From 2d5439964a09e5ae3742371107a95e7111065126 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:27:37 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 01/80] #32: Basic prototype callback addition

---
 lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py | 36 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
index fb1546d..76c7fc7 100644
--- a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
    cube.attributes['grid_staggering'].
 
 """
+import glob
 import ants
 import iris
 import mule
@@ -50,12 +51,16 @@ def __init__(self, grid_staggering):
 
     def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         """
-        ANTS callback to add grid staggering and maintain pseudo level order.
+        ANTS callback to add grid staggering, maintain pseudo level order.
 
         Used as a callback when loading fields files for all ants.io.load
         operations (e.g. :func:`~ants.io.load.load`, :func:`~ants.io.load.load_cube`
         etc).
 
+        This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
+        filename.<metadata> and append the contents of those files to the cube
+        attributes.
+
         Parameters
         ----------
         cube : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
@@ -68,8 +73,32 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
 
         """
         cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = self.grid_staggering[filename]
+        metadata_files = glob.glob(filename+".*")
+        if metadata_files:
+            self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
         super(_CallbackUM, self).__call__(cube, field, filename)
 
+    def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
+        """
+        Reads in the contents of each file and adds an attribute to the cube with the
+        name of the file.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        metadata_files: list
+            The list of filenames that contain metadata for the cube.
+        cube : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
+            The cube being loaded.
+
+        """
+        for metadata_file in metadata_files:
+            open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
+            metadata = open_file.readlines()
+            open_file.close()
+            file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
+            attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
+            cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
+
 
 class _IrisPPFieldDataProvider(object):
     def __init__(self, ppfield):
@@ -345,8 +374,13 @@ def load_cubes(*args, **kwargs):
     :func:`iris.fileformats.um.load_cubes`
 
     """
+    #change this function
     grid_staggering = _fetch_grid_staggering_from_file(args[0])
     args, kwargs = pp._add_callback(_CallbackUM(grid_staggering), *args, **kwargs)
+    # here
+    #get the filepath - args[0]? search for files of the same name +.
+    #load in contents as attribute dictionary - in callback?
+    # add to cube
     return iris.fileformats.um.load_cubes(*args, **kwargs)
 
 

From 116ddb20866c4b730740c5065ee271f983080243 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:23:25 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 02/80] #32: update pytest tempdir config

---
 pyproject.toml | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)

diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ab7ed41..e5cbaf7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ skip = ".git"
 # Configure pytest.
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 addopts = "--durations=5"
+tmp_path_retention_policy = "none"
 filterwarnings = [
     # During unittesting only, treat all warnings as errors by default:
     'error',

From ab3f3cca5d127d604f239bfa1f701790f11faf52 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:12:41 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 03/80] #32: Working prototype

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 87 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 87 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 6aa48d9..46d732b 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 """
 import copy
 import warnings
+import glob
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import wraps
 
@@ -354,6 +355,23 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 "iris.FUTURE.datum_support flag.",
                 FutureWarning,
             )
+            user_callback = None
+            if len(args)>1:
+                user_callback = args[1]
+            else:
+                if 'callback' in kwargs:
+                    user_callback = kwargs.pop('callback')
+            if 'ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs:
+                    ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop('ignore_metadata_files')
+                    #Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
+                    if ignore_metadata_files == False:
+                        args, kwargs = _add_metadata_file_callback(user_callback, args, kwargs)
+                        #_create_callabck_metadata
+                        #do the create callback function and append to callbacks
+                        # (copy pp callbak if user callback exists then use the existing
+                        # pp callback code to append that to the ants callback)
+            else:
+                args, kwargs = _add_callback(_CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs)
             # Use context manager to avoid permanently modifying iris behaviour.
             with ants_format_agent():
                 cubes = func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -368,6 +386,75 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
 
