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<html>
<head><title>
HDF5/H5T Draft API Specification
</title></head>

<body>

<center>
<h1>H5T: Datatype Interface</h1>
</center>

<h2>Datatype Object API Functions</h2>

These functions create and manipulate the datatype which describes elements
of a dataset.

<table border=0>
<tr><td valign=top>
<ul>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Create">H5Tcreate</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Copy">H5Tcopy</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Equal">H5Tequal</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Lock">H5Tlock</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetClass">H5Tget_class</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetSize">H5Tget_size</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetSize">H5Tset_size</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetOrder">H5Tget_order</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetOrder">H5Tset_order</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetPrecision">H5Tget_precision</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetPrecision">H5Tset_precision</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetOffset">H5Tget_offset</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetOffset">H5Tset_offset</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetPad">H5Tget_pad</a>
</ul>
</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td valign=top>
<ul>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetPad">H5Tset_pad</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetSign">H5Tget_sign</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetSign">H5Tset_sign</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetFields">H5Tget_fields</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetFields">H5Tset_fields</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetEbias">H5Tget_ebias</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetEbias">H5Tset_ebias</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetNorm">H5Tget_norm</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetNorm">H5Tset_norm</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetInpad">H5Tget_inpad</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetInpad">H5Tset_inpad</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetCset">H5Tget_cset</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetCset">H5Tset_cset</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetStrpad">H5Tget_strpad</a>
</ul>
</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td valign=top>
<ul>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-SetStrpad">H5Tset_strpad</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetNmembers">H5Tget_nmembers</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetMemberName">H5Tget_member_name</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetMemberOffset">H5Tget_member_offset</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetMemberDims">H5Tget_member_dims</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-GetMemberType">H5Tget_member_type</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Insert">H5Tinsert</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Pack">H5Tpack</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-RegisterHard">H5Tregister_hard</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-RegisterSoft">H5Tregister_soft</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Unregister">H5Tunregister</a>
    <li><a href="#Datatype-Close">H5Tclose</a>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</table>

