cleaning up code

XdmfAttribute.cpp

@@ -72,12 +72,7 @@ XdmfAttribute::getItemTag() const
 std::string
 XdmfAttribute::getName() const
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mName;
-  }
+  return mName;
 }
 
 shared_ptr<const XdmfAttributeType>
@@ -130,12 +125,7 @@ XdmfAttribute::setCenter(const shared_ptr<const XdmfAttributeCenter> center)
 void
 XdmfAttribute::setName(const std::string & name)
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Name String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mName = name;
-  }
+  mName = name;
 }
 
 void

XdmfCurvilinearGrid.cpp

@@ -241,9 +241,6 @@ XdmfCurvilinearGrid::getDimensions()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfCurvilinearGrid::getDimensions() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Curvilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   return mImpl->mDimensions;
 }
 
@@ -275,9 +272,6 @@ XdmfCurvilinearGrid::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & ite
 void
 XdmfCurvilinearGrid::setDimensions(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> dimensions)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Curvilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->mDimensions = dimensions;
 }
 

XdmfGrid.cpp

@@ -73,12 +73,7 @@ XdmfGrid::getItemTag() const
 std::string
 XdmfGrid::getName() const
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
     return mName;
-  }
 }
 
 shared_ptr<XdmfTime>
@@ -148,12 +143,7 @@ XdmfGrid::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & itemProperties
 void
 XdmfGrid::setName(const std::string & name)
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-      XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Name String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mName = name;
-  }
+  mName = name;
 }
 
 void

XdmfRectilinearGrid.cpp

@@ -343,9 +343,6 @@ XdmfRectilinearGrid::getCoordinates(const unsigned int axisIndex)
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfRectilinearGrid::getCoordinates(const unsigned int axisIndex) const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Xdmf Rectilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   if(axisIndex < mImpl->mCoordinates.size()) {
     return mImpl->mCoordinates[axisIndex];
   }
@@ -361,9 +358,6 @@ XdmfRectilinearGrid::getCoordinates()
 const std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfArray> >
 XdmfRectilinearGrid::getCoordinates() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Xdmf Rectilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   return mImpl->mCoordinates;
 }
 
@@ -377,9 +371,6 @@ XdmfRectilinearGrid::getDimensions()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfRectilinearGrid::getDimensions() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Xdmf Rectilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   shared_ptr<XdmfArray> dimensions = XdmfArray::New();
   dimensions->reserve(mImpl->mCoordinates.size());
   for(std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfArray> >::const_iterator iter =
@@ -416,9 +407,6 @@ void
 XdmfRectilinearGrid::setCoordinates(const unsigned int axisIndex,
                                     const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> axisCoordinates)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Xdmf Rectilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   if(mImpl->mCoordinates.size() <= axisIndex) {
     mImpl->mCoordinates.reserve(axisIndex + 1);
     unsigned int numArraysToInsert =
@@ -433,8 +421,5 @@ XdmfRectilinearGrid::setCoordinates(const unsigned int axisIndex,
 void
 XdmfRectilinearGrid::setCoordinates(const std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfArray> > axesCoordinates)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Xdmf Rectilinear Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->mCoordinates = axesCoordinates;
 }

XdmfRegularGrid.cpp

@@ -371,9 +371,6 @@ XdmfRegularGrid::getBrickSize()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfRegularGrid::getBrickSize() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   return mImpl->mBrickSize;
 }
 
@@ -387,9 +384,6 @@ XdmfRegularGrid::getDimensions()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfRegularGrid::getDimensions() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   return mImpl->mDimensions;
 }
 
@@ -403,9 +397,6 @@ XdmfRegularGrid::getOrigin()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfArray>
 XdmfRegularGrid::getOrigin() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   return mImpl->mOrigin;
 }
 
@@ -440,26 +431,17 @@ XdmfRegularGrid::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & itemPro
 void
 XdmfRegularGrid::setBrickSize(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> brickSize)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->mBrickSize = brickSize;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfRegularGrid::setDimensions(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> dimensions)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->mDimensions = dimensions;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfRegularGrid::setOrigin(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> origin)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Regular Grid Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->mOrigin = origin;
 }

