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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. It was released to beta testers on March 2, 2009, and Release 1.0 is now available for general use.

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 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 and PostgreSQL 
• DaL has support for both BCS database extensions (DBXten and Grid DataBlades), but it can also be used without them
  
• 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 dataset (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)