<hr>

<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Create">H5Tcreate</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>hid_t </em><code>H5Tcreate</code>(<em>H5T_class_t </em><code>class</code>,
        <em>size_t</em><code>size</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function creates a new dataype of the specified class with the
        specified number of bytes.  Currently, only the <code>H5T_COMPOUND</code>
        datatype class is supported with this function, use <code>H5Tcopy</code>
        to create integer or floating-point datatypes.  The datatype ID
        returned from this function should be released with H5Tclose or resource
        leaks will result.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>H5T_class_t</em> <code>class</code>
            <dd>Class of datatype to create.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>size</code>
            <dd>The number of bytes in the datatype to create.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Datatype ID on success, negative on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Copy">H5Tcopy</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>hid_t </em><code>H5Tcopy</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function copies an existing datatype.  The datatype ID returned
        should be released with H5Tclose or resource leaks will occur.  Native
        datatypes supported by the library are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_CHAR
                <dd> Native character type, declare dataset array as 'char'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UCHAR
                <dd> Native unsigned character type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned char'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_SHORT
                <dd> Native short type, declare dataset array as 'short'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_USHORT
                <dd> Native unsigned short type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned short'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_INT
                <dd> Native int type, declare dataset array as 'int'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UINT
                <dd> Native unsigned int type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned int'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_LONG
                <dd> Native long type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned long'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_ULONG
                <dd> Native unsigned long type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned long'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_LLONG
                <dd> Native long long type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned long long'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_ULLONG
                <dd> Native unsigned long long type, declare dataset array as 'unsigned long long'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_INT8
                <dd> Native signed 8-bit type, declare dataset array as 'int8'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UINT8
                <dd> Native unsigned 8-bit type, declare dataset array as 'uint8'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_INT16
                <dd> Native signed 16-bit type, declare dataset array as 'int16'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UINT16
                <dd> Native unsigned 16-bit type, declare dataset array as 'uint16'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_INT32
                <dd> Native signed 32-bit type, declare dataset array as 'int32'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UINT32
                <dd> Native unsigned 32-bit type, declare dataset array as 'uint32'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_INT64
                <dd> Native signed 64-bit type, declare dataset array as 'uint64'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_UINT64
                <dd> Native unsigned 64-bit type, declare dataset array as 'uint64'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_FLOAT
                <dd> Native single-precision float type, declare dataset array as 'float'
            <dt>H5T_NATIVE_DOUBLE
                <dd> Native double-precision float type, declare dataset array as 'double'
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to copy.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Datatype ID on success, negative on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Equal">H5Tequal</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>hbool_t </em><code>H5Tequal</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id1</code>,
        <em>hid_t</em><code>type_id2</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function determines if two datatype IDs refer to the same 
        datatype.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id1</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to compare.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id2</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to compare.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>TRUE/FALSE/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Lock">H5Tlock</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tlock</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function locks a type, making it read-only and non-destrucible.
        This is normally done by the library for predefined data types so the
        application doesn't inadvertently change or delete a predefined type.
        Once a data type is locked it can never be unlocked.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to lock.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetClass">H5Tget_class</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_class_t </em><code>H5Tget_class</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the base class of a datatype.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative type class on success, negative on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetSize">H5Tget_size</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>size_t </em><code>H5Tget_size</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the size of a datatype in bytes.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Positve size in bytes on success, 0 on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetSize">H5Tset_size</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_size</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t</em><code>size</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the total size in bytes for an atomic data type (this
         operation is not permitted on compound data types).  If the size is
         decreased so that the significant bits of the data type extend beyond
         the edge of the new size, then the `offset' property is decreased
         toward zero.  If the `offset' becomes zero and the significant
         bits of the data type still hang over the edge of the new size, then
         the number of significant bits is decreased.
         Adjusting the size of an H5T_STRING automatically sets the precision
         to 8*size.  All data types have a positive size.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to change size.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>size</code>
            <dd>Size in bytes to modify datatype.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetOrder">H5Tget_order</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_order_t </em><code>H5Tget_order</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the byte order of an atomic datatype.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Byte order constant on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetOrder">H5Tset_order</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_order</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_order_t</em><code>order</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the byte ordering of an atomic datatype.
        Byte orderings currently supported are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_ORDER_LE
                <dd> Little-endian byte ordering (default)
            <dt>H5T_ORDER_BE
                <dd> Big-endian byte ordering
            <dt>H5T_ORDER_Vax
                <dd> VAX-endianness byte ordering (not currently supported)
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>H5T_order_t</em> <code>order</code>
            <dd>Byte ordering constant.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetPrecision">H5Tget_precision</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>size_t </em><code>H5Tget_precision</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the precision of an atomic data type.  The
        precision is the number of significant bits which, unless padding is
        present, is 8 times larger than the value returned by H5Tget_size().
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Number of significant bits on success, 0 on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetPrecision">H5Tset_precision</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_precision</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t</em><code>precision</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the precision of an atomic data type.  The precision
        is the number of significant bits which, unless padding is present, is 8
        times larger than the value returned by H5Tget_size().
        <P>If the precision is increased then the offset is decreased and then
            the size is increased to insure that significant bits do not "hang
            over" the edge of the data type.
        <P>Changing the precision of an H5T_STRING automatically changes the
            size as well.  The precision must be a multiple of 8.
        <P>When decreasing the precision of a floating point type, set the
            locations and sizes of the sign, mantissa, and exponent fields
            first.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>precision</code>
            <dd>Number of bits of precision for datatype.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetOffset">H5Tget_offset</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>size_t </em><code>H5Tget_offset</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the bit offset of the first significant bit.
        The signficant bits of an atomic datum can be offset from the beginning
        of the memory for that datum by an amount of padding. The `offset'
        property specifies the number of bits of padding that appear to the
        "right of" the value.  That is, if we have a 32-bit datum with 16-bits
        of precision having the value 0x1122 then it will be layed out in
        memory as (from small byte address toward larger byte addresses):
        <br>
        <br>

