[CF-metadata] Dimensionality of Label Variables

From: Michael Decker <m.decker>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:03:08 +0200

Hi everyone,

I just had a look at the definition of label variables in the CF-1.6
Document.
In paragraph 6.1 it says: "The inner dimension (last dimension in CDL
terms) is the maximum length of each string, and the other dimensions
are axis dimensions."
This leads me to believe that a label variable could have any number of
dimensions (starting at 1 for the string length). However, I have never
seen an example that uses label variables with more than two dimensions.

The paragraph from the conventions document is summarized in the
requirements and recommendations list as follows:
"6.1 Labels
Requirements:

    A variable of character type that is named by a coordinates
attribute is a label variable. This variable **must have one or two**
dimensions. The trailing (CDL order) or sole dimension is for the
maximum string length. If there are two dimensions, leading dimension
(CDL order) must match one of those of the data variable."

So this clearly states that the dimensionality of a label variable
should be either 1 or 2. Which one is right? Does anyone have an example
for a label variable with more than two dimensions?

Regards,
Michael

-- 
Michael Decker
Forschungszentrum J?lich
Institut f?r Energie- und Klimaforschung - Troposph?re (IEK-8)
E-Mail: m.decker at fz-juelich.de
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Prof. Dr. Sebastian M. Schmidt
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Received on Thu Aug 23 2012 - 01:03:08 BST