ruby-netcdf-updated 0.7.0

data/lib/netcdf_miss.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+require "numru/netcdf"
+require "narray_miss"
+
+module NumRu
+
+  class NetCDFVar
+
+    def get_with_miss(*args)
+      __interpret_missing_params if !defined?(@missval)
+      data = simple_get(*args)
+      if @vmin || @vmax
+	if @vmin
+	  mask = (data >= @vmin) 
+	  mask = mask.and(data <= @vmax) if @vmax
+	else
+	  mask = (data <= @vmax)
+	end
+	data = NArrayMiss.to_nam(data, mask)
+      elsif @missval	# only missing_value is present.
+	mask = (data.ne(@missval)) 
+	data = NArrayMiss.to_nam(data, mask)
+      end
+      data
+    end
+
+    def get_with_miss_and_scaling(*args)
+      __interpret_missing_params if !defined?(@missval)
+      data = simple_get(*args)
+      if @vmin || @vmax
+	if @vmin
+	  mask = (data >= @vmin) 
+	  mask = mask.and(data <= @vmax) if @vmax
+	else
+	  mask = (data <= @vmax)
+	end
+	data = NArrayMiss.to_nam(data, mask)
+      elsif @missval	# only missing_value is present.
+	mask = (data.ne(@missval))
+	data = NArrayMiss.to_nam(data, mask)
+      end
+      data = unpack( data )
+      data
+    end
+
+    def put_with_miss(data, *args)
+      if data.is_a?( NArrayMiss )
+	__interpret_missing_params if !defined?(@missval)
+	if @missval
+	  simple_put(data.to_na(@missval), *args)
+	else
+	  simple_put(data.to_na, *args)
+	end
+      else
+	simple_put(data, *args)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def put_with_miss_and_scaling(data, *args)
+      if data.is_a?( NArrayMiss )
+	__interpret_missing_params if !defined?(@missval)
+	if @missval
+	  data = pack( data )
+	  data = data.to_na(@missval)
+	else
+	  data = pack( data )
+	  data = data.to_na
+	end
+	simple_put(data, *args)
+      else
+	scaled_put(data, *args)
+      end
+    end
+
+    ######### private ##########
+
+    def __interpret_missing_params
+      # Interprets the specification of missing data,
+      # either by valid_range, (valid_min and/or valid_max), or missing_value.
+      # (unlike the NetCDF User's guide (NUG), missing_value is interpreted, 
+      # but valid_* has a higher precedence.)
+      # Always sets @missval whether missing_value is defined or not,
+      # since it will be used as a fill value for data missing.
+      #
+      @vmin = att('valid_min')
+      @vmin = @vmin.get if @vmin  # kept in a NArray(size==1) to consv type
+      @vmax = att('valid_max')
+      @vmax = @vmax.get if @vmax  # kept in a NArray(size==1) to consv type
+      vrange = att('valid_range')
+      vrange = vrange.get if vrange
+      if vrange
+	vrange.sort!
+	@vmin = vrange[0..0]        # kept in... (same)
+	@vmax = vrange[-1..-1]      # kept in... (same)
+      end
+      @missval = att('missing_value') || att('_FillValue')
+      @missval = @missval.get if @missval # kept in... (same)
+
+      sf = att('scale_factor')
+      ao = att('add_offset')
+      if ( sf || ao )
+        ## Both NUG & CF conventions requires to specify the valid
+        ## range with respect to the external (i.e. packed) values. 
+        ## However, some conventions require specification
+        ## with respect to unpacked values. The following
+        ## is to support such cases as well:
+        thres_tp = [ self.typecode, NArray::LINT ].max
+        @missval = pack(@missval) if @missval && @missval.typecode > thres_tp
+        @vmin = pack(@vmin) if @vmin && @vmin.typecode > thres_tp
+        @vmax = pack(@vmax) if @vmax && @vmax.typecode > thres_tp
+      end
+
+      if @missval
+        if @vmin && @vmax 
+	  if @vmin[0] <= @missval[0] && @missval[0] <= @vmax[0]
+            warn "WARNING: missing_value #{@missval[0]} is in the valid range #{@vmin[0]}..#{@vmax[0]} --> will be ignored (#{__FILE__}:#{__LINE__})"
+          end
+        else
+          if @vmin && @missval[0] >= @vmin[0]
+            warn "WARNING: missing_value #{@missval[0]} >= valid min #{@vmin[0]} --> will be ignored (#{__FILE__}:#{__LINE__})"
+          elsif @vmax && @missval[0] <= @vmax[0]
+            warn "WARNING: missing_value #{@missval[0]} <= valid min #{@vmin[0]} --> will be ignored (#{__FILE__}:#{__LINE__})"
+          end
+        end
+      else
+        realtc = NArray::SFLOAT
+        if @vmin
+          if @vmin[0] >= 0
+            @missval = ( @vmin.typecode>=realtc ? 0.99*@vmin : @vmin-1 )
+          else
+            @missval = ( @vmin.typecode>=realtc ? 1.01*@vmin : @vmin-1 )
+          end
+        elsif @vmax
+          if @vmax[0] >= 0
+            @missval = ( @vmax.typecode>=realtc ? 1.01*@vmax : @vmax+1 )
+          else
+            @missval = ( @vmax.typecode>=realtc ? 0.99*@vmax : @vmax+1 )
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+    end
+
+    private :__interpret_missing_params
+
+  end
+
+end
+
+if $0 == __FILE__
+  include NumRu
+
+  filename = "tmp.nc"
+  print "creating ",filename,"...\n"
+  file=NetCDF.create(filename)
+  nx = 10
+  dimx = file.def_dim("x",nx)
+  xf = file.def_var("xf","sfloat",[dimx])
+  xfn = file.def_var("xfn","sfloat",[dimx])
+  xf.put_att("valid_range",[-1e12,1e12])
+  f = 10 ** (2*NArray.sfloat(nx).indgen!)
+  xr = file.def_var("xr","sint",[dimx])
+  xr.put_att("valid_max",[0.5])
+  xr.put_att("scale_factor",1e-4)
+  xr.put_att("add_offset",0.5)
+  xr2 = file.def_var("xr2","sint",[dimx])
+  xr2.put_att("valid_max",NArray.sint(1).fill!(1000))
+  xr2.put_att("scale_factor",1e-4)
+  xr2.put_att("add_offset",0.5)
+  r = NArray.sfloat(nx).indgen!/nx
+  file.enddef
+  xf.put(f)
+  xfn.put(f)
+  xr.scaled_put(r)
+  file.close
+
+  file = NetCDF.open(filename,'r+')
+  xf = file.var('xf')
+  xfn = file.var('xfn')
+  p "f0"
+  xf.get.each{|v| print "#{v} "} ; print "\n"
+  p( 'f1', nam = xf.get_with_miss )
+  def xf.get(*args); get_with_miss(*args); end
+  p( 'f12',  xf[2..-3].to_na )
+  p( 'fn10', xfn.get_with_miss )
+  p( 'fn11', xfn.get_with_miss_and_scaling )
+  nam.invalidation([0,1])
+  p 'f2', nam
+  xf.put_with_miss(nam)
+  p( 'f3', xf.get_with_miss )
+  xr = file.var('xr')
+  p "r0"
+  xr.simple_get.each{|v| print "#{v} "} ; print "\n"
+  p( 'r1', xr.get_with_miss_and_scaling )
+  def xr.get(*args); get_with_miss_and_scaling(*args); end
+  def xr.put(*args); put_with_miss_and_scaling(*args); end
+  #xr[0..3] = xr[0..3]*10
+  p( 'r2', xr.get_with_miss_and_scaling )
+  p 'r',r
+  xr2.put_with_miss_and_scaling(r)
+  p 'xr2',xr2.get_with_miss_and_scaling
+  file.close
+  print "** ncdump tmp.nc **\n", `ncdump tmp.nc`
+end

data/netcdfraw.c

@@ -0,0 +1,4614 @@
+#include<stdio.h>
+#include "ruby.h"
+#include "narray.h"
+#include<netcdf.h>
+#include<string.h>
+
+/* for compatibility with ruby 1.6 */
+#ifndef RSTRING_PTR
+#define RSTRING_PTR(s) (RSTRING(s)->ptr)
+#endif
+#ifndef RSTRING_LEN
+#define RSTRING_LEN(s) (RSTRING(s)->len)
+#endif
+#ifndef RARRAY_PTR
+#define RARRAY_PTR(a) (RARRAY(a)->ptr)
+#endif
+#ifndef RARRAY_LEN
+#define RARRAY_LEN(a) (RARRAY(a)->len)
+#endif
+#ifndef StringValueCStr
+#define StringValueCStr(s) STR2CSTR(s)
+#endif
+#ifndef SafeStringValue
+#define SafeStringValue(s) Check_SafeStr(s)
+#endif
+
+/* Data to NArray */
+
+/*    memcpy(ary->ptr,nc_ptr,na_sizeof[NA_SINT]*ary->total); \ */
+
+#define Cbyte_to_NArray(v, rank, shape, up) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *ary; \
+    v = na_make_object(NA_BYTE, rank, shape, cNArray); \
+    GetNArray(v,ary); \
+    up = (unsigned char *)ary->ptr; \
+}
+
+#define Csint_to_NArray(v, rank, shape, sp) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *ary; \
+    v = na_make_object(NA_SINT, rank, shape, cNArray); \
+    GetNArray(v, ary); \
+    sp = (short *)ary->ptr; \
+}
+
+#define Clint_to_NArray(v, rank, shape, lp) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *ary; \
+    v = na_make_object(NA_LINT, rank, shape, cNArray); \
+    GetNArray(v, ary); \
+    lp = (int *)ary->ptr; \
+}
+#define Cfloat_to_NArray(v, rank, shape, fp) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *ary; \
+    v = na_make_object(NA_SFLOAT, rank, shape, cNArray); \
+    GetNArray(v, ary); \
+    fp = (float *)ary->ptr; \
+}
+#define Cdouble_to_NArray(v, rank, shape, dp); \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *ary; \
+    v = na_make_object(NA_DFLOAT, rank, shape, cNArray); \
+    GetNArray(v, ary); \
+    dp = (double *)ary->ptr; \
+}
+
+/* Array or NArray to pointer and length (with no new allocation) */
+
+#define Array_to_Cfloat_len(obj, ptr, len) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (float *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Cfloat_len_shape(obj, ptr, len, shape) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (float *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+    shape = na->shape; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Cdouble_len(obj, ptr, len) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_DFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (double *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+}
+#define Array_to_Cdouble_len_shape(obj, ptr, len, shape) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_DFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (double *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+    shape = na->shape; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Cbyte_len(obj, ptr, len) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_BYTE); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (u_int8_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Cbyte_len_shape(obj, ptr, len, shape) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_BYTE); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (u_int8_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+    shape = na->shape; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Csint_len(obj, ptr, len) \
+{ \
+  struct NARRAY *na; \
+  obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SINT); \
+  GetNArray(obj, na); \
+  ptr = (int16_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+  len = na->total; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Csint_len_shape(obj, ptr, len, shape) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SINT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (int16_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+    shape = na->shape; \
+}
+
+
+#define Array_to_Clint_len(obj, ptr, len) \
+{ \
+  struct NARRAY *na; \
+  obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_LINT); \
+  GetNArray(obj, na); \
+  ptr = (int32_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+  len = na->total; \
+}
+
+#define Array_to_Clint_len_shape(obj, ptr, len, shape) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_LINT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (int32_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+    len = na->total; \