      <table border align=center cellpadding=4 width="80%">
        <tr align=center>
          <th width="20%">Byte Position</th>
          <th width="20%">Big-Endian Offset=0</th>
          <th width="20%">Big-Endian Offset=16</th>
          <th width="20%">Little-Endian Offset=0</th>
          <th width="20%">Little-Endian Offset=16</th>
        </tr>  
        <tr align=center>
          <td>0:</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>1:</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>2:</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>3:</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
        </tr>
      </table>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Positive offset value on success, 0 on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetOffset">H5Tset_offset</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_offset</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>offset</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the bit offset of the first significant bit.  The
        signficant bits of an atomic datum can be offset from the beginning of
        the memory for that datum by an amount of padding. The `offset'
        property specifies the number of bits of padding that appear to the
        "right of" the value.  That is, if we have a 32-bit datum with 16-bits
        of precision having the value 0x1122 then it will be layed out in
        memory as (from small byte address toward larger byte addresses):
        <br>
        <br>

      <table border align=center cellpadding=4 width="80%">
        <tr align=center>
          <th width="20%">Byte Position</th>
          <th width="20%">Big-Endian Offset=0</th>
          <th width="20%">Big-Endian Offset=16</th>
          <th width="20%">Little-Endian Offset=0</th>
          <th width="20%">Little-Endian Offset=16</th>
        </tr>  
        <tr align=center>
          <td>0:</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>1:</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>2:</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr align=center>
          <td>3:</td>
          <td>[0x22]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[ pad]</td>
          <td>[0x11]</td>
        </tr>
      </table>

<P>If the offset is incremented then the total size is
incremented also if necessary to prevent significant bits of
the value from hanging over the edge of the data type.

<P>The offset of an H5T_STRING cannot be set to anything but
zero.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>offset</code>
            <dd>Offset of first significant bit.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetPad">H5Tget_pad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tget_pad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_pad_t *</em> <code>lsb</code>,
        <em>H5T_pad_t *</em> <code>msb</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the padding type of the least and most-significant
        bit padding.  Valid types are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ZERO
               <dd>Set background to zeros.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ONE
               <dd>Set background to ones.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_BACKGROUND
               <dd>Leave background alone.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
        <dt><em>H5T_pad_t *</em> <code>lsb</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return least-significant bit padding type.
        <dt><em>H5T_pad_t *</em> <code>msb</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return most-significant bit padding type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetPad">H5Tset_pad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_pad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>lsb</code>,
        <em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>msb</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the least and most-significant bits padding types.
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ZERO
               <dd>Set background to zeros.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ONE
               <dd>Set background to ones.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_BACKGROUND
               <dd>Leave background alone.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>lsb</code>
            <dd>Padding type for least-significant bits.
        <dt><em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>msb</code>
            <dd>Padding type for most-significant bits.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetSign">H5Tget_sign</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_sign_t </em><code>H5Tget_sign</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the sign type for an integer type.
        Valid types are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_SGN_NONE
               <dd>Unsigned integer type.
            <dt>H5T_SGN_2
               <dd>Two's complement signed integer type.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative sign type on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetSign">H5Tset_sign</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_sign</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_sign_t</em> <code>sign</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the sign proprety for an integer type.
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_SGN_NONE
               <dd>Unsigned integer type.
            <dt>H5T_SGN_2
               <dd>Two's complement signed integer type.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>H5T_sign_t</em> <code>sign</code>
            <dd>Sign type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetFields">H5Tget_fields</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tget_fields</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t *</em> <code>epos</code>,
        <em>size_t *</em> <code>esize</code>,
        <em>size_t *</em> <code>mpos</code>,
        <em>size_t *</em> <code>msize</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves information about the locations of the various
        bit fields of a floating point data type.  The field positions are bit
        positions in the significant region of the data type.  Bits are
        numbered with the least significant bit number zero.
        Any (or even all) of the arguments can be null pointers.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
        <dt><em>size_t *</em> <code>epos</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return exponent bit-position.
        <dt><em>size_t *</em> <code>esize</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return size of exponent in bits.
        <dt><em>size_t *</em> <code>mpos</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return mantissa bit-position.
        <dt><em>size_t *</em> <code>msize</code>
            <dd>Pointer to location to return size of mantissa in bits.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetFields">H5Tset_fields</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_fields</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>epos</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>esize</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>mpos</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>msize</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the locations and sizes of the various floating
        point bit fields.  The field positions are bit positions in the
        significant region of the data type.  Bits are numbered with the least
        significant bit number zero.
    
