[CF-metadata] attributes for min/max data values for visualization

[Philip Bentley]

Hi Jon et al,

IMO, this idea seems commendable for actual min/max data values.
However, is there merit in adopting somewhat more specific, albeit
longer, attribute names? I'm thinking of the situation - contrived
perhaps - wherein a non-CF-savvy end-user of a netCDF file sees a
metadata attribute called "value_min" and asks the question "Minimum
value of what?".

Perhaps the answer is self-evident from context; that is, since the
attribute is attached (in the netCDF header) to the variable it
describes then the association is clear. But in a client software
application that association might not be so obvious.

In which case is it worth considering more verbose, but more descriptive
attribute names, e.g.

{ minimum_data_value, maximum_data_value }, or
{ minimum_variable_value, maximum_variable_value }

Just a suggestion!

Regards,

Phil

On Wed, 2007-03-28 at 14:00 +0100, Jon Blower wrote:

> Dear Jonathan and list,
> 
> Just to re-start this debate.  The original question was whether there
> was (or could be) a pair of CF attributes to identify the min and max
> data values in a CF dataset for the purposes of aiding visualization
> tools to choose sensible colour scales.  
> 

<snip>

> These attributes would be optional, but easy to add to existing
> datasets, either through editing the NetCDF files or through other
> decorators such as NcML, CDML etc.
> 
> I propose calling these attributes value_min and value_max.
> 
> What do others think?  Is this a sensible addition to CF?
> 
> Jon


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