+    shape = na->shape; \
+}
+
+
+/* Array or NArray to pointer (with no new allocation) */
+
+#define Array_to_Cfloat(obj, ptr) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (float *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+}
+#define Array_to_Cdouble(obj, ptr) \
+{ \
+    struct NARRAY *na; \
+    obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_DFLOAT); \
+    GetNArray(obj, na); \
+    ptr = (double *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+}
+#define Array_to_Cbyte(obj, ptr) \
+{ \
+  struct NARRAY *na; \
+  obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_BYTE); \
+  GetNArray(obj, na); \
+  ptr = (u_int8_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+}
+#define Array_to_Csint(obj, ptr) \
+{ \
+  struct NARRAY *na; \
+  obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_SINT); \
+  GetNArray(obj, na); \
+  ptr = (int16_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+} 
+#define Array_to_Clint(obj, ptr) \
+{ \
+  struct NARRAY *na; \
+  obj = na_cast_object(obj, NA_LINT); \
+  GetNArray(obj, na); \
+  ptr = (int32_t *) NA_PTR(na,0); \
+}
+
+#define NC_RAISE(status) rb_raise(err_status2class(status),"%s", (nc_strerror(status)))
+#define NC_RAISE2(status, str) rb_raise(err_status2class(status),"%s (%s)",nc_strerror(status),(str) )
+
+static VALUE mNumRu = 0;
+static VALUE cNetCDF;
+static VALUE cNetCDFDim;
+static VALUE cNetCDFAtt;
+static VALUE cNetCDFVar;
+
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfError;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfBadid;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNfile;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfExist;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfInval;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfPerm;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNotindefine;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfIndefine;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfInvalcoords;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfMaxdims;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNameinuse;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNotatt;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfMaxatts;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfBadtype;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfBaddim;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfUnlimpos;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfMaxvars;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNotvar;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfGlobal;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNotnc;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfSts;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfMaxname;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfUnlimit;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNorecvars;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfChar;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfEdge;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfStride;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfBadname;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfRange;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfNomem;
+
+/* Special Error */
+/* Global error status */
+
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfFatal;
+
+/* Global options variable. Used to determine behavior of error handler. */
+
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfEntool;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfExdr;
+static VALUE rb_eNetcdfSyserr;
+ 
+
+struct Netcdf{
+  int ncid;
+  char *name;
+  int closed;
+};
+
+struct NetCDFDim{
+  int dimid;
+  int ncid;
+};
+
+struct NetCDFVar{
+  int varid;
+  int ncid;
+  VALUE file;
+};
+
+struct NetCDFAtt{
+  int varid;
+  int ncid;
+  char *name;
+};
+
+static struct Netcdf *
+NetCDF_init(int ncid,char *filename)
+{
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  Netcdffile=xmalloc(sizeof(struct Netcdf));
+  Netcdffile->ncid=ncid;
+  Netcdffile->closed=0;
+  Netcdffile->name=xmalloc((strlen(filename)+1)*sizeof(char));
+  strcpy(Netcdffile->name,filename);  
+  return(Netcdffile);
+}
+
+static struct NetCDFDim *
+NetCDF_dim_init(int ncid,int dimid)
+{
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  Netcdf_dim=xmalloc(sizeof(struct NetCDFDim));
+  Netcdf_dim->dimid=dimid;
+  Netcdf_dim->ncid=ncid;
+  return(Netcdf_dim);
+}
+
+static struct NetCDFVar *
+NetCDF_var_init(int ncid,int varid,VALUE file)
+{
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  Netcdf_var=xmalloc(sizeof(struct NetCDFVar));
+  Netcdf_var->varid=varid;
+  Netcdf_var->ncid=ncid;
+  Netcdf_var->file=file;
+  return(Netcdf_var);
+}
+static struct NetCDFAtt *
+NetCDF_att_init(int ncid,int varid,char *attname)
+{
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  Netcdf_att=xmalloc(sizeof(struct NetCDFAtt));
+  Netcdf_att->ncid=ncid;
+  Netcdf_att->varid=varid;
+  Netcdf_att->name=xmalloc((strlen(attname)+1)*sizeof(char));
+  strcpy(Netcdf_att->name,attname);   
+  return(Netcdf_att);
+}
+
+void
+Netcdf_att_free(struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att)
+{
+  free(Netcdf_att->name);
+  free(Netcdf_att);
+}
+
+void
+NetCDF_var_free(struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var)
+{
+  free(Netcdf_var);
+}
+
+void
+NetCDF_dim_free(struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim)
+{
+  free(Netcdf_dim);
+}
+
+void
+NetCDF_free(struct Netcdf *Netcdffile)
+{
+  int status;
+  if (!Netcdffile->closed){
+      status = nc_close(Netcdffile->ncid); /* no error check -- not to stop during GC */
+  }
+  free(Netcdffile->name); 
+  free(Netcdffile);
+}
+
+static VALUE
+err_status2class(int status)
+{
+  if(NC_ISSYSERR(status)){
+    return(rb_eNetcdfSyserr);
+  }
+  switch(status)
+    {
+    case(NC_EBADID):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfBadid);break;
+    case(NC_ENFILE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNfile);break;
+    case(NC_EEXIST):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfExist);break;
+    case(NC_EINVAL):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfInval);break;
+    case(NC_EPERM):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfPerm);break;
+    case(NC_ENOTINDEFINE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNotindefine);break;
+    case(NC_EINDEFINE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfIndefine);break;
+    case(NC_EINVALCOORDS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfInvalcoords);break;
+    case(NC_EMAXDIMS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfMaxdims);break;
+    case(NC_ENAMEINUSE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNameinuse);break;
+    case(NC_ENOTATT):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNotatt);break;
+    case(NC_EMAXATTS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfMaxatts);break;
+    case(NC_EBADTYPE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfBadtype);break;
+    case(NC_EBADDIM):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfBaddim);break;
+    case(NC_EUNLIMPOS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfUnlimpos);break;
+    case(NC_EMAXVARS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfMaxvars);break;
+    case(NC_ENOTVAR):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNotvar);break;
+    case(NC_EGLOBAL):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfGlobal);break;
+    case(NC_ENOTNC):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNotnc);break;
+    case(NC_ESTS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfSts);break;
+    case(NC_EMAXNAME):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfMaxname);break;
+    case(NC_EUNLIMIT):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfUnlimit);break;
+    case(NC_ENORECVARS):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNorecvars);break;
+    case(NC_ECHAR):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfChar);break;
+    case(NC_EEDGE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfEdge);break;
+    case(NC_ESTRIDE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfStride);break;
+    case(NC_EBADNAME):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfBadname);break;
+    case(NC_ERANGE):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfRange);break;
+    case(NC_ENOMEM):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfNomem);break;
+      /* case(NC_ENTOOL):
+	 return(rb_eNetcdfEntool);break; */
+    case(NC_EXDR):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfExdr);break;
+    case(NC_SYSERR):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfSyserr);break;
+    case(NC_FATAL):
+      return(rb_eNetcdfFatal);break;
+    }
+}
+
+static const char*
+nctype2natype(int nctype){
+  switch(nctype){
+  case NC_CHAR:
+    return("char");
+  case NC_BYTE:
+    return("byte");
+  case NC_SHORT:
+    return("sint");
+  case NC_INT:
+    return("int");
+  case NC_FLOAT:
+    return("sfloat");
+  case NC_DOUBLE:
+    return("float");
+  default:
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "No such netcdf type number %d\n",nctype);
+  }
+}
+
+static int
+nctype2natypecode(int nctype){
+  switch(nctype){
+  case NC_CHAR:
+    return(NA_BYTE);
+  case NC_BYTE:
+    return(NA_BYTE);
+  case NC_SHORT:
+    return(NA_SINT);
+  case NC_INT:
+    return(NA_LINT);
+  case NC_FLOAT:
+    return(NA_SFLOAT);
+  case NC_DOUBLE:
+    return(NA_DFLOAT);
+  default:
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "No such netcdf type number %d\n",nctype);
+  }
+}
+
+static int
+natype2nctype(char *natype)
+{
+  if(strcmp(natype,"byte")==0) return(NC_BYTE);
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"char")==0) return(NC_CHAR);
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"text")==0) return(NC_CHAR);    /* alias of char */
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"string")==0) return(NC_CHAR);  /* alias of char */
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"sint")==0) return(NC_SHORT);
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"int")==0) return(NC_INT);
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"sfloat")==0) return(NC_FLOAT);
+  else if(strcmp(natype,"float")==0) return(NC_DOUBLE);
+  else rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "No such NArray type '%s'",natype);
+}
+
+static int
+natypecode2nctype(int natypecode)
+{
+  if(natypecode==NA_BYTE) return(NC_BYTE);
+  else if(natypecode==NA_SINT) return(NC_SHORT);
+  else if(natypecode==NA_LINT) return(NC_INT);
+  else if(natypecode==NA_SFLOAT) return(NC_FLOAT);
+  else if(natypecode==NA_DFLOAT) return(NC_DOUBLE);
+  else rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "No such NArray typecode '%d'",natypecode);