        <P>Fields are not allowed to extend beyond the number of bits of
        precision, nor are they allowed to overlap with one another.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>epos</code>
            <dd>Exponent bit position.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>esize</code>
            <dd>Size of exponent in bits.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>mpos</code>
            <dd>Mantissa bit position.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>msize</code>
            <dd>Size of mantissa in bits.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetEbias">H5Tget_ebias</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>size_t </em><code>H5Tget_ebias</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the exponent bias of a floating-point type.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Positive value on success, 0 on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetEbias">H5Tset_ebias</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_ebias</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>size_t</em> <code>ebias</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the exponent bias of a floating-point type.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>size_t</em> <code>ebias</code>
            <dd>Exponent bias value.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetNorm">H5Tget_norm</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_norm_t </em><code>H5Tget_norm</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the mantissa normalization of a floating-point
        datatype.  Valid normalization values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_NORM_IMPLIED
                <dd>MSB of mantissa isn't stored, always 1
            <dt>H5T_NORM_MSBSET
                <dd>MSB of mantissa is always 1
            <dt>H5T_NORM_NONE
                <dd>Mantissa is not normalized
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative normalization type on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetNorm">H5Tset_norm</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_norm</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_norm_t</em> <code>norm</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function sets the mantissa normalization of a floating-point
        datatype.  Valid normalization values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_NORM_IMPLIED
                <dd>MSB of mantissa isn't stored, always 1
            <dt>H5T_NORM_MSBSET
                <dd>MSB of mantissa is always 1
            <dt>H5T_NORM_NONE
                <dd>Mantissa is not normalized
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to set.
        <dt><em>H5T_norm_t</em> <code>norm</code>
            <dd>Mantissa normalization type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetInpad">H5Tget_inpad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_pad_t </em><code>H5Tget_inpad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the internal padding type for unused bits in
        floating-point datatypes.
        Valid padding values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ZERO
               <dd>Set background to zeros.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ONE
               <dd>Set background to ones.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_BACKGROUND
               <dd>Leave background alone.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative padding type on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetInpad">H5Tset_inpad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_inpad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>inpad</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>If any internal bits of a floating point type are unused
        (that is, those significant bits which are not part of the
        sign, exponent, or mantissa) then they will be filled
        according to the value of this property.
        Valid padding values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ZERO
               <dd>Set background to zeros.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_ONE
               <dd>Set background to ones.
            <dt>H5T_PAD_BACKGROUND
               <dd>Leave background alone.
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to modify.
        <dt><em>H5T_pad_t</em> <code>pad</code>
            <dd>Padding type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetCset">H5Tget_cset</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_cset_t </em><code>H5Tget_cset</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the character set type of a string datatype.
        Valid character set values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_CSET_ASCII
               <dd>Character set is US ASCII
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative character set type on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetCset">H5Tset_cset</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_cset</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_cset_t</em> <code>cset</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>HDF5 is able to distinguish between character sets of different
        nationalities and to convert between them to the extent possible.
        Valid character set values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_CSET_ASCII
               <dd>Character set is US ASCII
