NOTE: This FAQ is relevant only for Ferret executables between versions 5.0 and 5.51 under Linux; these were compiled using Fortran 90. Executables for Linux, Ferret versions 5.53 and higher are compiled with g77 and no changesare needed to descriptor files used with these verions.

Question:

Why won't my multi-file netCDF descriptors work when running Ferret
under the Linux operating system?

Example:

> ferret_v500beta1.1 
 NOAA/PMEL TMAP
 Program FERRET (V500beta1.1)
 Version 5.00 - 06/03/99
 21-Mar-00 11:34 
yes? set data coads_clim_irreg
 **TMAP ERR: Error in namelist record
 Error in: FORMAT_RECORD; or file not descriptor file
 Data set: /home/kobrien/fer_dsets/descr/coads_clim_irreg.des

Explanation:

This error occurs because the descriptor was formatted forFortran 77 namelist reads, but the Linux version of Ferret wascompiled using Fortran 90. Since Fortran 90 has a different formatfor namelist reads, the descriptor fails.

Solution:

The solution is to linuxize, or Fortran 90ize, the descriptors.Here is a scriptfile which attempts to linuxize Fortran 77 style descriptors.It is possible that the linuxize_descriptor file will not fixsome custom created descriptors. In that case the script willhave to be modified to deal with custom additions, but it shouldbe a good start.

Last modified: Aug 25 1998