+}
+
+static void
+nc_mark_obj(struct NetCDFVar *netcdf_var)
+{
+    VALUE ptr;
+
+    ptr = netcdf_var->file;
+    rb_gc_mark(ptr);
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_clone(VALUE file)
+{
+    VALUE clone;
+    struct Netcdf *nc1, *nc2;
+
+    Data_Get_Struct(file, struct Netcdf, nc1);
+    nc2 = NetCDF_init(nc1->ncid, nc1->name);
+    clone = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDF, 0, NetCDF_free, nc2);
+    CLONESETUP(clone, file);
+    return clone;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim_clone(VALUE dim)
+{
+    VALUE clone;
+    struct NetCDFDim *nd1, *nd2;
+
+    Data_Get_Struct(dim, struct NetCDFDim, nd1);
+    nd2 = NetCDF_dim_init(nd1->ncid, nd1->dimid);
+    clone = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim, 0, NetCDF_dim_free, nd2);
+    CLONESETUP(clone, dim);
+    return clone;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_clone(VALUE att)
+{
+    VALUE clone;
+    struct NetCDFAtt *na1, *na2;
+
+    Data_Get_Struct(att, struct NetCDFAtt, na1);
+    na2 = NetCDF_att_init(na1->ncid, na1->varid, na1->name);
+    clone = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt, 0, Netcdf_att_free, na2);
+    CLONESETUP(clone, att);
+    return clone;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_clone(VALUE var)
+{
+    VALUE clone;
+    struct NetCDFVar *nv1, *nv2;
+
+    Data_Get_Struct(var, struct NetCDFVar, nv1);
+    nv2 = NetCDF_var_init(nv1->ncid, nv1->varid, nv1->file);
+    clone = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFVar, nc_mark_obj, NetCDF_var_free, nv2);
+    CLONESETUP(clone, var);
+    return clone;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_close(file)
+     VALUE file;
+{
+  int status;
+  int ncid;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+
+  if (rb_safe_level() >= 4 && !OBJ_TAINTED(file)) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eSecurityError, "Insecure: can't close");
+  }
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  if(!Netcdffile->closed){
+      status = nc_close(ncid);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status); 
+      Netcdffile->closed = 1;
+  } else {
+      rb_warn("file %s is already closed", Netcdffile->name);
+  }
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_def_dim(VALUE file,VALUE dim_name,VALUE length)
+{
+  char* c_dim_name;
+  size_t c_length;
+  int ncid;
+  int dimidp;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dimension;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  
+  Check_Type(dim_name,T_STRING);
+  c_dim_name=RSTRING_PTR(dim_name);
+  c_length=NUM2UINT(length);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+
+  status = nc_def_dim(ncid,c_dim_name,c_length,&dimidp);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Netcdf_dim = NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,dimidp);
+
+  Dimension = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim);
+  return Dimension;
+}
+
+
+static VALUE
+NetCDF_put_att_char(int ncid, char *name,VALUE value,VALUE atttype, int varid)
+{
+    int status;
+    struct NetCDFAtt *ncatt;
+
+    /* check atttype (not necessarily needed but it's better to do it) */
+    if (TYPE(atttype) == T_STRING){
+	if ( natype2nctype(RSTRING_PTR(atttype)) !=  NC_CHAR ) {
+	    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,
+	        "attribute type must be 'char' (or nil) for a String value");
+	}
+    } else if (TYPE(atttype) != T_NIL) {
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,
+		 "type specfication must be by a string or nil");
+    }
+    /* put value */
+    Check_Type(value,T_STRING);
+    status = nc_put_att_text(ncid, varid, name,
+			     RSTRING_LEN(value), RSTRING_PTR(value));
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    ncatt = NetCDF_att_init(ncid,varid,name);
+    return (Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,ncatt));
+}
+
+static VALUE
+NetCDF_put_att_numeric(int ncid, char *name,VALUE value,VALUE atttype, int varid)
+{
+    VALUE val;
+    struct NARRAY *na_val;
+    int na_typecode, status, len;
+    char *ptr;
+    struct NetCDFAtt *ncatt;
+
+    /* check atttype and cast to an appropriate NArray if needed */
+
+    if (TYPE(atttype) != T_NIL){
+	na_typecode = na_get_typecode(atttype);
+	GetNArray( na_cast_object(value, na_typecode), na_val );
+    } else {
+	if (TYPE(value)==T_ARRAY) {
+	    val = RARRAY_PTR(value)[0]; /* to check the 1st elemnt if Array */
+	} else {
+	    val = value;
+	}
+	switch(TYPE(val)){
+	case T_FIXNUM:
+	case T_BIGNUM:
+	    na_typecode = NA_LINT;
+	    GetNArray( na_cast_object(value, na_typecode), na_val );
+	    break;
+	case T_FLOAT:
+	    na_typecode = NA_DFLOAT;
+	    GetNArray( na_cast_object(value, na_typecode), na_val );
+	    break;
+	case T_DATA:
+	    if ( IsNArray(value) ){
+		GetNArray(value,na_val);
+		na_typecode = na_val->type;
+	    } else {
+		rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"value has a wrong data type");
+	    }
+	    break;
+	default:
+	    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,
+		     "value (or its first element) has a wrong type");
+	}
+    }
+
+    /* put value */
+
+    len = na_val->total;
+    ptr = na_val->ptr;
+    switch(na_typecode){
+    case NA_BYTE: 
+	status = nc_put_att_uchar(ncid,varid,name,NC_BYTE,len,(unsigned char *)ptr);
+	break;
+    case NA_SINT: 
+	status = nc_put_att_short(ncid,varid,name,NC_SHORT,len,(short *)ptr);
+	break;
+    case NA_LINT: 
+	status = nc_put_att_int(ncid,varid,name,NC_INT,len,(int *)ptr);
+	break;
+    case NA_SFLOAT: 
+	status = nc_put_att_float(ncid,varid,name,NC_FLOAT,len,(float *)ptr);
+	break;
+    case NA_DFLOAT: 
+	status = nc_put_att_double(ncid,varid,name,NC_DOUBLE,len,(double*)ptr);
+	break;
+    default:
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,
+		 "unsupported type. code = %d",na_typecode);
+    }
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    ncatt = NetCDF_att_init(ncid,varid,name);
+    return (Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,ncatt));
+}
+
+static VALUE
+NetCDF_put_att__(int ncid, char *name, VALUE value, VALUE atttype, int varid)
+     /*
+      * atttype: nil or a String ("string","int",etc). If nil,
+      *          the type of attribute is determined from the type of value
+      */
+{
+    switch(TYPE(value)){
+    case T_STRING:
+	return(NetCDF_put_att_char(ncid, name, value, atttype, varid));
+    default:
+	return(NetCDF_put_att_numeric(ncid, name, value, atttype, varid));
+    }
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_att(VALUE file,VALUE att_name,VALUE value,VALUE atttype)
+     /*
+      * atttype: nil or a String ("string","int",etc). If nil,
+      *          the type of attribute is determined from the type of value
+      */
+{
+    struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+    char *name;
+
+    rb_secure(4);
+    Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+    Check_Type(att_name,T_STRING);
+    name = RSTRING_PTR(att_name);
+
+    return( NetCDF_put_att__(ncfile->ncid, name, value, atttype, NC_GLOBAL) );
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_att_var(VALUE var,VALUE att_name,VALUE value,VALUE atttype)
+     /*
+      * atttype: nil or a String ("string","int",etc). If nil,
+      *          the type of attribute is determined from the type of value
+      */
+{
+    struct NetCDFVar *ncvar;
+    char *name;
+
+    rb_secure(4);
+    Data_Get_Struct(var,struct NetCDFVar,ncvar);
+    Check_Type(att_name,T_STRING);
+    name = RSTRING_PTR(att_name);
+
+    return( NetCDF_put_att__(ncvar->ncid, name, value, atttype, ncvar->varid));
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_def_var(VALUE file,VALUE var_name,VALUE vartype,VALUE dimensions)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  char *c_var_name;
+  static int xtype;
+  long c_ndims;
+  int varidp;
+  int dimidp;
+  int i=0;
+  int status;
+  char *c_dim_name;
+  int c_dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Var;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Check_Type(var_name,T_STRING);
+  Check_Type(dimensions,T_ARRAY);
+
+  c_var_name=RSTRING_PTR(var_name);
+  c_ndims=RARRAY_LEN(dimensions);
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+
+  if (TYPE(vartype) == T_STRING){
+      xtype = natype2nctype(RSTRING_PTR(vartype));     
+  } else if (TYPE(vartype) == T_FIXNUM){
+      xtype = natypecode2nctype(NUM2INT(vartype));     
+  } else {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,
+	       "type specfication must be by a string or nil");
+  }
+
+  for(i=0;i<c_ndims;i++){
+    switch(TYPE(RARRAY_PTR(dimensions)[c_ndims-1-i])){
+    case T_STRING:
+      Check_Type(RARRAY_PTR(dimensions)[c_ndims-1-i],T_STRING);
+      c_dim_name=StringValueCStr(RARRAY_PTR(dimensions)[c_ndims-1-i]);
+      status=nc_inq_dimid(ncid,c_dim_name,&dimidp);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      c_dimids[i]=dimidp;
+      break;
+    case T_DATA:
+      Data_Get_Struct(RARRAY_PTR(dimensions)[c_ndims-1-i],struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dim);
+      c_dimids[i]=Netcdf_dim->dimid;
+      break;
+    default:
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "No such object of the netCDF dimension class.");
+    }
+  }
+  
+  status = nc_def_var(ncid,c_var_name,xtype,c_ndims,c_dimids,&varidp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Netcdf_var = NetCDF_var_init(ncid,varidp,file);
+  
+  Var=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFVar,nc_mark_obj,NetCDF_var_free,Netcdf_var);
+  return Var;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim(VALUE file,VALUE dim_name)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  char *c_dim_name;
+  int dimidp;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dimension;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  Check_Type(dim_name,T_STRING);
+  c_dim_name=RSTRING_PTR(dim_name);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_dimid(ncid,c_dim_name,&dimidp);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR){
+    if(status == NC_EBADDIM){ 
+      return(Qnil);  /*2003/08/27 back to orig (from changes on 2003/02/03)*/
+    } else{
+      NC_RAISE(status);
+    }
+  }
+
+  Netcdf_dim=NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,dimidp);
+  
+  Dimension = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim);
+  return Dimension;
+}
+
+VALUE  
+NetCDF_var(VALUE file,VALUE var_name)
+{  
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varidp;
+  char *c_var_name;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  VALUE Variable;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  Check_Type(var_name,T_STRING);