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to modify.
        <dt><em>H5T_cset_t</em> <code>cset</code>
            <dd>Character set type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetStrpad">H5Tget_strpad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>H5T_str_t </em><code>H5Tget_strpad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the string padding method for a string datatype.
        Valid string padding values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_STR_NULL
               <dd>Pad with zeros (as C does)
            <dt>H5T_STR_SPACE
               <dd>Pad with spaces (as FORTRAN does)
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Non-negative string padding type on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-SetStrpad">H5Tset_strpad</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tset_strpad</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_str_t</em> <code>strpad</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>The method used to store character strings differs with the programming
        language: C usually null terminates strings while Fortran
        left-justifies and space-pads strings.  This property defines the
        storage mechanism for the string.
        Valid string padding values are:
        <ul> <dl>
            <dt>H5T_STR_NULL
               <dd>Pad with zeros (as C does)
            <dt>H5T_STR_SPACE
               <dd>Pad with spaces (as FORTRAN does)
        </dl> </ul>
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to modify.
        <dt><em>H5T_str_t</em> <code>strpad</code>
            <dd>String padding type.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetNmembers">H5Tget_nmembers</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>intn </em><code>H5Tget_nmembers</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the number of fields a compound datatype has.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Number of members datatype has on success, negative on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetMemberName">H5Tget_member_name</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>char *</em> <code>H5Tget_member_name</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function retrieves the name of a field of a compound data type.
        Fields are stored in no particular order with numbers 0 through N-1
        where N is the value returned by H5Tget_nmembers().  The name of the
        field is allocated with malloc() and the caller is responsible for
        freeing the memory used by the name.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
        <dt><em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>
            <dd>Field number (indexed from 0) of the field name to retrieve.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Valid pointer on success, NULL on failure
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetMemberDims">H5Tget_member_dims</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>int</em> <code>H5Tget_member_dims</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>,
        <em>size_t *</em> <code>dims</code>,
        <em>int *</em> <code>perm</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the dimensionality of the field.  The dimensions
        and permuation vector are returned through arguments <code>dims</code>
        and <code>perm</code>, both arrays of at least four elements.  Either
        (or even both) may be null pointers.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
        <dt><em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>
            <dd>Field number (indexed from 0) of the field dims to retrieve.
        <dt><em>size_t *</em> <code>dims</code>
            <dd>Pointer to buffer to store the dimensions of the field.
        <dt><em>int *</em> <code>perm</code>
            <dd>Pointer to buffer to store the permutation vector of the field.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>Number of dimensions on success, negative on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-GetMemberType">H5Tget_member_type</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>hid_t</em> <code>H5Tget_member_type</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function returns the data type of the specified member.  The caller
        should invoke H5Tclose() to release resources associated with the type.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to query.
        <dt><em>intn</em> <code>fieldno</code>
            <dd>Field number (indexed from 0) of the field type to retrieve.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>The ID of a copy of the datatype of the field, negative on failure.
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Insert">H5Tinsert</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t</em> <code>H5Tinsert</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>,
        <em>const char *</em> <code>name</code>,
        <em>off_t</em> <code>offset</code>,
        <em>hid_t</em> <code>field_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function adds another member to the compound data type
        <code>type_id</code>.  The new member has a <code>name</code> which
        must be unique within the compound data type. The <code>offset</code>
        argument defines the start of the member in an instance of the compound
        data type, and <code>field_id</code> is the type of the new member.
    
