diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 28fc909..cac6f41 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
+#### H5PART 1.6.2 ############################################################
+
+Removed H5PartSetViewEmpty
+--------------------------
+
+An empty view can now be selected with:
+H5PartSetNumParticles(file, 0);
+
+Bug Fixes to Attribute Calls in Fortran API
+-------------------------------------------
+
+Fixed a problem where attribute values were reverting to zero.
+
 #### H5PART 1.6.1 ############################################################
 
 Chunking in the H5Part API
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index da6491e..52cd90a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Every configure script must call AC_INIT before doing anything else.
 # AC_INIT (package, version, [bug-report], [tarname])
-AC_INIT([H5Part], [1.6.1], [h5part@lists.psi.ch], H5Part)
+AC_INIT([H5Part], [1.6.2], [h5part@lists.psi.ch], H5Part)
 
 
 # Ensure that a recent enough version of Autoconf is being used. 
diff --git a/examples/simplef.F90 b/examples/simplef.F90
index da1f93f..7720dee 100644
--- a/examples/simplef.F90
+++ b/examples/simplef.F90
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@ program H5PartTest
   integer*8 :: file_id, status, npoints, i
   real*8, allocatable :: particles(:)
   integer*8, allocatable :: id(:)
+  real*8 :: r8val
+  integer*8 :: i8val
 
   comm = MPI_COMM_WORLD
   call mpi_init(ierr)
   call mpi_comm_rank(comm, rank, ierr)
 
   ! open the a file for parallel writing
+  file_id = h5pt_set_verbosity_level(5)
   file_id = h5pt_openw_par('test.h5', comm)
 
   ! in the Fortran API, time steps start at 1
@@ -22,6 +25,10 @@ program H5PartTest
   ! write an attribute to the file
   status = h5pt_writefileattrib_string(file_id, 'desc', 'This is a test.')
 
+  r8val = 0.5
+  i8val = 1
+  status = h5pt_writefileattrib_r8(file_id, 'double', r8val, i8val)
+
   ! create fake data
   npoints = 99
   allocate(particles(npoints), id(npoints))
diff --git a/src/H5Part.c b/src/H5Part.c
index 2d0e112..2702cca 100644
--- a/src/H5Part.c
+++ b/src/H5Part.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ _H5Part_open_file (
 		{
 			/* extend the btree size so that metadata pieces are
 		 	* close to the alignment value */
-			if ( align > 0 )
+			if ( align > 16384 )
 			{
 				unsigned int btree_ik = (align - 4096) / 96;
 				unsigned int btree_bytes = 64 + 96*btree_ik;
@@ -1647,9 +1647,9 @@ H5PartWriteStepAttrib (
 	h5part_int64_t herr = _H5Part_write_step_attrib (
 		f,
 		name,
-		(const hid_t)type,
+		(hid_t)type,
 		data,
-		nelem );
+		(hsize_t)nelem );
 	if ( herr < 0 ) return herr;
 
 	return H5PART_SUCCESS;
@@ -1691,9 +1691,9 @@ H5PartWriteFileAttrib (
 	h5part_int64_t herr = _H5Part_write_file_attrib (
 		f,
 		name,
-		(const hid_t)type,
+		(hid_t)type,
 		data,
-		nelem );
+		(hsize_t)nelem );
 	if ( herr < 0 ) return herr;
 
 	return H5PART_SUCCESS;
@@ -2282,7 +2282,12 @@ _H5Part_get_num_objects_matching_pattern (
 	data.pattern = pattern;
 