+  c_var_name=RSTRING_PTR(var_name);
+  
+  status=nc_inq_varid(ncid,c_var_name,&varidp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR){
+    if(status == NC_ENOTVAR){
+      return(Qnil); /*2003/08/27 back to orig (from changes on 2003/02/03)*/
+    } else{ 
+      NC_RAISE(status);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  Netcdf_var = NetCDF_var_init(ncid,varidp,file);
+  Variable = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFVar,nc_mark_obj,NetCDF_var_free,Netcdf_var);
+  return Variable;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att(VALUE file,VALUE att_name)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int attnump;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  VALUE Attribute;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  Check_Type(att_name,T_STRING);
+  c_att_name=RSTRING_PTR(att_name);
+  
+
+  status = nc_inq_attid(ncid,NC_GLOBAL,c_att_name,&attnump);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR){
+    if(status == NC_ENOTATT){
+      return(Qnil);
+    }
+    else{
+      NC_RAISE(status);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  Netcdf_att = NetCDF_att_init(ncid,NC_GLOBAL,c_att_name);
+  
+  Attribute = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,Netcdf_att);
+   
+  return Attribute;
+}
+VALUE
+NetCDF_fill(VALUE file,VALUE mode)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+  int old_modep;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid = Netcdffile->ncid;
+  if(mode==Qfalse){
+    status = nc_set_fill(ncid,NC_NOFILL,&old_modep);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  }
+  else if(mode == Qtrue){
+    status = nc_set_fill(ncid,NC_FILL,&old_modep);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  }
+  else
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Usage:self.fill(true) or self.fill(false)");
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_redef(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  status = nc_redef(ncid);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR){
+    if(status == NC_EINDEFINE){
+      return Qnil;
+    }
+    else{
+      NC_RAISE(status);
+    }
+  }
+  return Qtrue;
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_enddef(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  status = nc_enddef(ncid);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR){ 
+    if(status == NC_ENOTINDEFINE){
+      return Qnil;
+    }
+    else{
+      NC_RAISE(status);
+    }
+  }
+  return Qtrue;
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_whether_in_define_mode(VALUE file)
+{
+  /* returns true if the NetCDF object is currently in the define mode,
+             false if in the data mode, and
+	     nil if else (possibly the file is read-only, or some other
+	     error occurred)
+  */
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *Netcdffile;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,Netcdffile);
+  ncid=Netcdffile->ncid;
+  status = nc_redef(ncid);
+  if(status == NC_EINDEFINE){
+    return Qtrue;
+  } else if(status == NC_NOERR) {
+    /* was in the data mode --> recover the data mode and report false */
+    status = nc_enddef(ncid);
+    if(status == NC_NOERR) {
+      return Qfalse;
+    } else {
+      return Qnil;
+    }
+  } else {
+    return Qnil;
+  }
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_open(VALUE mod,VALUE filename,VALUE omode)     
+{
+  int status;
+  int ncid;
+  char* c_filename;
+  int c_omode;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  VALUE retval;
+
+  Check_Type(filename,T_STRING);
+  SafeStringValue(filename);
+  c_filename=RSTRING_PTR(filename);
+  Check_Type(omode,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_omode=NUM2INT(omode);
+  
+  status = nc_open(c_filename,c_omode,&ncid);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR){NC_RAISE2(status,c_filename);}
+
+  ncfile = NetCDF_init(ncid,c_filename);
+  retval = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDF,0,NetCDF_free,ncfile);
+  return( retval );
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_create(VALUE mod,VALUE filename,VALUE cmode)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  char* c_filename;
+  int c_cmode;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  
+  Check_Type(filename,T_STRING);
+  SafeStringValue(filename);
+  c_filename=RSTRING_PTR(filename);
+  Check_Type(cmode,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_cmode=NUM2INT(cmode);
+  
+  status = nc_create(c_filename,c_cmode,&ncid);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE2(status, c_filename);
+
+  ncfile = NetCDF_init(ncid,c_filename);
+  return( Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDF,0,NetCDF_free,ncfile) );
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_ndims(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int ndimsp;
+  VALUE Integer;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  status = nc_inq_ndims(ncid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE (status);
+  Integer = INT2NUM(ndimsp);
+  return Integer;
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_nvars(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int nvarsp;
+  int status;
+  VALUE Integer;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  status = nc_inq_nvars(ncid,&nvarsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE (status);
+  Integer = INT2NUM(nvarsp);
+  return Integer;
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_natts(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int nattsp;
+  int status;
+  VALUE Integer;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  status=nc_inq_natts(ncid,&nattsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE (status);
+  Integer = INT2NUM(nattsp);
+  return Integer;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_unlimited(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int unlimdimidp;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dimension;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  status=nc_inq_unlimdim(ncid,&unlimdimidp);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Netcdf_dim = NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,unlimdimidp);
+  
+  /* If unlimdimidp=-1,No unlimited dimension is defined in the netCDF dataset */ 
+  if(unlimdimidp != -1)
+    {
+      Dimension = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim);
+      return Dimension;
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      return Qnil;
+    }
+}
+			       
+VALUE
+NetCDF_sync(VALUE file)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  status = nc_sync(ncid);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE (status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_path(VALUE file)
+{
+  char *path;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  path=ncfile->name;
+  return(rb_str_new2(path));
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim_length(VALUE Dim)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int dimid;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Dim,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dim);
+  ncid=Netcdf_dim->ncid;
+  dimid=Netcdf_dim->dimid;
+
+  status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimid,&lengthp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  return(INT2NUM(lengthp));
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim_name(VALUE Dim,VALUE dimension_newname)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int dimid;
+  char *c_dim_name;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Dim,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dim);
+  ncid=Netcdf_dim->ncid;
+  dimid=Netcdf_dim->dimid;
+  Check_Type(dimension_newname,T_STRING);
+  c_dim_name = StringValueCStr(dimension_newname);
+
+  status = nc_rename_dim(ncid,dimid,c_dim_name);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim_inqname(VALUE Dim)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int dimid;
+  char c_dim_name[NC_MAX_NAME];
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE str;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Dim,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dim);
+  ncid=Netcdf_dim->ncid;
+  dimid=Netcdf_dim->dimid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_dimname(ncid,dimid,c_dim_name);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  str = rb_str_new2(c_dim_name);
+  OBJ_TAINT(str);
+  return(str);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_dim_whether_unlimited(VALUE Dim)
+{
+  int status;
+  int uldid;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Dim,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dim);
+  status=nc_inq_unlimdim(Netcdf_dim->ncid,&uldid);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(Netcdf_dim->dimid == uldid){
+      return(Qtrue);
+  } else {
+      return(Qfalse);
+  }
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_inq_name(VALUE Att)
+{
+  char *c_att_name;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  VALUE str;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  c_att_name=Netcdf_att->name;
+  
+  str = rb_str_new2(c_att_name);
+  OBJ_TAINT(str);
+  return(str);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_rename(VALUE Att,VALUE new_att_name)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  char *c_new_att_name;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  ncid=Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_att->varid;
+  
+  c_att_name=Netcdf_att->name;
+  
+  Check_Type(new_att_name,T_STRING);
+  SafeStringValue(new_att_name);
+  c_new_att_name=StringValueCStr(new_att_name);
+  
+  status = nc_rename_att(ncid,varid,c_att_name,c_new_att_name);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  strcpy(Netcdf_att->name,c_new_att_name);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_id2dim(VALUE file,VALUE dimid)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int c_dimid;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dim;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  Check_Type(dimid,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_dimid=NUM2INT(dimid);
+  Netcdf_dim = NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,c_dimid);
+  Dim=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim);
+  return(Dim);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_id2var(VALUE file,VALUE varid)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int c_varid;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  VALUE Var;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+  Check_Type(varid,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_varid=NUM2INT(varid);
+  Netcdf_var = NetCDF_var_init(ncid,c_varid,file);