XdmfSet.cpp

@@ -67,12 +67,7 @@ XdmfSet::getItemTag() const
 std::string
 XdmfSet::getName() const
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mName;
-  }
+  return mName;
 }
 
 shared_ptr<const XdmfSetType>
@@ -117,12 +112,7 @@ XdmfSet::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & itemProperties,
 void
 XdmfSet::setName(const std::string & name)
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Name String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mName = name;
-  }
+  mName = name;
 }
 
 void

core/XdmfArray.cpp

@@ -706,23 +706,13 @@ XdmfArray::getItemTag() const
 std::string
 XdmfArray::getName() const
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mName;
-  }
+  return mName;
 }
 
 XdmfArray::ReadMode
 XdmfArray::getReadMode() const
 {
-  if (mReadMode) {
-    return mReadMode;
-  }
-  else {
-    return XdmfArray::Controller;
-  }
+  return mReadMode;
 }
 
 unsigned int
@@ -1367,12 +1357,7 @@ XdmfArray::setHeavyDataController(shared_ptr<XdmfHeavyDataController> newControl
 void
 XdmfArray::setName(const std::string & name)
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Name String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mName = name;
-  }
+  mName = name;
 }
 
 void

core/XdmfCoreReader.cpp

@@ -327,9 +327,6 @@ XdmfCoreReader::~XdmfCoreReader()
 shared_ptr<XdmfItem >
 XdmfCoreReader::parse(const std::string & lightData) const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Reader Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->parse(lightData);
   const xmlNodePtr currNode = xmlDocGetRootElement(mImpl->mDocument);
   std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> > toReturn;
@@ -348,9 +345,6 @@ XdmfCoreReader::parse(const std::string & lightData) const
 std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> >
 XdmfCoreReader::readItems(const std::string & filePath) const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Reader Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->openFile(filePath);
   const xmlNodePtr currNode = xmlDocGetRootElement(mImpl->mDocument);
   const std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> > toReturn =
@@ -373,9 +367,6 @@ std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> >
 XdmfCoreReader::read(const std::string & filePath,
                      const std::string & xPath) const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Reader Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   mImpl->openFile(filePath);
   std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> > toReturn = this->readPathObjects(xPath);
   mImpl->closeFile();
@@ -385,9 +376,6 @@ XdmfCoreReader::read(const std::string & filePath,
 std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> >
 XdmfCoreReader::readPathObjects(const std::string & xPath) const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Reader Internal Object is NULL");
-  }
   std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfItem> > toReturn;
   mImpl->readPathObjects(xPath, toReturn);
   return toReturn;

core/XdmfFunction.cpp

@@ -748,12 +748,7 @@ XdmfFunction::evaluateFunction(std::vector<shared_ptr<XdmfArray> > valueVector,
 std::string
 XdmfFunction::getExpression() const
 {
-  if (mExpression.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mExpression;
-  }
+  return mExpression;
 }
 
 std::string
@@ -1066,12 +1061,7 @@ XdmfFunction::removeVariable(std::string key)
 void
 XdmfFunction::setExpression(std::string newExpression)
 {
-  if (mExpression.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Expression String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mExpression = newExpression;
-  }
+  mExpression = newExpression;
 }
 
 shared_ptr<XdmfArray>

core/XdmfHDF5Writer.cpp

@@ -940,14 +940,7 @@ XdmfHDF5Writer::createController(const shared_ptr<XdmfHeavyDataController> & ref
 unsigned int
 XdmfHDF5Writer::getChunkSize() const
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    return mImpl->mChunkSize;
-  }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
-    return 0;
-  }
+  return mImpl->mChunkSize;
 }
 
 int
@@ -1000,13 +993,7 @@ XdmfHDF5Writer::getDataSetSize(const std::string & fileName, const std::string &
 void 
 XdmfHDF5Writer::closeFile()
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    mImpl->closeFile();
-  }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
-  }
+  mImpl->closeFile();
 }
 
 void 
@@ -1018,54 +1005,36 @@ XdmfHDF5Writer::openFile()
 void
 XdmfHDF5Writer::openFile(const int fapl)
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    mDataSetId = mImpl->openFile(mFilePath,
-                                 fapl,
-                                 mDataSetId);
-  }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
-  }
+  mDataSetId = mImpl->openFile(mFilePath,
+                               fapl,
+                               mDataSetId);
 }
 
