ds_check, vlst);

        hsize_t ii;
        for (ii = 0; ii < SPACE1_DIM1; ii++)
        {
            if(HDstrcmp(string_ds_check[ii], string_ds_array[ii])!=0)
                TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Dataset data different: written=%s,read=%s\n",__LINE__, string_ds_array[ii], string_ds_check[ii]);

            HDfree(string_ds_check[ii]);
        }

        // Close objects that are no longer needed.
        dataset.close();
        ds_space.close();

        //
        // Test with scalar data space.
        //

        // Create H5S_SCALAR data space.
        DataSpace scalar_space;

        // Create and write another dataset.
        DataSet dataset2(file1->createDataSet("Dataset2", vlst, scalar_space));
        char *wdata2 = (char*)HDcalloc(65534, sizeof(char));
        HDmemset(wdata2, 'A', 65533);
        dataset2.write(&wdata2, vlst);

        char *rdata2;
        dataset2.read(&rdata2, vlst);
        if (HDstrcmp(wdata2, rdata2)!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Dataset data different: written=%s,read=%s\n",__LINE__, wdata2, rdata2);

        // Release resources from second dataset operation.
        scalar_space.close();
        dataset2.close();
        HDfree(wdata2);
        HDfree(rdata2);

        // Close objects and file.
        dataset2.close();
        vlst.close();
        file1->close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstring_array_dataset()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }

    if(file1)
        delete file1;
} // end test_vlstring_array_dataset()

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstrings_special
 *
 * Purpose:     Test VL string code for special string cases, nil and
 *              zero-sized.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
static void test_vlstrings_special()
{
    const char *wdata[SPACE1_DIM1] = {"one", "two", "", "four"};
    const char *wdata2[SPACE1_DIM1] = {NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL};
    char *rdata[SPACE1_DIM1];   // Information read in

    // Output message about test being performed.
    SUBTEST("Special VL Strings");

    try {
        // Create file.
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);

        // Create dataspace for datasets.
        hsize_t dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
        DataSpace sid1(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Create a dataset.
        DataSet dataset(file1.createDataSet("Dataset3", vlst, sid1));

        // Read from the dataset before writing data.
        dataset.read(rdata, vlst);

        // Check data read in.
        hsize_t ii;             // counting variable
        for (ii=0; ii<SPACE1_DIM1; ii++)
            if(rdata[ii]!=NULL)
                TestErrPrintf("VL doesn't match!, rdata[%d]=%p\n",(int)ii,rdata[ii]);

        // Write dataset to disk, then read it back.
        dataset.write(wdata, vlst);
        dataset.read(rdata, vlst);

        // Compare data read in.
        for (ii = 0; ii < SPACE1_DIM1; ii++) {
            size_t wlen = HDstrlen(wdata[ii]);
            size_t rlen = HDstrlen(rdata[ii]);
            if(wlen != rlen) {
                TestErrPrintf("VL data lengths don't match!, strlen(wdata[%d])=%u, strlen(rdata[%d])=%u\n", (int)ii, (unsigned)wlen, (int)ii, (unsigned)rlen);
                continue;
            } // end if
            if(HDstrcmp(wdata[ii],rdata[ii]) != 0) {
                TestErrPrintf("VL data values don't match!, wdata[%d]=%s, rdata[%d]=%s\n", (int)ii, wdata[ii], (int)ii, rdata[ii]);
                continue;
            } // end if
        } // end for

        // Reclaim the read VL data.
        DataSet::vlenReclaim((void *)rdata, vlst, sid1);

        // Close Dataset.
        dataset.close();

        /*
         * Create another dataset to test nil strings.
         */

        // Create the property list and set the fill value for the second
        // dataset.
        DSetCreatPropList dcpl;
        char *fill = NULL;      // Fill value
        dcpl.setFillValue(vlst, &fill);
        dataset = file1.createDataSet("Dataset4", vlst, sid1, dcpl);

        // Close dataset creation property list.
        dcpl.close();

        // Read from dataset before writing data.
        dataset.read(rdata, vlst);

        // Check data read in.
        for (ii=0; ii<SPACE1_DIM1; ii++)
          if(rdata[ii]!=NULL)
            TestErrPrintf("VL doesn't match!, rdata[%d]=%p\n",(int)ii,rdata[ii]);

        // Try to write nil strings to disk.
        dataset.write(wdata2, vlst);

        // Read nil strings back from disk.
        dataset.read(rdata, vlst);

        // Check data read in.
        for (ii=0; ii<SPACE1_DIM1; ii++)
          if(rdata[ii]!=NULL)
            TestErrPrintf("VL doesn't match!, rdata[%d]=%p\n",(int)ii,rdata[ii]);

        // Close objects and file.
        dataset.close();
        vlst.close();
        sid1.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstrings_special()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
} // test_vlstrings_special

