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Malcolm,
<div>The HDFEOS format has a lot of metadata, but not the critical piece: “Variable Name = unused” </div>
<div>There is no way for GrADS to handle a variable named ‘\0’ (null). Perhaps you can use the hdp dump tool to rewrite the data in another format (ascii or binary or netcdf)? </div>
<div>—Jennifer</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>On Mar 28, 2017, at 10:45 PM, Malcolm Tang <<a href="mailto:malct32@gmail.com">malct32@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type="cite">
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<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=>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-> d pr<br>
Error: Variable 2C-PRECIP-COLUMN not in HDF-SDS file<br>
Data Request Error: Error for variable 'pr'<br>
Error ocurred at column 1<br>
DISPLAY error: Invalid expression <br>
Expression = pr<br>
</b><br>
using the command "hdp dumpsds 20150303.hdf", 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="2C-PRECIP-COLUMN"\012<br>
\011\011GROUP=Dimension\012\011\011\011OB<br>
JECT=Dimension_1\012\011\011\011\011Dimen<br>
sionName="nray"\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="scalar"\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>
="x"\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="y"\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="Profile_time"\012\011\011\011\011DataT<br>
ype=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLi<br>
st=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Geo<br>
Field_1\012\011\011\011OBJECT=GeoField_2\012<br>
\011\011\011\011GeoFieldName="UTC_start"\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DimList=("scalar")\012\011<br>
\011\011END_OBJECT=GeoField_2\012\011\011<br>
\011OBJECT=GeoField_3\012\011\011\011\011<br>
GeoFieldName="TAI_start"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_FLOAT64\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DimList=("scalar")\012\011\011\011END_OBJ<br>
ECT=GeoField_3\012\011\011\011OBJECT=GeoF<br>
ield_4\012\011\011\011\011GeoFieldName="L<br>
atitude"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>
_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nra<br>
y")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=GeoField_4\012<br>
\011\011\011OBJECT=GeoField_5\012\011\011<br>
\011\011GeoFieldName="Longitude"\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011E<br>
ND_OBJECT=GeoField_5\012\011\011\011OBJEC<br>
T=GeoField_6\012\011\011\011\011GeoFieldN<br>
ame="DEM_elevation"\012\011\011\011\011Da<br>
taType=DFNT_INT16\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>
ist=("nray")\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="Data_quality"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_UINT8\012\011\011\011\011Di<br>
mList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=<br>
DataField_1\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>
ld_2\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Da<br>
ta_status"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DF<br>
NT_UINT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nra<br>
y")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_2<br>
\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_3\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DataFieldName="Data_targetID"<br>
\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_UINT8\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011<br>
\011END_OBJECT=DataField_3\012\011\011\011<br>
OBJECT=DataField_4\012\011\011\011\011Dat<br>
aFieldName="Precip_flag"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>
List=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>
ataField_4\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>
d_5\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Sta<br>
tus_flag"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFN<br>
T_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nray"<br>
)\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_5\012<br>
\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_6\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DataFieldName="Conv_strat_flag"\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT16\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011<br>
END_OBJECT=DataField_6\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>
ECT=DataField_7\012\011\011\011\011DataFi<br>
eldName="Precip_rate"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>
T=DataField_7\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataF<br>
ield_8\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="<br>
Precip_rate_min"\012\011\011\011\011DataT<br>
ype=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLi<br>
st=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Dat<br>
aField_8\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>
9\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Preci<br>
p_rate_max"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=D<br>
FNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("<br>
nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataFiel<br>
d_9\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_10\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Precip_rat<br>
e_no_ms"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>
_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nra<br>
y")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_1<br>
0\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_11\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DataFieldName="PIA_hydrometeo<br>
r"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT<br>
32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nray")\012<br>
\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_11\012\011<br>
\011\011OBJECT=DataField_12\012\011\011\011<br>
\011DataFieldName="PIA_near_surface"\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011<br>
END_OBJECT=DataField_12\012\011\011\011OB<br>
JECT=DataField_13\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>
FieldName="PIA_uncertainty"\012\011\011\011<br>
\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011<br>
\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_O<br>
BJECT=DataField_13\012\011\011\011OBJECT=<br>
DataField_14\012\011\011\011\011DataField<br>
Name="Sigma_zero"\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>
Type=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>
ist=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Da<br>
taField_14\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>
d_15\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Ne<br>
ar_surface_reflectivity"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>
T=DataField_15\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>
Field_16\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>
="Frozen_precip_height"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>
T=DataField_16\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>
Field_17\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>
="Rain_top_height"\012\011\011\011\011Dat<br>
aType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>
List=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>
ataField_17\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>
ld_18\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="M<br>
elted_fraction"\012\011\011\011\011DataTy<br>
pe=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLis<br>
t=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Data<br>
Field_18\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>
19\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Lowe<br>
st_sig_layer_top"\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>
Type=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimL<br>
ist=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Da<br>
taField_19\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFiel<br>
d_20\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Hi<br>
ghest_sig_layer_top"\012\011\011\011\011D<br>
ataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011D<br>
imList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT<br>
=DataField_20\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataF<br>
ield_21\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName=<br>
"Cloud_flag"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=<br>
DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nr<br>
ay")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_<br>
21\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_22\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Surface_ty<br>
pe"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT8<br>
\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011<br>
\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_22\012\011\011<br>
\011OBJECT=DataField_23\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataFieldName="Freezing_level"\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011E<br>
ND_OBJECT=DataField_23\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>
ECT=DataField_24\012\011\011\011\011DataF<br>
ieldName="SST"\012\011\011\011\011DataTyp<br>
e=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList<br>
=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataF<br>
ield_24\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_2<br>
5\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Surfa<br>
ce_wind"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT<br>
_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimList=("nra<br>
y")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataField_2<br>
5\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_26\012\011<br>
\011\011\011DataFieldName="RLWP"\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DataType=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011<br>
\011\011DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011E<br>
ND_OBJECT=DataField_26\012\011\011\011OBJ<br>
ECT=DataField_27\012\011\011\011\011DataF<br>
ieldName="CLWP"\012\011\011\011\011DataTy<br>
pe=DFNT_FLOAT32\012\011\011\011\011DimLis<br>
t=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=Data<br>
Field_27\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_<br>
28\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="Diag<br>
nostic_retrieval_info"\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011Dim<br>
List=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=D<br>
ataField_28\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataFie<br>
ld_29\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="D<br>
iagnostic_retrieval_type"\012\011\011\011<br>
\011DataType=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011<br>
DimList=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJEC<br>
T=DataField_29\012\011\011\011OBJECT=Data<br>
Field_30\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName<br>
="Diagnostic_SRT"\012\011\011\011\011Data<br>
Type=DFNT_INT8\012\011\011\011\011DimList<br>
=("nray")\012\011\011\011END_OBJECT=DataF<br>
ield_30\012\011\011\011OBJECT=DataField_3<br>
1\012\011\011\011\011DataFieldName="unuse<br>
d"\012\011\011\011\011DataType=DFNT_INT8\012<br>
\011\011\011\011DimList=("y","x")\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've done wrong here?<br>
</div>
Thank you so much for your help!<br>
<br>
</div>
Regards,<br>
</div>
Malcolm<br>
</div>
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<div apple-content-edited="true">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">
<div style="font-size: 12px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">--</div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Jennifer Miletta Adams<br>
Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA)<br>
George Mason University<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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