+  Var=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFVar,nc_mark_obj,NetCDF_var_free,Netcdf_var);
+  return(Var);
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_id2att(VALUE file,VALUE attnum)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int c_attnum;
+  int status;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfile;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  VALUE Att;
+  c_att_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(file,struct Netcdf,ncfile);
+  ncid=ncfile->ncid;
+
+  Check_Type(attnum,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_attnum=NUM2INT(attnum);
+
+  status = nc_inq_attname(ncid,NC_GLOBAL,c_attnum,c_att_name);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Netcdf_att=NetCDF_att_init(ncid,NC_GLOBAL,c_att_name);
+
+  Att=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,Netcdf_att);
+  return(Att);
+
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_id2att(VALUE Var,VALUE attnum)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int c_attnum;
+  int status;
+  int c_varid;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  VALUE Att;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  c_varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Check_Type(attnum,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_attnum=NUM2INT(attnum);
+
+  c_att_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+
+  status = nc_inq_attname(ncid,c_varid,c_attnum,c_att_name);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+ 
+  Netcdf_att=NetCDF_att_init(ncid,c_varid,c_att_name);
+  Att=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,Netcdf_att);
+  return(Att);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_dims(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid, *dimids, ndims, varid, i, status;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dims;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  Dims = rb_ary_new();
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+      Netcdf_dim = NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,dimids[ndims-1-i]);
+      rb_ary_push(Dims, 
+		  Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim));
+  }
+  return(Dims);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_dim(VALUE Var, VALUE ith)
+{
+  int ncid, *dimids, ndims, varid, status, c_ith;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dim;
+  VALUE Dim;
+
+  Check_Type(ith,T_FIXNUM);
+  c_ith=NUM2INT(ith);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(c_ith < 0 || c_ith >= ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "dimension count less than zero or greater than ndims-1");
+  }
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  Netcdf_dim = NetCDF_dim_init(ncid,dimids[ndims-1-c_ith]);
+  Dim = Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFDim,0,NetCDF_dim_free,Netcdf_dim);
+  return(Dim);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_copy(VALUE Att,VALUE Var_or_File)
+{
+  int ncid_in,ncid_out;
+  int status;
+  int varid_in,varid_out;
+  char *att_name;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct Netcdf    *ncfile;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att_out;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  ncid_in=Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid_in=Netcdf_att->varid;
+  att_name=Netcdf_att->name;
+
+  if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(Var_or_File, cNetCDFVar) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(Var_or_File,struct NetCDFVar, Netcdf_var);
+      ncid_out=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+      varid_out=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  } else if ( rb_obj_is_kind_of(Var_or_File, cNetCDF) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(Var_or_File,struct Netcdf, ncfile);
+      ncid_out=ncfile->ncid;
+      varid_out=NC_GLOBAL;
+  } else {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"The argument must be a NetCDFVar or a NetCDF");
+  }
+
+  status = nc_copy_att(ncid_in,varid_in,att_name,ncid_out,varid_out);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  Netcdf_att_out = NetCDF_att_init(ncid_out,varid_out,att_name);
+  return (Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,Netcdf_att_out));
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_atttype(VALUE Att)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  char *att_name;
+  const char *Attname;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  nc_type xtypep;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  ncid = Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_att->varid;
+  att_name = Netcdf_att->name;
+
+  status = nc_inq_atttype(ncid,varid,att_name,&xtypep);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Attname = nctype2natype(xtypep);
+  return(rb_str_new2(Attname));
+}
+  
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_typecode(VALUE Att)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  char *att_name;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  nc_type xtypep;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  ncid = Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_att->varid;
+  att_name = Netcdf_att->name;
+
+  status = nc_inq_atttype(ncid,varid,att_name,&xtypep);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  return(INT2NUM(nctype2natypecode(xtypep)));
+}
+  
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_delete(VALUE Att)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+
+  ncid=Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_att->varid;
+  c_att_name=Netcdf_att->name;
+
+  status = nc_del_att(ncid,varid,c_att_name);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_put(VALUE Att,VALUE value,VALUE atttype)
+     /*
+      * atttype: nil or a String ("string","int",etc). If nil,
+      *          the type of attribute is determined from the type of value
+      */
+{
+  struct NetCDFAtt *ncatt;
+ 
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,ncatt);
+  return( NetCDF_put_att__(ncatt->ncid, ncatt->name, value, 
+			   atttype, ncatt->varid) );
+}
+  
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_get(VALUE Att)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  char *c_attname;
+  int status;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  nc_type xtypep;
+  size_t lenp;
+  int attlen[1];    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  char *tp;
+  unsigned char *up;
+  short *sp;
+  int *ip;
+  float *fp;
+  double *dp;
+  VALUE NArray;
+  VALUE str;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Att,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_att);
+  ncid = Netcdf_att->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_att->varid;
+  c_attname = Netcdf_att->name;
+
+  status = nc_inq_atttype(ncid,varid,c_attname,&xtypep);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  switch(xtypep){
+  case NC_CHAR:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    tp = ALLOCA_N(char,lenp+1);
+    tp[lenp]= '\0';
+    status = nc_get_att_text(ncid,varid,c_attname,tp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    str = rb_str_new2(tp);
+    OBJ_TAINT(str);
+    return(str);
+    break;
+  case NC_BYTE:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    attlen[0]=lenp;
+    Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,1,attlen,up);
+  
+    status = nc_get_att_uchar(ncid,varid,c_attname,up);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+    return NArray;
+    break;
+  case NC_SHORT:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    attlen[0]=lenp;
+    Csint_to_NArray(NArray,1,attlen,sp);
+    
+    status = nc_get_att_short(ncid,varid,c_attname,sp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+    return NArray;
+    break;
+  case NC_INT:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    
+    attlen[0]=lenp;
+    Clint_to_NArray(NArray,1,attlen,ip);
+    
+    status = nc_get_att_int(ncid,varid,c_attname,ip);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+    return NArray;
+    break;
+  case NC_FLOAT:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    attlen[0]=lenp;
+    Cfloat_to_NArray(NArray,1,attlen,fp);
+    
+    status = nc_get_att_float(ncid,varid,c_attname,fp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+    return NArray;
+    break;
+  case NC_DOUBLE:
+    status = nc_inq_attlen(ncid,varid,c_attname,&lenp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+    attlen[0]=lenp;
+    Cdouble_to_NArray(NArray,1,attlen,dp);
+    
+    status = nc_get_att_double(ncid,varid,c_attname,dp);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+    return NArray;
+    break;
+  default:
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"atttype isn't supported in netCDF");
+  }
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+		  
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_inq_name(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  char c_var_name[NC_MAX_NAME];
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  VALUE Var_name;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,c_var_name);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Var_name=rb_str_new2(c_var_name);
+  OBJ_TAINT(Var_name);
+  return Var_name;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_ndims(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  int ndimsp;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  VALUE Var_ndims;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  Var_ndims=INT2FIX(ndimsp);
+  return Var_ndims;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_vartype(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  nc_type xtypep;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  const char *Vartype;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  status = nc_inq_vartype(ncid,varid,&xtypep);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Vartype=nctype2natype(xtypep);
+  return(rb_str_new2(Vartype));
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_typecode(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  nc_type xtypep;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  status = nc_inq_vartype(ncid,varid,&xtypep);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  return(INT2NUM(nctype2natypecode(xtypep)));
+}
+
+ 
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_natts(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  int nattsp;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  VALUE Var_natts;
+  
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status= nc_inq_varnatts(ncid,varid,&nattsp);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Var_natts=INT2FIX(nattsp);
+  return Var_natts;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_file(VALUE Var)
+{