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstring_type
 *
 * Purpose:     Test if VL string is treated as string.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
const H5std_string      VLSTR_TYPE("vl_string_type");
static void test_vlstring_type()
{
    // Output message about test being performed.
    SUBTEST("VL String Type");

    H5File* file1 = NULL;
    try {
        // Open file.
        file1 = new H5File(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(PredType::C_S1);

        // Change padding and verify it.
        vlst.setStrpad(H5T_STR_NULLPAD);
        H5T_str_t pad = vlst.getStrpad();
        verify_val(pad, H5T_STR_NULLPAD, "StrType::getStrpad", __LINE__, __FILE__);

        // Convert to variable-length string.
        vlst.setSize(H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Check if datatype is VL string.
        H5T_class_t type_class = vlst.getClass();
        verify_val(type_class, H5T_STRING, "DataType::getClass", __LINE__, __FILE__);
        bool is_variable_str = vlst.isVariableStr();
        verify_val(is_variable_str, true, "DataType::isVariableStr", __LINE__, __FILE__);

        // Check default character set and padding.
        H5T_cset_t cset = vlst.getCset();
        verify_val(cset, H5T_CSET_ASCII, "StrType::getCset", __LINE__, __FILE__);
        pad = vlst.getStrpad();
        verify_val(pad, H5T_STR_NULLPAD, "StrType::getStrpad", __LINE__, __FILE__);

        // Commit variable-length string datatype to storage.
        vlst.commit(*file1, VLSTR_TYPE);

        // Close datatype.
        vlst.close();

        // Try opening datatype again.
        vlst = file1->openStrType(VLSTR_TYPE);

        // Close datatype and file.
        vlst.close();
        file1->close();
        delete file1;

        // Open file.
        file1 = new H5File(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR);

        // Open the variable-length string datatype just created
        vlst = file1->openStrType(VLSTR_TYPE);

        // Verify character set and padding
        cset = vlst.getCset();
        verify_val(cset, H5T_CSET_ASCII, "StrType::getCset", __LINE__, __FILE__);
        pad = vlst.getStrpad();
        verify_val(pad, H5T_STR_NULLPAD, "StrType::getStrpad", __LINE__, __FILE__);

        // Close datatype and file
        vlst.close();
        file1->close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try block

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstring_type()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }

    if(file1)
        delete file1;
} // end test_vlstring_type()

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_compact_vlstring
 *
 * Purpose:     Test storing VL strings in compact datasets.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
static void test_compact_vlstring()
{
    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("VL Strings on Compact Dataset");

    try {
        // Create file
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);

        // Create dataspace for datasets
        hsize_t dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
        DataSpace sid1(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);

        // Create a datatype to refer to
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Create dataset create property list and set layout
        DSetCreatPropList plist;
        plist.setLayout(H5D_COMPACT);

        // Create a dataset
        DataSet dataset(file1.createDataSet("Dataset5", vlst, sid1, plist));

        // Write dataset to disk
        const char *wdata[SPACE1_DIM1] = {"one", "two", "three", "four"};
        dataset.write(wdata, vlst);

        // Read dataset from disk
        char *rdata[SPACE1_DIM1];   // Information read in
        dataset.read(rdata, vlst);

        // Compare data read in
        hsize_t i;
        for (i=0; i<SPACE1_DIM1; i++) {
            if (HDstrlen(wdata[i])!=strlen(rdata[i])) {
                TestErrPrintf("VL data length don't match!, strlen(wdata[%d])=%d, strlen(rdata[%d])=%d\n",(int)i,(int)strlen(wdata[i]),(int)i,(int)strlen(rdata[i]));
                continue;
            } // end if
            if (HDstrcmp(wdata[i],rdata[i]) != 0) {
                TestErrPrintf("VL data values don't match!, wdata[%d]=%s, rdata[%d]=%s\n",(int)i,wdata[i],(int)i,rdata[i]);
                continue;
            } // end if
        } // end for

        // Reclaim the read VL data
        DataSet::vlenReclaim((void *)rdata, vlst, sid1);

        // Close objects and file
        dataset.close();
        vlst.close();
        sid1.close();
        plist.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_compact_vlstrings()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
}   // test_compact_vlstrings

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstring_attribute
 *
 * Purpose:     Test writing/reading VL strings on attributes.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
// String for writing to attribute
static char *string_att_write=NULL;

// Info for a string attribute
const H5std_string ATTRSTR_NAME("String_attr");
const H5std_string ATTRSTR_DATA("String Attribute");

static void test_vlstring_attribute()
{
    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("VL String on Attributes");

    try {
        // Open the file
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Open the root group.
        Group root = file1.openGroup("/");

        // Create dataspace for the attribute.
        DataSpace att_space (H5S_SCALAR);