 #ifdef H5PART_HAVE_HDF5_18
-	hid_t child_id = H5Gopen( group_id, group_name, H5P_DEFAULT );
+	hid_t child_id = H5Gopen( group_id, group_name
+#ifndef H5_USE_16_API
+		, H5P_DEFAULT
+#endif
+		);
+
 	if ( child_id < 0 ) return child_id;
  	herr = H5Literate( child_id, H5_INDEX_NAME, H5_ITER_INC, 0,
  			_H5Part_iteration_operator2, &data );
@@ -2785,10 +2790,7 @@ _set_view (
 	  end==-1 to mean end of file
 	*/
 	total = (hsize_t) _H5Part_get_num_particles ( f );
-	if ( total < 0 ) {
-		return HANDLE_H5PART_GET_NUM_PARTICLES_ERR ( total );
-	}
-	else if ( total == 0 ) {
+	if ( total == 0 ) {
 		/* No datasets have been created yet and no veiws are set.
 		 * We have to leave the view empty because we don't know how
 		 * many particles there should be! */
@@ -2867,10 +2869,7 @@ _set_view_indices (
 	  end==-1 to mean end of file
 	*/
 	total = (hsize_t) _H5Part_get_num_particles ( f );
-	if ( total < 0 ) {
-		return HANDLE_H5PART_GET_NUM_PARTICLES_ERR ( total );
-	}
-	else if ( total == 0 ) {
+	if ( total == 0 ) {
 		/* No datasets have been created yet and no veiws are set.
 		 * We have to leave the view empty because we don't know how
 		 * many particles there should be! */
@@ -3142,7 +3141,7 @@ _read_data (
 	) {
 
 	h5part_int64_t herr;
-	hsize_t ndisk, nread, nmem;
+	hssize_t ndisk, nread, nmem;
 	hid_t dataset_id;
 	hid_t space_id;
 	hid_t memspace_id;
diff --git a/src/H5Part.f90 b/src/H5Part.f90
index 0ccd0b6..80554ac 100644
--- a/src/H5Part.f90
+++ b/src/H5Part.f90
@@ -265,14 +265,6 @@ INTEGER*8 FUNCTION h5pt_setview_indices (filehandle,indices,nelem)
     INTEGER*8, INTENT(IN) :: nelem      !< number of particles in the list
 END FUNCTION
 
-!> \ingroup h5partf_model
-!! See \ref H5PartSetViewEmpty
-!! \return 0 on success or error code
-!<
-INTEGER*8 FUNCTION h5pt_setview_empty (filehandle)
-    INTEGER*8, INTENT(IN) :: filehandle !< the handle returned during file open
-END FUNCTION
-
 !> \ingroup h5partf_model
 !! See \ref H5PartResetView
 !! \return 0 on success or error code
diff --git a/src/H5PartAttribF.c b/src/H5PartAttribF.c
index 64c3e07..23d179e 100644
--- a/src/H5PartAttribF.c
+++ b/src/H5PartAttribF.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_r8 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_float64_t *data,
-	const h5part_float64_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_r8 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writefileattrib_r8 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writefileattrib_r8_, \
-	H5PT_WRITEFILEATTRIB_R8 )
+#define h5pt_readfileattrib_r8 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readfileattrib_r8_, \
+	H5PT_READFILEATTRIB_R8 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_r4 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_float32_t *data,
-	const h5part_float32_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_r4 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writefileattrib_r4 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writefileattrib_r4_, \
-	H5PT_WRITEFILEATTRIB_R4 )
+#define h5pt_readfileattrib_r4 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readfileattrib_r4_, \
+	H5PT_READFILEATTRIB_R4 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_i8 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writefileattrib_i8 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writefileattrib_i8_, \
-	H5PT_WRITEFILEATTRIB_I8 )
+#define h5pt_readfileattrib_i8 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readfileattrib_i8_, \
+	H5PT_READFILEATTRIB_I8 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_i4 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_int32_t *data,
-	const h5part_int32_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ h5pt_writefileattrib_i4 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writefileattrib_i4 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writefileattrib_i4_, \
-	H5PT_WRITEFILEATTRIB_I4 )
+#define h5pt_readfileattrib_i4 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readfileattrib_i4_, \
+	H5PT_READFILEATTRIB_I4 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_r8 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_float64_t *data,
-	const h5part_float64_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -243,9 +243,9 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_r8 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writestepattrib_r8 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writestepattrib_r8_, \
-	H5PT_WRITESTEPATTRIB_R8 )
+#define h5pt_readstepattrib_r8 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readstepattrib_r8_, \
+	H5PT_READSTEPATTRIB_R8 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_r4 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_float32_t *data,
-	const h5part_float32_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -294,9 +294,9 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_r4 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writestepattrib_r4 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writestepattrib_r4_, \
-	H5PT_WRITESTEPATTRIB_R4 )
+#define h5pt_readstepattrib_r4 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readstepattrib_r4_, \
+	H5PT_READSTEPATTRIB_R4 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -345,9 +345,9 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_i8 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writestepattrib_i8 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writestepattrib_i8_, \
-	H5PT_WRITESTEPATTRIB_I8 )
+#define h5pt_readstepattrib_i8 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readstepattrib_i8_, \
+	H5PT_READSTEPATTRIB_I8 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_i4 (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_int32_t *data,
-	const h5part_int32_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -396,9 +396,9 @@ h5pt_writestepattrib_i4 (
 }
 