     return load_function
 
+def _add_metadata_file_callback(user_callback, *args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    have a seperate function for loading metadata
+    if user callback is not none
+    do an update the same way as in the pp file
+    copy pp callback to be the same and add user one to run after this
+
+    """
+    args, kwargs = _add_callback(_CallbackMetadata(), *args, **kwargs)
+    return args, kwargs
+
+def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Adds both the ants callback and the user provided callback (if any) to the
+    load.
+
+    """
+    args = list(args)
+    if len(args) == 1:
+        kwargs['callback'] = callback
+    else:
+        args[2] = callback
+    args = tuple(args)
+    return args, kwargs
+
+class _CallbackMetadata(object):
+    """Callback for collecting metadata from sidecar files.
+    
+    This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
+    filename.<metadata> and append the contents of those files to the cube
+    attributes.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, user_callback):
+        self._user_callback = user_callback
+
+    def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
+        """
+        
+        """
+        metadata_filenames = ''.join([filename, ".*"])
+        metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
+        if metadata_files != []:
+            self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
+        if self._user_callback is not None:
+            self._user_callback(cube, field, filename)
+
+    def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
+        """
+        Reads in the contents of each file and adds an attribute to the cube with the
+        name of the file.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        metadata_files: list
+            The list of filenames that contain metadata for the cube.
+        cube : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
+            The cube being loaded.
+
+        """
+        for metadata_file in metadata_files:
+            open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
+            metadata = open_file.readlines()
+            open_file.close()
+            file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
+            attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
+            cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
+            with open('written_license.txt', 'a')as file:
+                file.write(''.join(metadata))
+
 
 def load_cube(*args, **kwargs):
     """

From 9af1590eaa1f9d1537fe8efc56c95ec9088d3fb0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:00:45 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 04/80] #32: Working prototype with improved logic

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 43 ++++++++++++++++++-------------------------
 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 46d732b..605cac0 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -355,22 +355,19 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 "iris.FUTURE.datum_support flag.",
                 FutureWarning,
             )
-            user_callback = None
-            if len(args)>1:
-                user_callback = args[1]
-            else:
-                if 'callback' in kwargs:
-                    user_callback = kwargs.pop('callback')
+            ignore_metadata_files = False
             if 'ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs:
                     ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop('ignore_metadata_files')
-                    #Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
-                    if ignore_metadata_files == False:
-                        args, kwargs = _add_metadata_file_callback(user_callback, args, kwargs)
-                        #_create_callabck_metadata
-                        #do the create callback function and append to callbacks
-                        # (copy pp callbak if user callback exists then use the existing
-                        # pp callback code to append that to the ants callback)
-            else:
+            if ignore_metadata_files == False:
+                #Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
+                user_callback = None
+                if len(args)>1:
+                    user_callback = args[1]
+                else:
+                    if 'callback' in kwargs:
+                        user_callback = kwargs.pop('callback')
+                print("first args: ", args)
+                print("first kwargs: ", kwargs)
                 args, kwargs = _add_callback(_CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs)
             # Use context manager to avoid permanently modifying iris behaviour.
             with ants_format_agent():
@@ -386,17 +383,6 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
 
     return load_function
 
-def _add_metadata_file_callback(user_callback, *args, **kwargs):
-    """
-    have a seperate function for loading metadata
-    if user callback is not none
-    do an update the same way as in the pp file
-    copy pp callback to be the same and add user one to run after this
-
-    """
-    args, kwargs = _add_callback(_CallbackMetadata(), *args, **kwargs)
-    return args, kwargs
-
 def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Adds both the ants callback and the user provided callback (if any) to the
@@ -404,11 +390,17 @@ def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
 
     """
     args = list(args)
+    print(args)
+    print("len args: ", len(args))
     if len(args) == 1:
         kwargs['callback'] = callback
+    elif len(args) == 2:
+        args[1] = callback
     else:
         args[2] = callback
     args = tuple(args)
+    print("with first callback args: ", args)
+    print("with first callback kwargs: ", kwargs)
     return args, kwargs
 
 class _CallbackMetadata(object):
@@ -425,6 +417,7 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         """
         
         """
+        print("callback has been added")
         metadata_filenames = ''.join([filename, ".*"])
         metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
         if metadata_files != []:

From dff558e3ad81a0058e82963cd2870158bd84029a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:35:14 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 05/80] #32: Update argument handler to correctly pass in user
 callback

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 9 ++++-----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 605cac0..84c3339 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -361,8 +361,8 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
             if ignore_metadata_files == False:
                 #Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
                 user_callback = None
-                if len(args)>1:
-                    user_callback = args[1]
+                if len(args)==3:
+                    user_callback = args[2]
                 else:
                     if 'callback' in kwargs:
                         user_callback = kwargs.pop('callback')
@@ -394,9 +394,7 @@ def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
     print("len args: ", len(args))
     if len(args) == 1:
         kwargs['callback'] = callback
-    elif len(args) == 2:
-        args[1] = callback
-    else:
+    elif len(args) == 3:
         args[2] = callback
     args = tuple(args)
     print("with first callback args: ", args)
@@ -423,6 +421,7 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         if metadata_files != []:
             self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
         if self._user_callback is not None:
+            print("should have added user callback")
             self._user_callback(cube, field, filename)
 
     def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):

From de3d650d10c4c3cba312ba7b47eb98962d52c9ba Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:02:33 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 06/80] #32: revert changes to the ancil loading

---
 lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py | 34 --------------------------
 1 file changed, 34 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
index 76c7fc7..abc31bc 100644
--- a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         operations (e.g. :func:`~ants.io.load.load`, :func:`~ants.io.load.load_cube`
         etc).
 
