[gdal-dev] Writing support for netCDF, HDF4, HDF5

[Mikhail Itkin]

Hi,

Is it possible to write HDF5 files with gdal? Is it possible to create 
NetCDF files without having a "prototype" file?

I am currently trying how GDAL works with python, to see if it can fit 
our research group needs. All three formats NetCDF, HDF4 and HDF5 have 
writing support according to the description on the gdal.org. However 
it's not that easy to find how it really works.

After reading GDAL API tutorial i found that HDF4 driver doesn't have 
neither Create() nor CreateCopy() methods, netCDF has only CreateCopy(), 
and HDF5 doesn't have any. And surprisingly there is another driver, 
called "HDF4Image" which does have Create method.

I have put a short summary here: 
http://wiki.zmaw.de/mpimet/MikhailItkin/WorkAndCodeNotes/Gdal/DataFormats

Does this mean creating HDF5 by gdal means is not possible at the 
moment? What is the difference between HDF4 and HDF4Image?

Sorry, i am only a beginner in using gdal and any help or pointers to 
related documentation is appreciated.

Regards,
Mikhail