        <P>Note:    All members of a compound data type must be atomic; a
           compound data type cannot have a member which is a compound data
           type.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of compound datatype to modify.
        <dt><em>const char *</em> <code>name</code>
            <dd>Name of the field to insert.
        <dt><em>off_t</em> <code>offset</code>
            <dd>Offset in memory structure of the field to insert.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>field_id</code>
            <dd>Datatype ID of the field to insert.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Pack">H5Tpack</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t</em> <code>H5Tpack</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function recursively removes padding from within a compound
        datatype to make it more efficient (space-wise) to store that data.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to modify.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-RegisterHard">H5Tregister_hard</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t</em> <code>H5Tregister_hard</code>(<em>const char
        *</em> <code>name</code>, <em>hid_t </em><code>src_id</code>,
        <em>hid_t</em> <code>dst_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function registers a hard conversion function for a data type
        conversion path.  The path is specified by the source and destination
        datatypes <code>src_id</code> and <code>dst_id</code>.  A conversion
        path can only have one hard function, so <code>func</code> replaces any
        previous hard function.
        <P>If <code>func</code> is the null pointer then any hard function
        registered for this path is removed from this path.  The soft functions
        are then used when determining which conversion function is appropriate
        for this path.  The <code>name</code> argument is used only
        for debugging and should be a short identifier for the function.
        <P>The type of the conversion function pointer is declared as:
            typedef herr_t (*H5T_conv_t) (hid_t src_id, hid_t dst_id, H5T_cdata_t *cdata,
                          size_t nelmts, void *buf, void *bkg);
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>const char *</em> <code>name</code>
            <dd>Name displayed in diagnostic output.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>src_id</code>
            <dd>ID of source datatype.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>dst_id</code>
            <dd>ID of destination datatype.
        <dt><em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
            <dd>Function to convert between source and destination datatypes.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-RegisterSoft">H5Tregister_soft</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t</em> <code>H5Tregister_soft</code>(<em>const char
    *</em> <code>name</code>, <em>hid_t </em><code>src_id</code>,
        <em>hid_t</em> <code>dst_id</code>,
        <em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function registers a soft conversion function by adding it to the
        end of the master soft list and replacing the soft function in all
        applicable existing conversion paths.  The <code>name</code>
        is used only for debugging and should be a short identifier
        for the function.
        <P>The type of the conversion function pointer is declared as:
            typedef herr_t (*H5T_conv_t) (hid_t src_id, hid_t dst_id, H5T_cdata_t *cdata,
                          size_t nelmts, void *buf, void *bkg);
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>const char *</em> <code>name</code>
            <dd>Name displayed in diagnostic output.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>src_id</code>
            <dd>ID of source datatype.
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>dst_id</code>
            <dd>ID of destination datatype.
        <dt><em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
            <dd>Function to convert between source and destination datatypes.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Unregister">H5Tunregister</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t</em> <code>H5Tunregister</code>(<em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function removes a conversion function from all conversion paths.
        <P>The type of the conversion function pointer is declared as:
            typedef herr_t (*H5T_conv_t) (hid_t src_id, hid_t dst_id, H5T_cdata_t *cdata,
                          size_t nelmts, void *buf, void *bkg);
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>H5T_conv_t</em> <code>func</code>
            <dd>Function to remove from conversion paths.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>