-        This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
-        filename.<metadata> and append the contents of those files to the cube
-        attributes.
-
         Parameters
         ----------
         cube : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
@@ -73,33 +69,8 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
 
         """
         cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = self.grid_staggering[filename]
-        metadata_files = glob.glob(filename+".*")
-        if metadata_files:
-            self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
         super(_CallbackUM, self).__call__(cube, field, filename)
 
-    def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
-        """
-        Reads in the contents of each file and adds an attribute to the cube with the
-        name of the file.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        metadata_files: list
-            The list of filenames that contain metadata for the cube.
-        cube : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
-            The cube being loaded.
-
-        """
-        for metadata_file in metadata_files:
-            open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
-            metadata = open_file.readlines()
-            open_file.close()
-            file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
-            attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
-            cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
-
-
 class _IrisPPFieldDataProvider(object):
     def __init__(self, ppfield):
         self.ppfield = ppfield
@@ -374,13 +345,8 @@ def load_cubes(*args, **kwargs):
     :func:`iris.fileformats.um.load_cubes`
 
     """
-    #change this function
     grid_staggering = _fetch_grid_staggering_from_file(args[0])
     args, kwargs = pp._add_callback(_CallbackUM(grid_staggering), *args, **kwargs)
-    # here
-    #get the filepath - args[0]? search for files of the same name +.
-    #load in contents as attribute dictionary - in callback?
-    # add to cube
     return iris.fileformats.um.load_cubes(*args, **kwargs)
 
 

From 877a88ebcb1c1ead0ef658a691de91fab14068c8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:52:05 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 07/80] #32: Add etsts for new loading functionality

---
 lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py        |  1 +
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           | 43 ++++++----
 .../tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py   |  5 +-
 .../tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py    | 83 +++++++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 113 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py

diff --git a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
index abc31bc..056b6cf 100644
--- a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = self.grid_staggering[filename]
         super(_CallbackUM, self).__call__(cube, field, filename)
 
+
 class _IrisPPFieldDataProvider(object):
     def __init__(self, ppfield):
         self.ppfield = ppfield
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 84c3339..6d760e2 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -356,19 +356,27 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 FutureWarning,
             )
             ignore_metadata_files = False
-            if 'ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs:
-                    ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop('ignore_metadata_files')
+            if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
+                ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
+            print(
+                "ignore metadata files: ",
+                ignore_metadata_files,
+                type(ignore_metadata_files),
+            )
             if ignore_metadata_files == False:
-                #Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
+                print("doing the thing")
+                # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
                 user_callback = None
-                if len(args)==3:
+                if len(args) == 3:
                     user_callback = args[2]
                 else:
-                    if 'callback' in kwargs:
-                        user_callback = kwargs.pop('callback')
+                    if "callback" in kwargs:
+                        user_callback = kwargs.pop("callback")
                 print("first args: ", args)
                 print("first kwargs: ", kwargs)
-                args, kwargs = _add_callback(_CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs)
+                args, kwargs = _add_callback(
+                    _CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs
+                )
             # Use context manager to avoid permanently modifying iris behaviour.
             with ants_format_agent():
                 cubes = func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -383,40 +391,39 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
 
     return load_function
 
+
 def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Adds both the ants callback and the user provided callback (if any) to the
     load.
-
     """
     args = list(args)
-    print(args)
-    print("len args: ", len(args))
     if len(args) == 1:
-        kwargs['callback'] = callback
+        kwargs["callback"] = callback
     elif len(args) == 3:
         args[2] = callback
     args = tuple(args)
-    print("with first callback args: ", args)
-    print("with first callback kwargs: ", kwargs)
     return args, kwargs
 
