Optional Variable Metadata

All CSDS variable attributes may be specified within the variable metadata block, but are not required. The following subset of the standard CSDS attributes are currently used by science tools and recommended.

CATDESC

The ISTP Catdesc as used by, e.g., CSDS

SCALMIN

Hint to plotting software giving the minimum for a plot scale

SCALMAX

Hint to plotting software giving the maximum for a plot scale

FILLVAL

Value to be treated as not physically meaningful, indicating a value which is missing or unavailable.

SCALETYP

Takes a text value of linear, logarithmic or inhomogeneous as plotting hint

SIG_DIGITS

Gives the number of significant digits in the data measurement.

Other descriptive metadata in the same syntax may be supplied as deemed appropriate to describe the data adequately for scientific use.