Browsing and Visualizing HDF Data
With the recent explosion of data volumes, numerous visualization and browsing tools have been developed which allow users to quickly view the contents of datasets created elsewhere. This has proven especially beneficial for users of HDF.
In fact, many visualization tools have been created specifically with HDF in mind. The NCSA anonymous ftp server provides a set of free software that enables the user to visualize and browse HDF files. Tools include the JAVA-based HDF Browser and the Scientific Data Browser. In addition, the following are available but have not been updated to run with the current version of HDF: NCSA Collage, NCSA Datascope, NCSA XDataSlice, and NCSA Polyview.
Besides NCSA, there are other sites and centers that also provide public domain (free) software that can be used to browse and visualize HDF files. This software includes, among others: LinkWinds, Webwinds, HDFLook, VisAD, hdfv, VISTAS, and Envision. Visualization tools and software such as LinkWinds and EOSVIEW can be used for working with HDF-EOS type data (point, swath and grid data sets).
Finally, there are also commercial (for a fee) software packages that can be used to work with and browse HDF files. Noesys (including Plot, Transform and T3D), DataExplorer, Spyglass, HDF Explorer, IDL, AVS, and SciSpy Webview are just a few of the many available software tools.
Please see Section 4: HDF Browsing and Visualization Tools for further detail, including internet address, on the above software.