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  /* VALUE file; */
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  return (Netcdf_var->file);
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_rename(VALUE Var,VALUE var_new_name)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  char *c_var_new_name;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Check_Type(var_new_name,T_STRING);
+  c_var_new_name=StringValueCStr(var_new_name);
+  
+  status = nc_rename_var(ncid,varid,c_var_new_name);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_att(VALUE Var,VALUE att_name)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int status;
+  int varid;
+  char *c_att_name;
+  int c_attnump;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_att;
+  VALUE Att;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Check_Type(att_name,T_STRING);
+  c_att_name=StringValueCStr(att_name);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_attid(ncid,varid,c_att_name,&c_attnump);
+  if(status == NC_NOERR){
+    Netcdf_att=NetCDF_att_init(ncid,varid,c_att_name);
+    Att=Data_Wrap_Struct(cNetCDFAtt,0,Netcdf_att_free,Netcdf_att);
+    return Att;
+  }
+  else if(status == NC_ENOTATT){
+    return Qnil;
+  }
+  else{
+    NC_RAISE(status);
+    return Qnil;
+  }
+}
+
+/* Redifinition of the "==" and "eql?" methods */
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_eql(VALUE filea,VALUE fileb)
+{
+  struct Netcdf *ncfilea;
+  struct Netcdf *ncfileb;
+  
+  if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(fileb, cNetCDF) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(filea,struct Netcdf,ncfilea);
+      Data_Get_Struct(fileb,struct Netcdf,ncfileb);
+    
+      if(ncfilea->ncid == ncfileb->ncid && 
+	 strcmp(ncfilea->name,ncfileb->name)==0){
+	  return Qtrue;
+      } else {
+	  return Qfalse;
+      }
+  } else {
+      return Qfalse;
+  }
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_var_eql(VALUE Vara,VALUE Varb)
+{
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_vara;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_varb;
+  
+  if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(Varb, cNetCDFVar) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(Vara,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_vara);
+      Data_Get_Struct(Varb,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_varb);
+
+      if(Netcdf_vara->ncid == Netcdf_varb->ncid && 
+	 Netcdf_vara->varid == Netcdf_varb->varid){
+	  return Qtrue;
+      } else {
+	  return Qfalse;
+      }
+  } else {
+      return Qfalse;
+  }
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_dim_eql(VALUE Dima,VALUE Dimb)
+{
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dima;
+  struct NetCDFDim *Netcdf_dimb;
+
+  if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(Dimb, cNetCDFDim) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(Dima,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dima);
+      Data_Get_Struct(Dimb,struct NetCDFDim,Netcdf_dimb);
+  
+      if(Netcdf_dima->ncid == Netcdf_dimb->ncid && 
+	 Netcdf_dima->dimid == Netcdf_dimb->dimid){
+	  return Qtrue;
+      } else {
+	  return Qfalse;
+      }
+  } else {
+      return Qfalse;
+  }
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_att_eql(VALUE Atta,VALUE Attb)
+{
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_atta;
+  struct NetCDFAtt *Netcdf_attb;
+  
+  if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(Attb, cNetCDFAtt) ){
+      Data_Get_Struct(Atta,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_atta);
+      Data_Get_Struct(Attb,struct NetCDFAtt,Netcdf_attb);
+  
+      if(Netcdf_atta->ncid == Netcdf_atta->ncid && 
+	 Netcdf_atta->varid == Netcdf_attb->varid && 
+	 strcmp(Netcdf_atta->name,Netcdf_attb->name)==0){
+	  return Qtrue;
+      } else { 
+	  return Qfalse;
+      }
+  } else {
+      return Qfalse;
+  }
+}
+
+/* Follow methods is to connect "NArray" with "Netcdf" */
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_char(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var_text(ncid,varid,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_byte(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var_uchar(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_sint(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Csint_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var_short(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_int(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Clint_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var_int(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_float(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Cfloat_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_get_var_float(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_var_double(VALUE Var)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int i=0;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int *dimids;
+  size_t lengthp;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+  if (ndimsp != 0){
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndimsp);
+      for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+	  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+	  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	  nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+	  shape[ndimsp-1-i]=lengthp;
+      }
+  } else {
+      ndimsp = 1;
+      shape = ALLOCA_N(int,1);
+      shape[0]=1;
+  }
+
+  Cdouble_to_NArray(NArray,ndimsp,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var_double(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_char(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR)NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen = 1+nc_tlen;
+  }
+  
+  
+  
+  
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  status = nc_get_var1_text(ncid,varid,c_start,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_byte(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR)NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen = 1+nc_tlen;
+  }
+  
+  
+  
+  
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  status = nc_get_var1_uchar(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_sint(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen+1;
+  }
+  
+  Csint_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var1_short(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_int(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR)NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen= nc_tlen+1;
+  }
+  
+  Clint_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var1_int(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_float(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR)NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen+1;
+  }
+  
+  Cfloat_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var1_float(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE 
+NetCDF_get_var1_double(VALUE Var,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t dimlen;
+  int *c_count;
+  int nc_tlen=0;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR)NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start = NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+    c_count[i]=1;
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen+1;
+  }
+  
+  Cdouble_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,c_count,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_var1_double(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_char(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_vars_text(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_byte(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  Cbyte_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_vars_uchar(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_sint(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  Csint_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+
+  status = nc_get_vars_short(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_int(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  Clint_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+
+  status = nc_get_vars_int(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_float(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  Cfloat_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+  
+  status = nc_get_vars_float(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_get_vars_double(VALUE Var,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int *shape;    /* NArray uses int instead of size_t */
+  int ndims;
+  int *dimids;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  VALUE NArray;
+
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid = Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid = Netcdf_var->varid;
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  if(ndims == 0) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Cannot specify a subset of a rank-0 scalar\n");
+  }
+
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims){
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+  c_start = ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+   
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0;i<ndims; i++){
+      c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(c_stride[i]==0){
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"stride cannot be zero\n");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      c_count[i]=(dimlen-c_start[i]-1)/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+    break;
+  default:
+    Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+    if(RARRAY_LEN(end) <ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n");
+    }
+    for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+      l_end= NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+      if(l_end < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_end +=dimlen;
+      }
+      c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    nc_tlen = nc_tlen*c_count[i];
+  }
+
+  shape = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    shape[ndims-1-i]=c_count[i];
+  }
+  
+  Cdouble_to_NArray(NArray,ndims,shape,ptr);
+  
+  status = nc_get_vars_double(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  OBJ_TAINT(NArray);
+  return NArray;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_char(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Array_to_Cbyte_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(unsigned char,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status );
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+  status = nc_put_var_text(ncid,varid,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_byte(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Array_to_Cbyte_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(unsigned char,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status );