 void
 XdmfHDF5Writer::setChunkSize(const unsigned int chunkSize)
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    mImpl->mChunkSize = chunkSize;
-  }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
-  }
+  mImpl->mChunkSize = chunkSize;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfHDF5Writer::visit(XdmfArray & array,
                       const shared_ptr<XdmfBaseVisitor> visitor)
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    mImpl->mDepth++;
-    std::set<const XdmfItem *>::iterator checkWritten = mImpl->mWrittenItems.find(&array);
-    if (checkWritten == mImpl->mWrittenItems.end() || array.getItemTag() == "DataItem") {
-      // If it has children send the writer to them too.
-      array.traverse(visitor);
-      if (array.isInitialized()) {
-        // Only do this if the object has not already been written
-        this->write(array, H5P_DEFAULT);
-        mImpl->mWrittenItems.insert(&array);
-      }
-    }
-    // If the object has already been written, just end, it already has the data
-    mImpl->mDepth--;
-    if(mImpl->mDepth <= 0) {
-      mImpl->mWrittenItems.clear();
+  mImpl->mDepth++;
+  std::set<const XdmfItem *>::iterator checkWritten = mImpl->mWrittenItems.find(&array);
+  if (checkWritten == mImpl->mWrittenItems.end() || array.getItemTag() == "DataItem") {
+    // If it has children send the writer to them too.
+    array.traverse(visitor);
+    if (array.isInitialized()) {
+      // Only do this if the object has not already been written
+      this->write(array, H5P_DEFAULT);
+      mImpl->mWrittenItems.insert(&array);
     }
   }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
+  // If the object has already been written, just end, it already has the data
+  mImpl->mDepth--;
+  if(mImpl->mDepth <= 0) {
+    mImpl->mWrittenItems.clear();
   }
 }
 
@@ -1074,24 +1043,18 @@ void
 XdmfHDF5Writer::visit(XdmfItem & item,
                       const shared_ptr<XdmfBaseVisitor> visitor)
 {
-  if (mImpl != NULL) {
-    mImpl->mDepth++;
-    // This is similar to the algorithm for writing XPaths
-    // shouldn't be a problem if XPaths are turned off because all this does is avoid writing an object twice
-    // if it was written once then all instances of the object should have the controller
-    std::set<const XdmfItem *>::iterator checkWritten = mImpl->mWrittenItems.find(&item);
-    if (checkWritten == mImpl->mWrittenItems.end()) {
-      mImpl->mWrittenItems.insert(&item);
-      item.traverse(visitor);
-    }
-    mImpl->mDepth--;
-    if(mImpl->mDepth <= 0) {
-      mImpl->mWrittenItems.clear();
-    }
+  mImpl->mDepth++;
+  // This is similar to the algorithm for writing XPaths
+  // shouldn't be a problem if XPaths are turned off because all this does is avoid writing an object twice
+  // if it was written once then all instances of the object should have the controller
+  std::set<const XdmfItem *>::iterator checkWritten = mImpl->mWrittenItems.find(&item);
+  if (checkWritten == mImpl->mWrittenItems.end()) {
+    mImpl->mWrittenItems.insert(&item);
+    item.traverse(visitor);
   }
-  else {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
+  mImpl->mDepth--;
+  if(mImpl->mDepth <= 0) {
+    mImpl->mWrittenItems.clear();
   }
 }
 
@@ -1100,11 +1063,6 @@ void
 XdmfHDF5Writer::write(XdmfArray & array,
                       const int fapl)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    // Fatal error if impl is null
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: HDF5 internal object is NULL");
-  }
-
   hid_t datatype = -1;
   bool closeDatatype = false;
 

core/XdmfHeavyDataController.cpp

@@ -48,12 +48,6 @@ XdmfHeavyDataController::getArrayOffset() const
   return mArrayStartOffset;
 }
 
-std::string
-XdmfHeavyDataController::getDescriptor() const
-{
-  return "";
-}
-
 std::vector<unsigned int> 
 XdmfHeavyDataController::getDimensions() const
 {

core/XdmfHeavyDataController.hpp

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public:
    *
    * @return    A string that contains relevant information for the controller
    */
-  virtual std::string getDescriptor() const;
+  virtual std::string getDescriptor() const = 0;
 
   /**
    * Get the dimensions of the heavy data set owned by this controller.