+
 class _CallbackMetadata(object):
     """Callback for collecting metadata from sidecar files.
-    
+
     This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
     filename.<metadata> and append the contents of those files to the cube
     attributes.
     """
+
     def __init__(self, user_callback):
         self._user_callback = user_callback
 
     def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         """
-        
+        The method that runs when iris runs the callback. Collects the filenames and
+        will run the user callback
         """
         print("callback has been added")
-        metadata_filenames = ''.join([filename, ".*"])
+        metadata_filenames = "".join([filename, ".*"])
         metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
         if metadata_files != []:
             self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
@@ -444,8 +451,8 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
             file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
             attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
             cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
-            with open('written_license.txt', 'a')as file:
-                file.write(''.join(metadata))
+            with open("written_license.txt", "a") as file:
+                file.write("".join(metadata))
 
 
 def load_cube(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
index 628299d..a93d964 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 # See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
 
 import unittest.mock as mock
+import tempfile
+import os
+import pytest
 
 import ants.tests
 import iris
@@ -18,7 +21,7 @@ def setUp(self):
     def call(self):
         callback = CallbackPP()
         callback.append_user_callback(self.user_callback)
-        callback(self.cube, mock.sentinel.field, mock.sentinel.filename)
+        callback(self.cube, mock.sentinel.field, "filename")
 
     def test__freeze_pseudo_level_is_called_if_pseudo_level_present(self):
         pseudo_level = iris.coords.DimCoord([0], long_name="pseudo_level")
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50a3c5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+"""
+Includes tests for end-to-end functionality of CallbackMetadata as well as calling the
+class directly.
+"""
+
+import ants.io.load
+import iris
+import pytest
+import unittest.mock as mock
+
+
+def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that metadata files are found and added to the cube's attributes."""
+    # The text that would be in a license file
+    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
+
+    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
+    """
+    # How the text should look while stored in an array
+    loaded_license = [
+        "This is the license of the cube.\n",
+        "\n",
+        "    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.\n",
+        "    ",
+    ]
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+    assert loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"] == loaded_license
+
+
+def test_no_metadata_loaded(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that metadata files are not loaded when the option is turned off."""
+    # The text that would be in a license file
+    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
+
+    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
+    """
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+        temporary_cube_path, ignore_metadata_files=True
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"]
+
+
+def test_user_callback_added():
+    """Test that on ititialisation, the user's function will be set."""
+
+    def user_callback(cube, field, filename):
+        print("a user's callback, passed in")
+
+    class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(user_callback)
+    assert class_instance._user_callback == user_callback
+
+
+def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_kwargs(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that when passed a callback using a keyword argument,
+    the callback is parsed correctly."""
+    mock_callback = mock.Mock()
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path, callback=mock_callback)
+    mock_callback.assert_called()
+
+
+def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_positional_args(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that when passed a callback using a keyword argument,
+    the callback is parsed correctly."""
+    mock_callback = mock.Mock()
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path, None, mock_callback)
+    mock_callback.assert_called()

From fa39ac105e20ddc8bab7e7405a6921541703dda2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:53:50 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 08/80] #32: Revert changes to ancil/__init__.py

---
 lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py | 3 +--
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
index 056b6cf..fb1546d 100644
--- a/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ants/fileformats/ancil/__init__.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
    cube.attributes['grid_staggering'].
 
 """
-import glob
 import ants
 import iris
 import mule
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ def __init__(self, grid_staggering):
 
     def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         """
-        ANTS callback to add grid staggering, maintain pseudo level order.
+        ANTS callback to add grid staggering and maintain pseudo level order.
 
         Used as a callback when loading fields files for all ants.io.load
         operations (e.g. :func:`~ants.io.load.load`, :func:`~ants.io.load.load_cube`

From 4c354b716c13d8b84d8781da724eb73b8dcde5d9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:57:47 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 09/80] #32: Revert pp tests

---
 lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
index a93d964..4fd5b03 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def setUp(self):
     def call(self):
         callback = CallbackPP()
         callback.append_user_callback(self.user_callback)
-        callback(self.cube, mock.sentinel.field, "filename")
+        callback(self.cube, mock.sentinel.field, mock.sentinel.filename)
 
     def test__freeze_pseudo_level_is_called_if_pseudo_level_present(self):
         pseudo_level = iris.coords.DimCoord([0], long_name="pseudo_level")

From 3dc860b794ead77f0365772e8be49e9586ef7d06 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:58:11 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 10/80] #32: Remove unused imports