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+  status = nc_put_var_uchar(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_short(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  Array_to_Csint_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(short,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array length in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_var_short(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_int(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Array_to_Clint_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(int,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array length in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+  
+  
+  status = nc_put_var_int(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_float(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+  
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Array_to_Cfloat_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+  
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(float,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array length in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_var_float(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var_double(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i=0;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  int nc_tlen=1;
+  int ndimsp;
+  int dimids[NC_MAX_DIMS];
+  size_t lengthp;
+  char *var_name;
+
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+
+  Array_to_Cdouble_len(NArray,ptr,len);
+
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndimsp);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  for(i=0;i<ndimsp;i++){
+    status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&lengthp);
+    nc_tlen=lengthp*nc_tlen;
+  }
+  if(len == 1 && len != nc_tlen){
+    scalar = *ptr;
+    ptr = ALLOCA_N(double,nc_tlen);
+    for(i=0;i<nc_tlen;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+  } else if(len != nc_tlen){
+    var_name=ALLOCA_N(char,NC_MAX_NAME);
+    status = nc_inq_varname(ncid,varid,var_name);
+    if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of NArray don't equal to length of total array length in the '%s'\n",var_name);
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_var_double(ncid,varid,ptr);
+  if(status !=NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_char(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Cbyte(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_text(ncid,varid,c_start,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_byte(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Cbyte(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_uchar(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_sint(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Csint(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_short(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_int(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Clint(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_int(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_float(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Cfloat(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_float(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_var1_double(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr;
+  int i;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+  
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid,varid,&ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  
+  dimids = ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid,varid,dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) <ndims) {
+    rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError,"Length of 'start' is too short\n");
+  }
+
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0;i<ndims;i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid,dimids[i],&dimlen);
+      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+      l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+
+  }
+  Array_to_Cdouble(NArray,ptr);
+
+  status = nc_put_var1_double(ncid,varid,c_start,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_char(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Cbyte_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(unsigned char,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+		 "lengh of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      } 
+  } 
+  
+  status = nc_put_vars_text(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,(char *)ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_byte(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  unsigned char *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Cbyte_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(unsigned char,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+		 "lengh of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      } 
+  } 
+  
+  status = nc_put_vars_uchar(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_sint(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  short *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Csint_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(short,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+              "lengh of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      }
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_vars_short(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_int(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  int *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Clint_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(int,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+              "length of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      }
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_vars_int(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_float(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  float *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Cfloat_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(float,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+              "lengh of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      }
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_vars_float(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+
+VALUE
+NetCDF_put_vars_double(VALUE Var,VALUE NArray,VALUE start,VALUE end,VALUE stride)
+{
+  int ncid;
+  int varid;
+  int status;
+  double *ptr,scalar;
+  int len,i;
+  int c_count_all=1;
+  struct NetCDFVar *Netcdf_var;
+  long l_start, l_end;
+  size_t *c_start;
+  size_t *c_count;
+  ptrdiff_t *c_stride;
+  int ndims;
+  int   *shape;
+  int   *dimids;
+  size_t dimlen;
+
+  rb_secure(4);
+  Data_Get_Struct(Var,struct NetCDFVar,Netcdf_var);
+  ncid=Netcdf_var->ncid;
+  varid=Netcdf_var->varid;
+  status = nc_inq_varndims(ncid, varid, &ndims);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  dimids=ALLOCA_N(int,ndims);
+  status = nc_inq_vardimid(ncid, varid, dimids);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+
+  Check_Type(start,T_ARRAY);
+  if(RARRAY_LEN(start) < ndims) {
+      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'start' is too short\n"); 
+  }
+  c_start=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+    l_start=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(start)[ndims-1-i]);
+    
+    if(l_start < 0) {
+	status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	l_start += dimlen;
+    }
+    c_start[i]=l_start;
+  }
+  
+  c_stride=ALLOCA_N(ptrdiff_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(stride)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=1;
+      }
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(stride,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(stride) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'stride' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_stride[i]=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(stride)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(c_stride[i]==0) {
+	      rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "stride cannot be zero\n"); 
+	  }
+      }
+  }
+
+  Array_to_Cdouble_len_shape(NArray,ptr,len,shape);
+
+  c_count=ALLOCA_N(size_t,ndims);
+  switch(TYPE(end)){
+  case T_NIL:
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  c_count[i]=shape[i];
+      }
+      c_count_all=len;
+      break;
+  default:
+      Check_Type(end,T_ARRAY);
+      if(RARRAY_LEN(end) < ndims) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, "Length of 'end' is too short\n"); 
+      }
+      for(i=0; i<ndims; i++){
+	  l_end=NUM2INT(RARRAY_PTR(end)[ndims-1-i]);
+	  if(l_end < 0) {
+	      status = nc_inq_dimlen(ncid, dimids[i], &dimlen);
+	      if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+	      l_end += dimlen;
+	  }
+	  c_count[i]=(l_end-c_start[i])/c_stride[i]+1;
+	  c_count_all=c_count[i]*c_count_all;
+      }
+      if(len == 1 && len != c_count_all){
+	  scalar = *ptr;
+	  ptr = ALLOCA_N(double,c_count_all);
+	  for(i=0;i<c_count_all;i++){ptr[i]=scalar;}
+      } else if(len != c_count_all) {
+	  rb_raise(rb_eNetcdfError, 
+              "lengh of the array does not agree with that of the subset\n"); 
+      }
+  }
+
+  status = nc_put_vars_double(ncid,varid,c_start,c_count,c_stride,ptr);
+  if(status != NC_NOERR) NC_RAISE(status);
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+void
+Init_netcdfraw(void)
+{
+  mNumRu = rb_define_module("NumRu");
+
+  /* Difinitions of the classes */
+  cNetCDF = rb_define_class_under(mNumRu, "NetCDF", rb_cObject);
+  cNetCDFDim = rb_define_class_under(mNumRu, "NetCDFDim", rb_cObject);
+  cNetCDFAtt = rb_define_class_under(mNumRu, "NetCDFAtt", rb_cObject);
+  cNetCDFVar = rb_define_class_under(mNumRu, "NetCDFVar", rb_cObject);
+
+  rb_eNetcdfError = rb_define_class("NetcdfError",rb_eStandardError);
