dump_classic_metadata.c File Reference

Read a NetCDF file and print all metadata (dimensions, variables, attributes) More...

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <netcdf.h>

Macros
#define	ERRCODE   2
#define	ERR(e)   {printf("Error: %s\n", nc_strerror(e)); return ERRCODE;}

Functions
static const char *	type_name (nc_type xtype)
static int	print_att_value (int ncid, int varid, const char *att_name, nc_type xtype, size_t len)
static int	print_attributes (int ncid, int varid, int natts, const char *indent)
int	main (int argc, char *argv[])

Detailed Description

Read a NetCDF file and print all metadata (dimensions, variables, attributes)

This example demonstrates how to use the NetCDF inquiry functions to discover and print all metadata in a NetCDF file without prior knowledge of its contents. It reads a filename from the command line, opens the file, and prints:

• All dimensions (name and length, noting unlimited dimensions)
• All global attributes (name, type, and value)
• All variables (name, type, dimensions, and attributes)

This is a useful pattern for building tools that inspect arbitrary NetCDF files.

Learning Objectives:

• Use nc_inq() to discover file structure
• Iterate over dimensions with nc_inq_dim()
• Iterate over variables with nc_inq_var()
• Iterate over attributes with nc_inq_att() and nc_inq_attname()
• Read attribute values of different types
• Handle unlimited dimensions

Prerequisites: Basic C programming, familiarity with NetCDF concepts

Compilation:

gcc -o dump_classic_metadata dump_classic_metadata.c -lnetcdf

Usage:

./dump_classic_metadata coord_vars.nc

Author

Edward Hartnett, Intelligent Data Design, Inc.

Date

2026

Macro Definition Documentation

ERR

#define ERR

(

e

)

{printf("Error: %s\n", nc_strerror(e)); return ERRCODE;}

ERRCODE

#define ERRCODE   2

Function Documentation

main()

int main	(	int	argc,
		char *	argv[]
	)

print_att_value()

static int print_att_value ( int  ncid, int  varid, const char *  att_name, nc_type  xtype, size_t  len  )

static

print_attributes()

static int print_attributes ( int  ncid, int  varid, int  natts, const char *  indent  )

static

type_name()

static const char * type_name ( nc_type  xtype )

static