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Simple, Flexible Scientific Data Loader: DaL (Draw and Load) Print E-mail

DaL is a free Java-based database client being released by BCS to the scientific community. It provides the ability to load scientific data files (in a variety of formats) into a database.

Click here to view a PDF version of the DaL User's Guide (PostgreSQL version).

Click here to view a PDF version of the DaL User's Guide (IBM Informix version).

Click here to view a PDF version of the DaL User's Guide (Oracle version).

Click here to request a download link for the DaL program.

Features of DaL

  • By drawing lines between graphic nodes representing file contents and database tables, a user controls how data is stored.
  • The current version of DaL works with Informix, PostgreSQL, and Oracle. 
  • DaL has support for both BCS database extensions (DBXten and Grid DataBlades), but it can also be used without them. In particular, the Oracle version can be used to load files into Oracle GeoRaster objects.
  • DaL uses Unidata's NetCDF Java library and hence can read from any Unidata Common Data Model (CDM) file or protocol.
  • CDM supported file formats:
    • NetCDF-3, NetCDF-4, NetCDF-5
    • GINI (GOES Ingest and NOAAPORT Interface) image format
    • GEMPAK gridded data
    • DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program)
    • NEXRAD Radar level 2 and level 3
    • ATD's DORADE radar file format
    • HDF4, HDF5
    • GTOPO 30-sec elevation data set (USGS)
    • CINRAD level II (Chinese Radar format)
    • McIDAS AREA
    • Universal Radar Format
    • USPLN and NLDN lightning data
    • *GRIB version 1 and version 2
    • *HDF-EOS and HDF5-EOS
    • *BUFR
    (* ongoing work)
  • CDM supported client/server protocols:
    • OPeNDAP client/server protocol
    • *ADDE client/server protocol
    (* limited support)