As the next article indicates, we now have an alpha version of HDF 4.0, which includes some of the items on the list. Our original plans were to have a full beta version of HDF 4.0 ready by mid-summer. We welcome your thoughts about these features. HDF4.0 Alpha release HDF Version 4.0 is ready for enthusiastic HDF users to run an alpha test now. In order to increase the clarity and maintainability of HDF code, we are moving towards the use of ANSI C conforming compilers.
Alpha is the first trial release.
Users of Scientific data sets have been asking for ways to store datasets which are composed of integer number types that don't fall into any of our current pre-defined number types. For example, users would like to be able to read and write 10-bit integers using an HDF SDS interface. HDF 4.0 includes several new routines to let users define, write and read n-bit Scientific data sets. HDF 4.0 is able to read CDF files. An HDF information server is set up.