<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Hi,<br></div>I have downloaded HDF4 precipitation data from Cloudsat website.<br></div>Opening the hdf requires a descriptor file.<br><br></div><div>i have written a descriptor file:<br><br><b>dset 20150303.hdf<br>dtype hdfsds<br>title Precipitation<br>undef -9999 _FillValue<br>options yrev<br>xdef 360 linear -180 1.0<br>ydef 180 linear -89.5 1.0<br>zdef 1 levels 1000.0<br>tdef 1  linear 00:00Z31dec2006 1dy<br>vars 1<br>2C-PRECIP-COLUMN=&gt;pr 0 y,x precipitation<br><br>endvars</b><br><br></div><div>Using the descriptor file, I could open the file. However, I could not display the precipitation data. <br></div><div><br><b>ga-&gt; d pr<br>Error: Variable 2C-PRECIP-COLUMN not in HDF-SDS file<br>Data Request Error:  Error for variable &#39;pr&#39;<br>  Error ocurred at column 1<br>DISPLAY error:  Invalid expression <br>  Expression = pr<br></b><br>using the command &quot;hdp dumpsds 20150303.hdf&quot;, i get the following information:<br></div><br>File name: 20150303.hdf <br><br>File attributes:<br>     Attr0: Name = HDFEOSVersion<br>         Type = 8-bit signed char <br>         Count= 11<br>         Value = HDFEOS_V2.5<br>     Attr1: Name = StructMetadata.0<br>         Type = 8-bit signed char <br>         Count= 32000<br>         Value = GROUP=SwathStructure\012\011GROUP=SWATH_1<br>                         \012\011\011SwathName=&quot;2C-PRECIP-COLUMN&quot;\012<br>                         \011\011GROUP=Dimension\012\011\011\011OB<br>                         JECT=Dimension_1\012\011\011\011\011Dimen<br>                         sionName=&quot;nray&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Size=2<br>                         0677\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Dimension_<br>                         1\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Dimension_2\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DimensionName=&quot;scalar&quot;\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011Size=1\012\011\011\011END_OBJ<br>                         ECT=Dimension_2\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Dim<br>                         ension_3\012\011\011\011\011DimensionName<br>                         =&quot;x&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Size=1\012\011\011<br>                         \011END_OBJECT=Dimension_3\012\011\011\011<br>                         OBJECT=Dimension_4\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>                         ensionName=&quot;y&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Size=1\012<br>                         \011\011\011END_OBJECT=Dimension_4\012\011<br>                         \011END_GROUP=Dimension\012\011\011GROUP=<br>                         DimensionMap\012\011\011END_GROUP=Dimensi<br>                         onMap\012\011\011GROUP=IndexDimensionMap\012<br>                         \011\011END_GROUP=IndexDimensionMap\012\011<br>                         \011GROUP=GeoField\012\011\011\011OBJECT=<br>                         GeoField_1\012\011\011\011\011GeoFieldNam<br>                         e=&quot;Profile_time&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataT<br>                         ype=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLi<br>                         st=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Geo<br>                         Field_1\012\011\011\011OBJECT=GeoField_2\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011GeoFieldName=&quot;UTC_start&quot;\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;scalar&quot;)\012\011<br>                         \011\011END_OBJECT=GeoField_2\012\011\011<br>                         \011OBJECT=GeoField_3\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         GeoFieldName=&quot;TAI_start&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_FLOAT64\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DimList=(&quot;scalar&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJ<br>                         ECT=GeoField_3\012\011\011\011OBJECT=GeoF<br>                         ield_4\012\011\011\011\011GeoFieldName=&quot;L<br>                         atitude&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>                         _FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nra<br>                         y&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=GeoField_4\012<br>                         \011\011\011OBJECT=GeoField_5\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011GeoFieldName=&quot;Longitude&quot;\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011E<br>                         ND_OBJECT=GeoField_5\012\011\011\011OBJEC<br>                         T=GeoField_6\012\011\011\011\011GeoFieldN<br>                         ame=&quot;DEM_elevation&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Da<br>                         taType=DFNT_INT16\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>                         ist=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Ge<br>                         oField_6\012\011\011END_GROUP=GeoField\012<br>                         \011\011GROUP=DataField\012\011\011\011OB<br>                         JECT=DataField_1\012\011\011\011\011DataF<br>                         ieldName=&quot;Data_quality&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_UINT8\012\011\011\011\011Di<br>                         mList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=<br>                         DataField_1\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>                         ld_2\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Da<br>                         ta_status&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DF<br>                         NT_UINT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nra<br>                         y&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_2<br>                         \012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_3\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Data_targetID&quot;<br>                         \012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_UINT8\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011<br>                         \011END_OBJECT=DataField_3\012\011\011\011<br>                         OBJECT=DataField_4\012\011\011\011\011Dat<br>                         aFieldName=&quot;Precip_flag&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>                         List=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>                         ataField_4\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>                         d_5\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Sta<br>                         tus_flag&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFN<br>                         T_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;<br>                         )\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_5\012<br>                         \011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_6\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Conv_strat_flag&quot;\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT16\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011<br>                         END_OBJECT=DataField_6\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>                         ECT=DataField_7\012\011\011\011\011DataFi<br>                         eldName=&quot;Precip_rate&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>                         T=DataField_7\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataF<br>                         ield_8\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;<br>                         Precip_rate_min&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataT<br>                         ype=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLi<br>                         st=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Dat<br>                         aField_8\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>                         9\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Preci<br>                         p_rate_max&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=D<br>                         FNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;<br>                         nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataFiel<br>                         d_9\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_10\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Precip_rat<br>                         e_no_ms&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>                         _FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nra<br>                         y&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_1<br>                         0\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_11\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;PIA_hydrometeo<br>                         r&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT<br>                         32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012<br>                         \011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_11\012\011<br>                         \011\011OBJECT=DataField_12\012\011\011\011<br>                         \011DataFieldName=&quot;PIA_near_surface&quot;\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011<br>                         END_OBJECT=DataField_12\012\011\011\011OB<br>                         JECT=DataField_13\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>                         FieldName=&quot;PIA_uncertainty&quot;\012\011\011\011<br>                         \011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011<br>                         \011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_O<br>                         BJECT=DataField_13\012\011\011\011OBJECT=<br>                         DataField_14\012\011\011\011\011DataField<br>                         Name=&quot;Sigma_zero&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>                         Type=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>                         ist=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Da<br>                         taField_14\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>                         d_15\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Ne<br>                         ar_surface_reflectivity&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>                         T=DataField_15\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>                         Field_16\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>                         =&quot;Frozen_precip_height&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>                         T=DataField_16\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>                         Field_17\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>                         =&quot;Rain_top_height&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Dat<br>                         aType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>                         List=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>                         ataField_17\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>                         ld_18\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;M<br>                         elted_fraction&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataTy<br>                         pe=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLis<br>                         t=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Data<br>                         Field_18\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>                         19\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Lowe<br>                         st_sig_layer_top&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>                         Type=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>                         ist=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Da<br>                         taField_19\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>                         d_20\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Hi<br>                         ghest_sig_layer_top&quot;\012\011\011\011\011D<br>                         ataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011D<br>                         imList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT<br>                         =DataField_20\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataF<br>                         ield_21\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=<br>                         &quot;Cloud_flag&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=<br>                         DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nr<br>                         ay&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_<br>                         21\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_22\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Surface_ty<br>                         pe&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT8<br>                         \012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011<br>                         \011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_22\012\011\011<br>                         \011OBJECT=DataField_23\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataFieldName=&quot;Freezing_level&quot;\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011E<br>                         ND_OBJECT=DataField_23\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>                         ECT=DataField_24\012\011\011\011\011DataF<br>                         ieldName=&quot;SST&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataTyp<br>                         e=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList<br>                         =(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataF<br>                         ield_24\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_2<br>                         5\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Surfa<br>                         ce_wind&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>                         _FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;nra<br>                         y&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_2<br>                         5\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_26\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;RLWP&quot;\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>                         \011\011DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011E<br>                         ND_OBJECT=DataField_26\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>                         ECT=DataField_27\012\011\011\011\011DataF<br>                         ieldName=&quot;CLWP&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataTy<br>                         pe=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLis<br>                         t=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Data<br>                         Field_27\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>                         28\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;Diag<br>                         nostic_retrieval_info&quot;\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>                         List=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>                         ataField_28\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>                         ld_29\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;D<br>                         iagnostic_retrieval_type&quot;\012\011\011\011<br>                         \011DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011<br>                         DimList=(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>                         T=DataField_29\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>                         Field_30\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>                         =&quot;Diagnostic_SRT&quot;\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>                         Type=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList<br>                         =(&quot;nray&quot;)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataF<br>                         ield_30\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_3<br>                         1\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=&quot;unuse<br>                         d&quot;\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT8\012<br>                         \011\011\011\011DimList=(&quot;y&quot;,&quot;x&quot;)\012\011<br>                         \011\011\011CompressionType=HDFE_COMP_DEF<br>                         LATE\012\011\011\011\011DeflateLevel=1\012<br>                         \011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_31\012\011<br>                         \011END_GROUP=DataField\012\011\011GROUP=<br>                         MergedFields\012\011\011END_GROUP=MergedF<br>                         ields\012\011END_GROUP=SWATH_1\012END_GRO<br>                         UP=SwathStructure\012GROUP=GridStructure\012<br>                         END_GROUP=GridStructure\012GROUP=PointStr<br>                         ucture\012END_GROUP=PointStructure\012END<br>                         \012\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         \000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000<br>                         <br><br>Variable Name = unused<br>     Index = 0<br>     Type= 8-bit signed integer<br>     Ref. = 43<br>     Compression method = DEFLATE<br>         Deflate level = 1<br>     Compression ratio (original:compressed) = 0.11:1<br>     Rank = 2<br>     Number of attributes = 1<br>     Dim0: Name=y:2C-PRECIP-COLUMN<br>         Size = 1<br>         Scale Type = number-type not set<br>         Number of attributes = 0<br>     Dim1: Name=x:2C-PRECIP-COLUMN<br>         Size = 1<br>         Scale Type = number-type not set<br>         Number of attributes = 0<br>     Attr0: Name = _FillValue<br>         Type = 8-bit signed integer <br>         Count= 1<br>         Value = 0 <br>     Data : <br>                0 <br><br></div>Any tips on what I&#39;ve done wrong here?<br></div>Thank you so much for your help!<br><br></div>Regards,<br></div>Malcolm<br></div>