function h5ex_t_vlstring
%**************************************************************************
%
%  This example shows how to read and write variable-length
%  string datatypes to a dataset.  The program first writes
%  variable-length strings to a dataset with a dataspace of
%  DIM0, then closes the file.  Next, it reopens the file,
%  reads back the data, and outputs it to the screen.
%
%  This file is intended for use with HDF5 Library version 1.8
%**************************************************************************

fileName       = 'h5ex_t_vlstring.h5';
DATASET        = 'DS1';
DIM0           = 4;

dims   = DIM0;
wdata  = {'Parting'; 'is such'; 'sweet  '; 'sorrow.'};

%
%% Create a new file using the default properties.
%
file = H5F.create (fileName, 'H5F_ACC_TRUNC', 'H5P_DEFAULT', 'H5P_DEFAULT');

%
% Create file and memory datatypes.  For this example we will save
% the strings as FORTRAN strings.
%
filetype = H5T.copy ('H5T_FORTRAN_S1');
H5T.set_size (filetype,'H5T_VARIABLE');
memtype = H5T.copy ('H5T_C_S1');
H5T.set_size (memtype, 'H5T_VARIABLE');

%
% Create dataspace.  Setting maximum size to [] sets the maximum
% size to be the current size.
%
space = H5S.create_simple (1,fliplr( dims), []);

%
% Create the dataset and write the variable-length string data to
% it.
%
dset = H5D.create (file, DATASET, filetype, space, 'H5P_DEFAULT');
H5D.write (dset, memtype, 'H5S_ALL', 'H5S_ALL', 'H5P_DEFAULT', wdata');

%
% Close and release resources.
%
H5D.close (dset);
H5S.close (space);
H5T.close (filetype);
H5T.close (memtype);
H5F.close (file);

%
%% Now we begin the read section of this example.  Here we assume
% the dataset has the same name and rank, but can have any size.
%

%
% Open file and dataset.
%
file = H5F.open (fileName, 'H5F_ACC_RDONLY', 'H5P_DEFAULT');
dset = H5D.open (file, DATASET);

%
% Get the datatype.
%
filetype = H5D.get_type (dset);

%
% Get dataspace and allocate memory for read buffer.
%
space = H5D.get_space (dset);
[~, dims, ~] = H5S.get_simple_extent_dims (space);
dims=fliplr(dims);

%
% Create the memory datatype.
%
memtype = H5T.copy ('H5T_C_S1');
H5T.set_size (memtype, 'H5T_VARIABLE');
%
% Read the data.
%
rdata=H5D.read (dset, memtype, 'H5S_ALL', 'H5S_ALL', 'H5P_DEFAULT');

%
% Output the data to the screen.
%
for i=1: dims(1)
    fprintf ('%s[%d]: %s\n', DATASET, i, rdata{i});
end

%
% Close and release resources.
%
H5D.close (dset);
H5S.close (space);
H5T.close (filetype);
H5T.close (memtype);
H5F.close (file);