Package ucar.nc2

Class Dimension

java.lang.Object

ucar.nc2.Dimension

All Implemented Interfaces:

Comparable<Dimension>

Direct Known Subclasses:

UnlimitedDimension

@Immutable
public class Dimension
extends Object
implements Comparable<Dimension>

A Dimension defines the array shape of a Variable. A Variable can be thought of as a sampled function with Domain its Dimensions. A Dimension may be shared among Variables, which provides a simple yet powerful way of associating Variables. When a Dimension is shared, it has a unique name within its Group. If not shared, it may be named or be left blank. It may have a coordinate Variable, which gives each index a coordinate value. A private Dimension cannot have a coordinate Variable, so only use shared dimensions with coordinates when possible. The Dimension length must be > 0, except for an unlimited dimension which may have length = 0, and a vlen Dimension which has a length known only when the variable is read.

Note: this class has a natural ordering (sort by name) that is inconsistent with equals.

Nested Class Summary

Nested Classes

Modifier and Type	Class	Description
static class	Dimension.Builder

Field Summary

Fields

Modifier and Type	Field	Description
static Dimension	VLEN	A variable-length dimension: the length is not known until the data is read.

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor	Description
Dimension(String name, int length)	Default Constructor, shared, not unlimited, not variable length.
Dimension(String name, int length, boolean isShared, boolean isUnlimited, boolean isVariableLength)	General Constructor.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method	Description
static Dimension.Builder	builder()
static Dimension.Builder	builder(String name, int length)	A builder with the Dimension name and length set
int	compareTo(Dimension odim)	Dimensions are compared by name.
boolean	equals(Object o)
int	getLength()	Get the length of the Dimension.
String	getShortName()	Get the name of the Dimension.
int	hashCode()
boolean	isShared()	If this Dimension is shared, or is private to a Variable.
boolean	isUnlimited()	If this is a NetCDF unlimited dimension.
boolean	isVariableLength()	If variable length, then the length is unknown until the data is read.
String	makeFullName(Group containingGroup)	Make the full name, starting with any group which contains the dimension in itself or a parent group.
String	makeFullName(Variable v)	Make the full name by searching for the containing group starting from the Variable's parent group.
Dimension.Builder	toBuilder()	Turn into a mutable Builder, use toBuilder().build() to make a copy.
String	toString()

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

Field Detail

VLEN

public static final Dimension VLEN

A variable-length dimension: the length is not known until the data is read.

Constructor Detail

Dimension

public Dimension(String name,
                 int length)

Default Constructor, shared, not unlimited, not variable length.

Parameters:

name - name must be unique within group

length - length of Dimension

Dimension

public Dimension(String name,
                 int length,
                 boolean isShared,
                 boolean isUnlimited,
                 boolean isVariableLength)

General Constructor.

Parameters:

name - name must be unique within group. Can be null/empty only if not shared.

length - length, ignored if isVariableLength, ≥ 0 if unlimited, else > 0.

isShared - whether its shared or local to Variable.

isUnlimited - whether the length can grow.

isVariableLength - whether the length is unknown until the data is read.

Method Detail

getLength

public int getLength()

Get the length of the Dimension.

getShortName

public String getShortName()

Get the name of the Dimension. May be the length if not shared and name is empty.

isUnlimited

public boolean isUnlimited()

If this is a NetCDF unlimited dimension. The length might increase between invocations, but it remains fixed for the lifetime of the NetcdfFile. If you modify the file in a separate process, you must close and reopen the file.

Returns:

if its an "unlimited" Dimension

isVariableLength

public boolean isVariableLength()

If variable length, then the length is unknown until the data is read.

Returns:

if its a "variable length" Dimension.

isShared

public boolean isShared()

If this Dimension is shared, or is private to a Variable. All Dimensions in NetcdfFile.getDimensions() or Group.getDimensions() are shared. Dimensions in the Variable.getDimensions() may be shared or private.

Returns:

if its a "shared" Dimension.

makeFullName

public String makeFullName(Variable v)

Make the full name by searching for the containing group starting from the Variable's parent group.

Throws:

IllegalStateException - if not found in one of the Variable's parent groups.

makeFullName

public String makeFullName(Group containingGroup)

Make the full name, starting with any group which contains the dimension in itself or a parent group.

equals

public boolean equals(Object o)

Overrides:

equals in class Object

hashCode

public int hashCode()

Overrides:

hashCode in class Object

compareTo

public int compareTo(Dimension odim)

Dimensions are compared by name. This method is inconsistent with equals()!

Specified by:

compareTo in interface Comparable<Dimension>

Parameters:

odim - compare to this Dimension

Returns:

0, 1, or -1

toString

public String toString()

Overrides:

toString in class Object

toBuilder

public Dimension.Builder toBuilder()

Turn into a mutable Builder, use toBuilder().build() to make a copy.

builder

public static Dimension.Builder builder()

builder

public static Dimension.Builder builder(String name,
                                        int length)

A builder with the Dimension name and length set