DAP4: Nested Attributes

Background

In DAP2, the DAS allowed nested sets of attributes. The primary reason for this (I assume) was that the DAS was separate from the DDS and nesting in the DAS could be made to match nesting in the DDS. This allowed for the setting of attributes on nested variables in structures, for example. Jimg 14:51, 5 September 2012 (PDT) I never clarified this: No, nested attributes were not added for this reason. They were added because HDF4 supported them. Subsequently, we found them useful for other things and, separately, other people did too.

In his original DAP4 xsd schema, James again allowed for nested attributes.

Proposal

I propose that we do not allow nested attributes in DAP4.

Rationale

The current rng/xsd DAP4 schema allows one to directly place attributes almost anywhere in the DDX. It seems to me that this makes any need for nested attributes superfluous.

Dennis Heimbigner

Discussion

Jimg 12:36, 13 April 2012 (PDT) HDF4 and HDF5 allow nested attributes - we added them to DAP2 to support HDF4.