+  rb_eNetcdfBadid = rb_define_class("NetcdfBadid",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNfile = rb_define_class("NetcdfNfile",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfExist = rb_define_class("NetcdfExist",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfInval = rb_define_class("NetcdfInval",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfPerm = rb_define_class("NetcdfPerm",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNotindefine = rb_define_class("NetcdfNotindefine",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfIndefine = rb_define_class("NetcdfIndefine",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfInvalcoords = rb_define_class("NetcdfInvalcoords",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfMaxdims = rb_define_class("NetcdfMaxdims",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNameinuse = rb_define_class("NetcdfNameinuse",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNotatt = rb_define_class("NetcdfNotatt",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfMaxatts = rb_define_class("NetcdfMaxatts",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfBadtype = rb_define_class("NetcdfBadtype",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfBaddim = rb_define_class("NetcdfBaddim",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfUnlimpos = rb_define_class("NetcdFUnlimpos",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfMaxvars = rb_define_class("NetcdfMaxvars",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNotvar = rb_define_class("NetcdfNotvar",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfGlobal = rb_define_class("NetcdfGlobal",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNotnc = rb_define_class("NetcdfNotnc",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfSts = rb_define_class("NetcdfSts",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfMaxname = rb_define_class("NetcdfMaxname",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfUnlimit = rb_define_class("NetcdfUnlimit",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNorecvars = rb_define_class("NetcdfNorecvars",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfChar = rb_define_class("NetcdfChar",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfEdge = rb_define_class("NetcdfEdge",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfStride = rb_define_class("NetcdfStride",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfBadname = rb_define_class("NetcdfBadname",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  /* N.B. following must match value in ncx.h */ 
+  rb_eNetcdfRange = rb_define_class("NetcdfRange",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfNomem = rb_define_class("NetcdfNomem",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  /* Global error status */
+  rb_eNetcdfEntool = rb_define_class("NetcdfEntool",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfExdr = rb_define_class("NetcdfExdr",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  rb_eNetcdfSyserr = rb_define_class("NetcdfSyserr",rb_eNetcdfError);
+  /* Global options variable. Used to determine behavior of error handler. */
+  rb_eNetcdfFatal = rb_define_class("NetcdfFatal",rb_eNetcdfError);
+
+  /* Class Constants Definition */
+  rb_define_const(cNetCDF, "NC_NOWRITE", INT2FIX(NC_NOWRITE));
+  rb_define_const(cNetCDF, "NC_WRITE", INT2FIX(NC_WRITE));
+  rb_define_const(cNetCDF, "NC_SHARE", INT2FIX(NC_SHARE));
+  rb_define_const(cNetCDF, "NC_CLOBBER", INT2FIX(NC_CLOBBER));
+  rb_define_const(cNetCDF, "NC_NOCLOBBER", INT2FIX(NC_NOCLOBBER));
+
+  /* Difinitions of the ruby methods */
+  /* The methods of the NetCDF class */
+  rb_define_singleton_method(cNetCDF,"nc_open",NetCDF_open,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"clone",NetCDF_clone,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"close",NetCDF_close,0);
+  /* rb_define_singleton_method(cNetCDF,"new",NetCDF_open,2); */
+  rb_define_singleton_method(cNetCDF,"nc_create",NetCDF_create,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"def_dim",NetCDF_def_dim,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"def_var",NetCDF_def_var,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"put_attraw",NetCDF_put_att,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"redef",NetCDF_redef,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"enddef",NetCDF_enddef,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"define_mode?",NetCDF_whether_in_define_mode,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"fill",NetCDF_fill,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"ndims",NetCDF_ndims,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"nvars",NetCDF_nvars,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"natts",NetCDF_natts,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"sync",NetCDF_sync,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"path",NetCDF_path,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"dim",NetCDF_dim,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"var",NetCDF_var,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"att",NetCDF_att,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"unlimited",NetCDF_unlimited,0);
+  rb_define_private_method(cNetCDF,"id2var",NetCDF_id2var,1);
+  rb_define_private_method(cNetCDF,"id2dim",NetCDF_id2dim,1);
+  rb_define_private_method(cNetCDF,"id2att",NetCDF_id2att,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"==",NetCDF_eql,1); 
+  /* rb_define_method(cNetCDF,"eql?",NetCDF_eql,1); */
+
+  /* The methods of the NetCDFDim class */
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"clone",NetCDF_dim_clone,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"length",NetCDF_dim_length,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"name=",NetCDF_dim_name,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"name",NetCDF_dim_inqname,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"unlimited?",NetCDF_dim_whether_unlimited,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"==",NetCDF_dim_eql,1);
+  /* rb_define_method(cNetCDFDim,"eql?",NetCDF_dim_eql,1); */
+
+  /* The methods of the NetCDFAtt class */
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"clone",NetCDF_att_clone,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"name",NetCDF_att_inq_name,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"name=",NetCDF_att_rename,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"delete",NetCDF_att_delete,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"copy",NetCDF_att_copy,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"atttype",NetCDF_att_atttype,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"typecode",NetCDF_att_typecode,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"==",NetCDF_att_eql,1);
+  /* rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"eql?",NetCDF_att_eql,1); */
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"putraw",NetCDF_att_put,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFAtt,"get",NetCDF_att_get,0);
+
+  /* The methods of the NetCDFVar class */
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"clone",NetCDF_var_clone,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"name",NetCDF_var_inq_name,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"ndims",NetCDF_var_ndims,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"vartype",NetCDF_var_vartype,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"typecode",NetCDF_var_typecode,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"ntype",NetCDF_var_vartype,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"natts",NetCDF_var_natts,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"file",NetCDF_var_file,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"name=",NetCDF_var_rename,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"att",NetCDF_var_att,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_attraw",NetCDF_put_att_var,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"dims",NetCDF_var_dims,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"dim",NetCDF_var_dim,1);
+  /*rb_define_private_method(cNetCDFVar,"id2dim",NetCDF_var_id2dim,1); */
+  rb_define_private_method(cNetCDFVar,"id2att",NetCDF_var_id2att,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"==",NetCDF_var_eql,1);
+  /* rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"eql?",NetCDF_var_eql,1); */
+
+  /* The "get*" or "put*" methods in the NetCDFVar class */
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_char",NetCDF_put_var_char,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_byte",NetCDF_put_var_byte,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_sint",NetCDF_put_var_short,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_int",NetCDF_put_var_int,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_sfloat",NetCDF_put_var_float,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var_float",NetCDF_put_var_double,1);
+
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_char",NetCDF_put_vars_char,4);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_byte",NetCDF_put_vars_byte,4);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_sint",NetCDF_put_vars_sint,4);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_int",NetCDF_put_vars_int,4);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_sfloat",NetCDF_put_vars_float,4);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_vars_float",NetCDF_put_vars_double,4);
+
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_char",NetCDF_put_var1_char,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_byte",NetCDF_put_var1_byte,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_sint",NetCDF_put_var1_sint,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_int",NetCDF_put_var1_int,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_sfloat",NetCDF_put_var1_float,2);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"put_var1_float",NetCDF_put_var1_double,2);
+
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_char",NetCDF_get_var_char,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_byte",NetCDF_get_var_byte,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_sint",NetCDF_get_var_sint,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_int",NetCDF_get_var_int,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_sfloat",NetCDF_get_var_float,0);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var_float",NetCDF_get_var_double,0);
+  
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_char",NetCDF_get_vars_char,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_byte",NetCDF_get_vars_byte,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_sint",NetCDF_get_vars_sint,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_int",NetCDF_get_vars_int,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_sfloat",NetCDF_get_vars_float,3);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_vars_float",NetCDF_get_vars_double,3);
+
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_char",NetCDF_get_var1_char,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_byte",NetCDF_get_var1_byte,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_sint",NetCDF_get_var1_sint,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_int",NetCDF_get_var1_int,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_sfloat",NetCDF_get_var1_float,1);
+  rb_define_method(cNetCDFVar,"get_var1_float",NetCDF_get_var1_double,1);
+}