        // Create an attribute for the root group.
        Attribute gr_attr = root.createAttribute(ATTRSTR_NAME, vlst, att_space);

        // Write data to the attribute.
        gr_attr.write(vlst, ATTRSTR_DATA);

        // Read and verify the attribute string as a string of chars.
        char *string_att_check;
        gr_attr.read(vlst, &string_att_check);
        if(HDstrcmp(string_att_check, ATTRSTR_DATA.c_str())!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Attribute data different: ATTRSTR_DATA=%s,string_att_check=%s\n",__LINE__, ATTRSTR_DATA.c_str(), string_att_check);

        HDfree(string_att_check);  // note: no need for std::string test

        // Read and verify the attribute string as an std::string.
        H5std_string read_str;
        gr_attr.read(vlst, read_str);
        if (read_str != ATTRSTR_DATA)
            TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Attribute data different: ATTRSTR_DATA=%s,read_str=%s\n",__LINE__, ATTRSTR_DATA.c_str(), read_str.c_str());

        // Close group's attribute.
        gr_attr.close();

        // Test creating a "large" sized string attribute
        gr_attr = root.createAttribute("test_scalar_large", vlst, att_space);

        string_att_write = (char*)HDcalloc(8192, sizeof(char));
        HDmemset(string_att_write, 'A', 8191);

        // Write data to the attribute, then read it back.
        gr_attr.write(vlst, &string_att_write);
        gr_attr.read(vlst, &string_att_check);

        // Verify data read.
        if(HDstrcmp(string_att_check,string_att_write)!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("VL string attributes don't match!, string_att_write=%s, string_att_check=%s\n",string_att_write,string_att_check);

        // Release resources.
        HDfree(string_att_check);
        HDfree(string_att_write);
        gr_attr.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try block

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstring_attribute()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
}   // test_vlstring_attribute()

#if 0
/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_read_vl_string_attribute
 *
 * Purpose:     Test reading VL strings from attributes.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
static void test_read_vl_string_attribute()
{

    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("reading VL String as attributes");

    try {
        // Open file
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDONLY);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Open the root group and its attribute named ATTRSTR_NAME.
        Group root = file1.openGroup("/");
        Attribute att = root.openAttribute(ATTRSTR_NAME);

        // Test reading "normal" sized string attribute
        char *string_att_check;
        att.read(vlst, &string_att_check);
        if(HDstrcmp(string_att_check,ATTRSTR_DATA.c_str())!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("VL string attributes don't match!, string_att=%s, string_att_check=%s\n",ATTRSTR_DATA.c_str(),string_att_check);
        HDfree(string_att_check);
        att.close();

        // Test reading "large" sized string attribute
        att = root.openAttribute("test_scalar_large");
        att.read(vlst, &string_att_check);
        if(HDstrcmp(string_att_check,string_att_write)!=0)
            TestErrPrintf("VL string attributes don't match!, string_att_write=%s, string_att_check=%s\n",string_att_write,string_att_check);
        HDfree(string_att_check);
        HDfree(string_att_write);   // Free string allocated in test_write_vl_string_attribute

        // Close objects and file.
        att.close();
        vlst.close();
        root.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_read_vl_string_attribute()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
} // test_read_vl_string_attribute
#endif // 2013: need to verify before adding to test

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstring_array_attribute
 *
 * Purpose:     Test writing/reading VL string array to/from attributes.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler
 *              July, 2009
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
const H5std_string ATTRSTRARR_NAME("StringArray_attr");

static void test_vlstring_array_attribute()
{
    const char *string_att_array[SPACE1_DIM1]= {
        "Line 1", "Line 2", "Line 3", "Line 4"
        };   // Information to write

    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("VL String Array on Attributes");

    try {
        // Open the file
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_RDWR);

        // Create a datatype to refer to.
        StrType vlst(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Open the root group.
        Group root = file1.openGroup("/");

        // Create dataspace for datasets.
        hsize_t dims1[] = {SPACE1_DIM1};
        DataSpace att_space(SPACE1_RANK, dims1);

        // Create an attribute for the root group.
        Attribute gr_attr = root.createAttribute(ATTRSTRARR_NAME, vlst, att_space);

        // Write data to the attribute.
        gr_attr.write(vlst, string_att_array);

        // Read and verify the attribute string as a string of chars.
        // Note: reading by array of H5std_string doesn't work yet.
        char *string_att_check[SPACE1_DIM1];
        gr_attr.read(vlst, &string_att_check);

        hsize_t ii;
        for (ii = 0; ii < SPACE1_DIM1; ii++)
        {
            if(HDstrcmp(string_att_check[ii], string_att_array[ii])!=0)
                TestErrPrintf("Line %d: Attribute data different: written=%s,read=%s\n",__LINE__, string_att_check[ii], string_att_check[ii]);