<hr>
<dl>
<dt><strong>Name:</strong> <a name="Datatype-Close">H5Tclose</a>
<dt><strong>Signature:</strong>
    <dd><em>herr_t </em><code>H5Tclose</code>(<em>hid_t </em><code>type_id</code>
    )
<dt><strong>Description:</strong>
    <dd>This function releases a datatype.  Further access through the datatype
        ID is illegal.  Failure to release a datatype with this call will
        result in resource leaks.
<dt><strong>Parameters:</strong>
    <dl>
        <dt><em>hid_t</em> <code>type_id</code>
            <dd>ID of datatype to release.
    </dl>
<dt><strong>Returns:</strong>
    <dd>zero/negative
</dl>



<hr>
<hr>
</b>UNUSED PORTIONS OF EMAIL NOTES.</b>  
<br>
<code>....</code> in left margin indicates where material was 
      pulled out for inclusion above.
<HR>
<HR>
<pre>

Elena> Datatype Interface:
Elena> Do we have description of the named datatypes somewhere?

>From Datatypes.html...

html> 7. Sharing Data Types among Datasets
html> 
html> If a file has lots of datasets which have a common data type
html> then the file could be made smaller by having all the datasets
html> share a single data type.  Instead of storing a copy of the data
html> type in each dataset object header, a single data type is stored
html> and the object headers point to it. The space savings is
html> probably only significant for datasets with a compound data type
html> since the simple data types can be described with just a few
html> bytes anyway.
html> 
html> To create a bunch of datasets that share a single data type just
html> create the datasets with a committed (named) data type.
html> 
html>  To create two datasets that share a common data type one just
html>  commits the data type, giving it a name, and then uses that
html>  data type to create the datasets.
html> 
html>  hid_t t1 = ...some transient type...;
html>  H5Tcommit (file, "shared_type", t1);
html>  hid_t dset1 = H5Dcreate (file, "dset1", t1, space, H5P_DEFAULT);
html>  hid_t dset2 = H5Dcreate (file, "dset2", t1, space, H5P_DEFAULT);
html>                
html> 
html>  And to create two additional datasets later which share the
html>  same type as the first two datasets:
html> 
html>  hid_t dset1 = H5Dopen (file, "dset1");
html>  hid_t t2 = H5Dget_type (dset1);
html>  hid_t dset3 = H5Dcreate (file, "dset3", t2, space, H5P_DEFAULT);
html>  hid_t dset4 = H5Dcreate (file, "dset4", t2, space, H5P_DEFAULT);
html>                
html> 
html>                                     Example: Shared Types

Mail from Quincey summarizing shared data types:

Quincey> Hi Robb,
Quincey>     Everything looks good, I just have a couple of minor comments below:
Quincey> 
Quincey> > A very quick data types summary (so I can remember it next week :-)
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * Handles to named types are immutable.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * A transient type handle can be converted to a named type handle
Quincey> >      by calling H5Tcommit().  This can only be called for transient
Quincey> >      types which are not locked or predefined.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * H5Topen() returns a handle to a named immutable type.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * H5Tcopy() returns a handle to a transient type.
Quincey>     H5Tcreate also returns a handle to a transient type.
Quincey> 
Quincey> >    * Using a named type in H5Dcreate() causes the dataset object
Quincey> >      header to point to the named type (shared).  The link count on
Quincey> >      the named type is incremented.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * Using a transient type in H5Dcreate() causes the type to be
Quincey> >      copied and stored in the dataset header (unshared).
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * Type handles returned from H5Dget_type() are immutable.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * If the dataset is using a shared type (dataset object header
Quincey> >      points to some other object header with a type message, e.g., a
Quincey> >      named type) then H5Dget_type() returns a handle to that named
Quincey> >      type.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * If the dataset has a private type (data type is stored in the
Quincey> >      dataset object header) then H5Dget_type() returns a handle to a
Quincey> >      transient immutable type.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * The name of a data type can be removed from a group, but unless
Quincey> >      the reference count becomes zero the type continues to exist.
Quincey> >      (Other objects work this way too).
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * H5Tcopy() applied to a dataset returns a transient, modifiable
Quincey> >      copy of that dataset's data type.
Quincey> > 
Quincey> >    * H5Topen() applied to a dataset returns either a transient
Quincey> >      immutable or named immutable data type depending on whether the
Quincey> >      dataset has a shared data type.
Quincey>     Hmm, do we want to allow this?  It makes a certain amount of sense, but
Quincey> is a little unusual... :-)
Quincey> 

Elena, we decided not not to allow H5Topen() on a dataset.

Quincey> 
Quincey> >    * The H5Tshare() and H5Tis_shared() will be removed.  Data types
Quincey> >      will not be stored in the global heap.  A new type of shared
Quincey> >      message header will be added to the object headers that points to 
Quincey> >      another object header instead of the global heap
Quincey> 
Quincey> >    * Still to discuss: Attributes on named data types?
Quincey>     I think we should all them.
Quincey> 

Elena, attributes work for named data types just like they do for
datasets.

Quincey> 
Quincey> >    * Still to discuss: compound types whose members point to other types.
Quincey>     I like this concept a lot and this we should figure out a way to do it.
Quincey> This allows the "is a" relationship to be used very nicely for named datatypes.
Quincey> 
Quincey> >    * Still to discuss: datasets that point to data types in other
Quincey> >      files by symbolic link.
Quincey>     Probably a good idea also, just ugly to implement.
Quincey> 

</pre>
<hr>
<hr>




<hr>

<address>
<a href="mailto:fbaker@ncsa.uiuc.edu">Frank Baker</a>
<br>
<a href="mailto:h5docs@ncsa.uiuc.edu">HDF5 Documentation</a>

<br>
Last modified:  29 June 1998

</body>
</html>