Could not retrieve add offset

[Don Hooper]

List readers,

I've learned that some have taken this post of mine amiss.  I actually
hadn't intended any sarcasm or to berate anyone.  I was genuinely
surprised by the recent phenomenon of writing "dtype netcdf"-style
Data Descriptor Files (DDFs) for sdfopen-able NetCDF files.  I was
actually perplexed (I'm also told that "flummoxed" isn't a common
enough word to use) by it.  It was also late, and I actually missed
some critical words (added in {}).  I apologize to those who took
my post amiss.  I'm just a little frustrated by the situation, in
no small part with the fact that it's been years since I've had
time to work on GrADS.  E-mail tone is a tricky thing, eh?

Another colleague has suggested that, while the GrADS web site
at COLA does a fantastic job as a reference for all the various
features, something with more of a narrative to it (a user's guide,
in the parlance of some folks; a tutorial to others) would be helpful,
too.  Especially one that covered the various intricacies of dealing
with NetCDF files.  The trouble with my mentioning this is some will
no doubt say, "Okay, smart guy.  You know so much about NetCDF and
GrADS, go write it."   Time enough and world enough, as they say.  %}
Frankly, in addition to my dubious writing skills (unintentional
sarcasm is no mean feat, IMHO), I may not be the right person as I'm
not well-schooled on the more recent features such as "dtype netcdf"-style
DDFs (not to mention "dtype hdfsds", etc.).  I'm certain I don't have
the time to write such a document.  Heck, it's possible such a document
exists and my colleague and I have just missed it.  %}

-Hoop
> From owner-gradsusr at LIST.CINECA.IT  Fri May 19 01:03:27 2006
> From: Don Hooper <hoop at COLORADO.EDU>
>
> I am absolutely flummoxed.  I go to all kinds of effort to create
> NetCDF files with sufficient metadata, and to teach GrADS how to
> *automatically* (I.E., without a Data Descriptor File (DDF),
> 'dtype netcdf' or otherwise) {read them}, via the sdfopen command.  And yet
> people keep trying to write DDFs that require version 1.9 to
> read files that could be read without any back in version 1.6beta4.
> The mind boggles.  And experts at COLA abet this foolish enterprise.
{OK, "foolish" was over the top; I regret the word}
> I just don't {get} this *insistence* on doing things the hard way.  I
> really don't.  Just say:
> sdfopen /home/pfwillis/2006/Grads/circulation/Climate/data/slp_daily.1999.nc /home/pfwillis/2006/Grads/circulation/Climate/data/slp_daily.%y4.nc 731
>
> and go to work with the data.  No fuss, no muss.  Don't work so hard,
> folks; I did the hard work for you years ago.  Reap the benefits of
> my sweat, will you?  Please.
>
> -Hoop