This subject is too large for comprehensive review in a brief workshop session. For more details, please see the web document Writing NetCDF Files: Best Practices and John Caron's June 2007 Unidata Seminar presentation "Best Practices Writing netCDF".
| 8.0 |
Conventions
Developers should be familiar with and use existing netCDF conventions, when practical. |
| 8.1 |
Coordinate Systems
Spatial and temporal location of data are supported by use of coordinate systems. |
| 8.2 |
Variable Grouping
How you group data into variables can determine whether common analysis and visualization software can effectively use the data. |
| 8.3 |
Variable Attributes
Conventional variable attributes supply necessary metadata. |
| 8.4 |
Strings and Character Variables
Use character data properly for representing text strings. |
| 8.5 |
Calendar Date and Time
Represent calendar dates and times with standards and conventions. |
| 8.6 |
Packed Data Values
Conventions for packing numeric data to save space have some subtleties. |
| 8.7 |
Missing Data Values
To indicate that data values are missing, invalid, or not written, special values are conventionally used. |
| 8.8 |
Miscellaneous Recommendations
A few miscellaneous tips for developers |