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_writestepattrib_i4 F77NAME ( \
-	h5pt_writestepattrib_i4_, \
-	H5PT_WRITESTEPATTRIB_I4 )
+#define h5pt_readstepattrib_i4 F77NAME ( \
+	h5pt_readstepattrib_i4_, \
+	H5PT_READSTEPATTRIB_I4 )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t
diff --git a/src/H5PartF.c b/src/H5PartF.c
index 5267c41..2e7a32e 100755
--- a/src/H5PartF.c
+++ b/src/H5PartF.c
@@ -100,9 +100,6 @@
 #define h5pt_setview_indices F77NAME (					\
 					h5pt_setview_indices_,		\
 					H5PT_SETVIEW_INDICES )
-#define h5pt_setview_empty F77NAME (					\
-					h5pt_setview_empty_,		\
-					H5PT_SETVIEW_EMPTY )
 #define h5pt_resetview F77NAME (					\
 					h5pt_resetview_,		\
 					H5PT_RESETVIEW )
@@ -641,16 +638,6 @@ h5pt_setview_indices (
 	return H5PartSetViewIndices ( filehandle, indices, *nelem );
 }
 
-h5part_int64_t
-h5pt_setview_empty (
-	const h5part_int64_t *f
-	) {
-
-	H5PartFile *filehandle = (H5PartFile*)(size_t)*f;
-
-	return H5PartSetViewEmpty ( filehandle );
-}
-
 h5part_int64_t
 h5pt_resetview (
 	const h5part_int64_t *f
diff --git a/src/H5PartTypes.h b/src/H5PartTypes.h
index 2848338..af40372 100644
--- a/src/H5PartTypes.h
+++ b/src/H5PartTypes.h
@@ -19,11 +19,9 @@ __attribute__ ((format (printf, 3, 4)))
 #endif
  ;
 
-#ifndef MPI_INCLUDED
-#ifndef OPEN_MPI
+#ifndef PARALLEL_IO
 typedef unsigned long		MPI_Comm;
 #endif
-#endif
 
 #define H5PART_STEPNAME_LEN	64
 #define H5PART_DATANAME_LEN	64
diff --git a/src/generate-attr.py b/src/generate-attr.py
index 1a2946e..5e6a4aa 100755
--- a/src/generate-attr.py
+++ b/src/generate-attr.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ h5pt_write#LEVELLC#attrib_#TYPE_F90_ABV# (
 	h5part_int64_t *f,
 	const char *name,
 	const h5part_#TYPE_H5P#_t *data,
-	const h5part_#TYPE_H5P#_t *nelem,
+	const h5part_int64_t *nelem,
 	const int l_name
 	) {
 
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ END FUNCTION
 
 read_attr_fc = """
 #if ! defined(F77_NO_UNDERSCORE)
-#define h5pt_write#LEVELLC#attrib_#TYPE_F90_ABV# F77NAME ( \\
-	h5pt_write#LEVELLC#attrib_#TYPE_F90_ABV#_, \\
-	H5PT_WRITE#LEVELUC#ATTRIB_#TYPE_F90_ABVC# )
+#define h5pt_read#LEVELLC#attrib_#TYPE_F90_ABV# F77NAME ( \\
+	h5pt_read#LEVELLC#attrib_#TYPE_F90_ABV#_, \\
+	H5PT_READ#LEVELUC#ATTRIB_#TYPE_F90_ABVC# )
 #endif
 
 h5part_int64_t