            HDfree(string_att_check[ii]);  // note: no need for std::string test
        }

        // Close group's attribute.
        gr_attr.close();
        file1.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try block

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vlstring_array_attribute()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
}   // test_vlstring_array_attribute()

/* Helper routine for test_vl_rewrite() */
static void write_scalar_dset(H5File& file, DataType& type, DataSpace& space,
                                char *name, char *data)
{
    DataSet dset;
    try {
        dset = file.createDataSet(name, type, space);
        dset.write(&data, type, space, space);
        dset.close();
    } // end try
    catch (FileIException& ferr) {
        throw;
    }
    catch (DataSetIException& derr) {
        throw;
    }
}

/* Helper routine for test_vl_rewrite() */
static void read_scalar_dset(H5File& file, DataType& type, DataSpace& space,
                                char *name, char *data)
{
    char *data_read;
    DataSet dset;
    try {
        dset = file.openDataSet(name);
        dset.read(&data_read, type, space, space);
        dset.close();

        if(HDstrcmp(data, data_read))
            TestErrPrintf("Expected %s for dataset %s but read %s\n", data, name, data_read);

        HDfree(data_read);
    } // end try
    catch (FileIException& ferr) {
        throw;
    }
    catch (DataSetIException& derr) {
        throw;
    }
}

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vl_rewrite
 *
 * Purpose:     Test I/O on VL strings when many objects in the file
 *              have been linked/unlinked.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler (use C version)
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
const H5std_string FILENAME2("tvlstr2.h5");
const int REWRITE_NDATASETS = 32;
static void test_vl_rewrite()
{
    // Output message about test being performed
    SUBTEST("I/O on VL strings with link/unlink");

    try {
        // Create the files.
        H5File file1(FILENAME, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);
        H5File file2(FILENAME2, H5F_ACC_TRUNC);

        // Create the VL string datatype.
        StrType type(0, H5T_VARIABLE);

        // Create dataspace for the attribute.
        DataSpace space (H5S_SCALAR);

        // Create in file 1.
        int i;
        char name[256];         // Buffer for names & data
        for (i=0; i<REWRITE_NDATASETS; i++) {
            sprintf(name, "/set_%d", i);
            write_scalar_dset(file1, type, space, name, name);
        }

        // Effectively copy data from file 1 to 2.
        for (i=0; i<REWRITE_NDATASETS; i++) {
            sprintf(name, "/set_%d", i);
            read_scalar_dset(file1, type, space, name, name);
            write_scalar_dset(file2, type, space, name, name);
        }

        // Read back from file 2.
        for (i=0; i<REWRITE_NDATASETS; i++) {
            sprintf(name, "/set_%d", i);
            read_scalar_dset(file2, type, space, name, name);
        }

        // Remove from file 2.
        for (i=0; i<REWRITE_NDATASETS; i++) {
            sprintf(name, "/set_%d", i);
            file2.unlink(name);
        }

        // Effectively copy from file 1 to file 2.
        for (i=0; i<REWRITE_NDATASETS; i++) {
            sprintf(name, "/set_%d", i);
            read_scalar_dset(file1, type, space, name, name);
            write_scalar_dset(file2, type, space, name, name);
        }

        // Close objects and file.
        type.close();
        space.close();
        file1.close();
        file2.close();

        PASSED();
    } // end try

    // Catch all exceptions.
    catch (Exception& E)
    {
        issue_fail_msg("test_vl_rewrite()", __LINE__, __FILE__, E.getCDetailMsg());
    }
} // end test_vl_rewrite()

/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    test_vlstrings
 *
 * Purpose:     VL string testing main routine.
 *
 * Return:      None
 *
 * Programmer:  Binh-Minh Ribler
 *              January, 2007
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
extern "C"
void test_vlstrings()
{
    // Output message about test being performed
    MESSAGE(5, ("Testing Variable-Length Strings"));

    // These tests use the same file
    // Test basic VL string datatype
    test_vlstring_dataset();
    test_vlstrings_special();
    test_vlstring_type();
    test_compact_vlstring();

    // Test using VL strings in attributes
    test_vlstring_attribute();

    // Test using VL string array in attributes and datasets
    test_vlstring_array_attribute();
    test_vlstring_array_dataset();

    // Test writing VL datasets in files with lots of unlinking
    test_vl_rewrite();

}   // test_vlstrings()


/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Function:    cleanup_vlstrings
 *
 * Purpose:     Cleanup temporary test files
 *
 * Return:      none
 *
 * Programmer:  Quincey Koziol
 *              September 10, 1999
 *
 * Modifications:
 *
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 */
extern "C"
void cleanup_vlstrings()
{
    HDremove(FILENAME.c_str());
    HDremove(FILENAME2.c_str());
}