About nctoolbox

nctoolbox is a Matlab toolbox that provides read-only access to common data model datasets. Under the hood, nctoolbox uses NetCDF-Java as the data access layer. This allows nctoolbox to access NetCDF, OPeNDAP, HDF5, GRIB, GRIB2, HDF4 and many (15+) other file formats and services using the same API. It works with Matlab 2008a and later.

• Installation
• Documentation
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Release Notes

Why Use nctoolbox?

Two words: it's simple

It's simple to install

Download it and run the setup_nctoolbox. Thats it.

It's simple to use

All types of datasets (NetCDF, HDF5, OpenDAP) are read exactly the same way. Want to read data from an OpenDAP URL?

>> ds = ncgeodataset('http://geoport.whoi.edu/thredds/dodsC/coawst_2_2/fmrc/coawst_2_2_best.ncd')
>> time_run = ds.data('time_run');

Want to subset data, NetCDF style (i.e Start, End, Stride)?

>> lwrad = ds.data('lwrad', [10000 100 400], [10100 105 400]) % No Stride
>> lwrad = ds.data('lwrad', [10000 100 400], [10100 105 400], [1 1 1]) % With Stride

Want to subset data, Matlab style?

>> lwrad = ds{'lwrad'}(10000:10100, 100:105, 400)

Backwards Compatible

nctoolbox uses a layered approach to add new functions. We strive to keep backward compatibility. If you've written code using nctoolbox now, we still want future versions to work with your code without requiring you to change it. So if you've used ncdataset class in the past, it will always be there. If you're using ncgeodataset to get some of it's advantages, it will have all the functions you're used to with ncdataset,

Mailing List

Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/nctoolbox

Group email: nctoolbox@googlegroups.com

News

June 6, 2011 - An alpha release of nctoolbox that supports Matlab style indexing, as well as mexcdf-style variable refering (e.g. ds{'somevariable}(:)) can be found at nctoolbox-20110606-alpha.zip

April 12, 2011 - nctoolbox was tested with Matlab 2011a.