core/XdmfInformation.cpp

@@ -74,23 +74,13 @@ XdmfInformation::getItemTag() const
 std::string
 XdmfInformation::getKey() const
 {
-  if (mKey.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mKey;
-  }
+  return mKey;
 }
 
 std::string
 XdmfInformation::getValue() const
 {
-  if (mValue.c_str() == NULL) {
-    return "";
-  }
-  else {
-    return mValue;
-  }
+  return mValue;
 }
 
 void
@@ -140,23 +130,13 @@ XdmfInformation::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & itemPro
 void
 XdmfInformation::setKey(const std::string & key)
 {
-  if (mKey.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Key String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mKey = key;
-  }
+  mKey = key;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfInformation::setValue(const std::string & value)
 {
-  if (mValue.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Value String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mValue = value;
-  }
+  mValue = value;
 }
 
 void

core/XdmfSparseMatrix.cpp

@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@ const std::string XdmfSparseMatrix::ItemTag = "SparseMatrix";
 shared_ptr<XdmfArray>
 XdmfSparseMatrix::getColumnIndex()
 {
-  if (!mColumnIndex) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Column Index is Null");
-  }
   return mColumnIndex;
 }
 
@@ -111,18 +108,12 @@ XdmfSparseMatrix::getNumberRows() const
 shared_ptr<XdmfArray>
 XdmfSparseMatrix::getRowPointer()
 {
-  if (!mRowPointer) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Row Pointer is Null");
-  }
   return mRowPointer;
 }
 
 shared_ptr<XdmfArray>
 XdmfSparseMatrix::getValues()
 {
-  if (!mValues) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Values are Null");
-  }
   return mValues;
 }
 
@@ -222,38 +213,24 @@ XdmfSparseMatrix::populateItem(const std::map<std::string, std::string> & itemPr
 void
 XdmfSparseMatrix::setColumnIndex(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> columnIndex)
 {
-  if (!mColumnIndex) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Column Index is Null");
-  }
   mColumnIndex = columnIndex;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfSparseMatrix::setName(const std::string & name)
 {
-  if (mName.c_str() == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Internal Name String is a null reference");
-  }
-  else {
-    mName = name;
-  }
+  mName = name;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfSparseMatrix::setRowPointer(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> rowPointer)
 {
-  if (!mRowPointer) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Row Pointer is Null");
-  }
   mRowPointer = rowPointer;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfSparseMatrix::setValues(const shared_ptr<XdmfArray> values)
 {
-  if (!mValues) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Sparse Matrix Values are Null");
-  }
   mValues = values;
 }
 

core/XdmfWriter.cpp

@@ -207,116 +207,78 @@ XdmfWriter::getHeavyDataWriter()
 shared_ptr<const XdmfHeavyDataWriter>
 XdmfWriter::getHeavyDataWriter() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mHeavyDataWriter;
 }
 
 std::string
 XdmfWriter::getFilePath() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mXMLFilePath;
 }
 
 unsigned int
 XdmfWriter::getLightDataLimit() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mLightDataLimit;
 }
 
 XdmfWriter::Mode
 XdmfWriter::getMode() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mMode;
 }
 
 bool
 XdmfWriter::getWriteXPaths() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mWriteXPaths;
 }
 
 bool
 XdmfWriter::getXPathParse() const
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   return mImpl->mXPathParse;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setDocumentTitle(std::string title)
-{  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
+{
   mImpl->mDocumentTitle = title;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setHeavyDataWriter(shared_ptr<XdmfHeavyDataWriter> heavyDataWriter)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mHeavyDataWriter = heavyDataWriter;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setLightDataLimit(const unsigned int numValues)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mLightDataLimit = numValues;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setMode(const Mode mode)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mMode = mode;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setVersionString(std::string version)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mVersionString = version;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setWriteXPaths(const bool writeXPaths)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mWriteXPaths = writeXPaths;
 }
 
 void
 XdmfWriter::setXPathParse(const bool xPathParse)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {
-    XdmfError::message(XdmfError::FATAL, "Error: Writer Internal Object is Null");
-  }
   mImpl->mXPathParse = xPathParse;
 }
 
@@ -324,9 +286,6 @@ void
 XdmfWriter::visit(XdmfArray & array,
                   const shared_ptr<XdmfBaseVisitor> visitor)
 {
-  if (mImpl == NULL) {