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GDAL-MDIM-INFO(1) GDAL GDAL-MDIM-INFO(1)

NAME

gdal-mdim-info - Get information on a multidimensional dataset

Added in version 3.11.

SYNOPSIS

Usage: gdal mdim info [OPTIONS] <INPUT>
Return information on a multidimensional dataset.
Positional arguments:


  -i, --dataset, --input <INPUT>       Input multidimensional raster dataset [required]
Common Options:


  -h, --help                           Display help message and exit


  --json-usage                         Display usage as JSON document and exit


  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>               Configuration option [may be repeated]
Options:


  --summary                            Report only group and array hierarchy, without detailed information on attributes or dimensions.


                                       Mutually exclusive with --detailed


  --detailed                           Most verbose output. Report attribute data types and array values.


                                       Mutually exclusive with --summary


  --array <ARRAY>                      Name of the array, used to restrict the output to the specified array.


  --limit <LIMIT>                      Number of values in each dimension that is used to limit the display of array values.


  --array-option <KEY>=<VALUE>         Option passed to GDALGroup::GetMDArrayNames() to filter reported arrays. [may be repeated]


  --stats                              Read and display image statistics.
Advanced Options:


  --oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE>    Open options [may be repeated]


  --if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT>  Input formats [may be repeated]


DESCRIPTION

gdal mdim info lists various information about a GDAL supported multidimensional dataset, and returns them on the standard output stream when used from the command line, or in the output parameter when used from the API.

The following items will be reported (when known) as JSON:

  • The format driver used to access the file.
  • Hierarchy of groups
  • Group attributes
  • Name
  • Dimension name, sizes, indexing variable
  • Data type
  • Attributes
  • SRS
  • Nodata value
  • Units
  • Statistics (if requested)



The following options are available:

Standard options

Added in version 3.13.

Report only group and array hierarchy, without detailed information on attributes or dimensions. Mutually exclusive with --detailed.


Most verbose output. Report attribute data types and array values. Mutually exclusive with --summary.

Name of the array used to restrict the output to the specified array.

NOTE:

Bash completion for --array is possible if the dataset name is specified before.



Number of values in each dimension that is used to limit the display of array values. By default, unlimited. Only taken into account if used with -detailed.

Option passed to GDALGroup::GetMDArrayNames() to filter reported arrays. Such option is format specific. Consult driver documentation. This option may be used several times.

NOTE:

Bash completion for --array-option is possible if the dataset name is specified before.



Read and display array statistics. Force computation if no statistics are stored in an array.

Advanced options

Dataset open option (format specific).

May be repeated.


Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s). It is generally not necessary to specify it, but it can be used to skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to select the appropriate driver. This option can be repeated several times to specify several candidate drivers. Note that it does not force those drivers to open the dataset. In particular, some drivers have requirements on file extensions.

May be repeated.


RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Getting information on the file netcdf-4d.nc as JSON output

$ gdal mdim info netcdf-4d.nc



{


  "type": "group",


  "name": "/",


  "attributes": {


    "Conventions": "CF-1.5"


  },


  "dimensions": [


    {


      "name": "levelist",


      "full_name": "/levelist",


      "size": 2,


      "type": "VERTICAL",


      "indexing_variable": "/levelist"


    },


    {


      "name": "longitude",


      "full_name": "/longitude",


      "size": 10,


      "type": "HORIZONTAL_X",


      "direction": "EAST",


      "indexing_variable": "/longitude"


    },


    {


      "name": "latitude",


      "full_name": "/latitude",


      "size": 10,


      "type": "HORIZONTAL_Y",


      "direction": "NORTH",


      "indexing_variable": "/latitude"


    },


    {


      "name": "time",


      "full_name": "/time",


        "size": 4,


      "type": "TEMPORAL",


      "indexing_variable": "/time"


      }


  ],


  "arrays": {


    "levelist": {


      "datatype": "Int32",


      "dimensions": [


          "/levelist"


        ],


      "attributes": {


        "long_name": "pressure_level"


      },


      "unit": "millibars"


    },


    "longitude": {


      "datatype": "Float32",


      "dimensions": [


        "/longitude"


      ],


      "attributes": {


        "standard_name": "longitude",


        "long_name": "longitude",


        "axis": "X"


      },


      "unit": "degrees_east"


    },


    "latitude": {


      "datatype": "Float32",


      "dimensions": [


        "/latitude"


      ],


      "attributes": {


        "standard_name": "latitude",


        "long_name": "latitude",


        "axis": "Y"


      },


      "unit": "degrees_north"


    },


    "time": {


      "datatype": "Float64",


      "dimensions": [


        "/time"


      ],


      "attributes": {


        "standard_name": "time",


        "calendar": "standard"


      },


      "unit": "hours since 1900-01-01 00:00:00"


    },


    "t": {


      "datatype": "Int32",


      "dimensions": [


        "/time",


        "/levelist",


        "/latitude",


        "/longitude"


      ],


      "nodata_value": -32767


    }


  },


  "structural_info": {


    "NC_FORMAT": "CLASSIC"


  }
}


AUTHOR

Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT

1998-2026

April 15, 2026