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#86: Allow coordinate variables to be scaled integers ---------------------------------------+------------------------------------ Reporter: [email protected] | Owner: [email protected] Type: defect | Status: new Priority: medium | Milestone: Component: cf-conventions | Version: Resolution: | Keywords: coordinate variables, scaled inetegers ---------------------------------------+------------------------------------ Comment (by Dave.Allured): Randy, I am concerned that this proposal would require updates and increase complexity for many existing Netcdf readers, including general purpose software as well as my own code. In my case, I read coordinate variables directly through the Netcdf API, not through a general purpose data interface that would automatically unpack. I have never included the unpacking code in my coordinate readers. I acknowledge that the added software complexity would be slight in each individual case, but it adds up. Also consider that the whole concept of scale/offset packing, just for data arrays alone, is confusing to some Netcdf beginners, generating significant amounts of user list and help desk traffic. The latter is in part from local experience within my work group. For spatial resolution, I would suggest adding a simple non-CF attribute such as "resolution = 0.5" or "delta_x = 0.5" or "step = 0.5", or perhaps "step_range = 0.44, 0.5" for non-rectilinear coordinates. IMO this is easier for human understanding than "scale_factor = 0.5", for the specific purpose that you cited. Given that one of your justifications is simplifying writer software, I am left wondering whether the value added is worth the trouble. The status quo for coordinate variables seems to be working very well for a long time (excepting time coordinates, ouch, different topic). Do you have a particular situation where the reduction in file size would be significant? Do you know of any general purpose software that '''already''' handles packed coordinate variables? --Dave -- Ticket URL: <https://cf-pcmdi.llnl.gov/trac/ticket/86#comment:4> CF Metadata <http://cf-pcmdi.llnl.gov/> CF Metadata This message came from the CF Trac system. To unsubscribe, without unsubscribing to the regular cf-metadata list, send a message to "[email protected]" with "unsubscribe cf-metadata" in the body of your message.