---
 lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py | 3 ---
 1 file changed, 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
index 4fd5b03..628299d 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/fileformats/pp/test_CallbackPP.py
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
 # See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
 
 import unittest.mock as mock
-import tempfile
-import os
-import pytest
 
 import ants.tests
 import iris

From da8e951718cffbfc4cc03f8576758e443651ddc3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:19:40 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 11/80] #32: Commit to save work on adding new load
 functionality to command line applications

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py           |  9 +++++----
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py   |  8 ++++++--
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py |  9 ++++++++-
 lib/ants/command_parse.py            | 12 ++++++++++++
 lib/ants/io/load.py                  |  2 ++
 5 files changed, 33 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 60deaa1..84e4f54 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -37,16 +37,16 @@
 import iris
 
 
-def load_data(source):
+def load_data(source, ignore_metadata_files):
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings(
             "ignore", "NetCDF default loading", iris._deprecation.IrisDeprecation
         )
-        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
+        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     return cubes
 
 
-def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only):
+def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata_files):
     """
     Convert specified source file to an ancillary.
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only):
         written to an ancillary.
 
     """
-    source_cubes = load_data(source_path)
+    source_cubes = load_data(source_path, ignore_metadata_files)
     if grid_staggering is not None:
         for source_cube in source_cubes:
             source_cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = grid_staggering
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.output,
         args.grid_staggering,
         args.netcdf_only,
+        args.ignore_metadata_files
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 9bb7cea..41333ab 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 def load_data(
     primary_source,
+    ignore_metadata_files,
     alternate_source=None,
     validity_polygon_filepath=None,
     target_mask_filepath=None,
@@ -56,12 +57,12 @@ def load_data(
         respectively.
 
     """
-    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(primary_source)
+    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     if begin is not None:
         primary_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(primary_cubes, begin, end)
     alternate_cubes = None
     if alternate_source:
-        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(alternate_source)
+        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(alternate_source,ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
         if begin is not None:
             alternate_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(alternate_cubes, begin, end)
 
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ def main(
     end,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
+    ignore_metadata_files
 ):
     """
     Perform merge and fill operation on the provided sources.
@@ -159,6 +161,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
+        ignore_metadata_files
     )
 
     result = primary_cubes
@@ -251,6 +254,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         end=args.end,
         netcdf_only=args.netcdf_only,
         search_method=args.search_method,
+        ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index 7f6bd86..01fe332 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -37,13 +37,14 @@
 
 def load_data(
     source,
+    ignore_metadata_files,
     target_grid=None,
     target_landseamask=None,
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
 ):
-    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
+    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ def main(
     save_ukca,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
+    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     General regrid application top level call function.
@@ -118,6 +120,9 @@ def main(
         provided source(s) consistent with the provided land sea mask.
         This should only be provided if a target land sea mask is also
         provided via target_lsm_path.
+    invert_mask : :obj:`bool`, optional
+        When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
+        and added as attributes to the cube.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -132,6 +137,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
+        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
     if ants.utils.cube._is_ugrid(target_cube):
         raise ValueError(
@@ -210,6 +216,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.save_ukca,
         args.netcdf_only,
         args.search_method,
+        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/command_parse.py b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
index 2a3a01c..3a58ed3 100644
--- a/lib/ants/command_parse.py
+++ b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             sources <SOURCE1> <SOURCE2> ... <SOURCEN>     Source data path(s).
             --output <OUTPUT>, -o <OUTPUT>                Output filepath
             --ants-config <ANTS_CONFIG>                   Configuration path.
+            --ignore-metadata-files                       Stops the application from
+                                                          searching for metadata files
+                                                          with the same name as the
+                                                          source and loading them
+                                                          alongside the source.
 
         Additionally, there are standardised optional arguments and these are
         activated by passing the relevant keyword argument.  See 'Parameters'
@@ -171,6 +176,13 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             help="Only write out a netCDF file.",
             required=False,
         )
+        self.add_argument(
+            "--ignore-metadata-files",
+            action="store_true",
+            help="Turn off the automatic loading of metadata files alongside source "
+            "files",
+            required=False,
+        )
         if time_constraints:
             self.add_argument(
                 "--begin",
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index ee54bc4..155c2f7 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -357,6 +357,8 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 FutureWarning,
             )
             ignore_metadata_files = False
+            print("args: ", args)
+            print("kwargs: ", kwargs)
             if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
                 ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
             print(

From 79793eed4dd947f9a8ed7095c56a23a8a26bb9cf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2026 12:42:58 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 12/80] #32: Working rose stem with new load functionality

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py                 |  7 ++++---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                                  | 12 ++++++++----
 rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf               |  2 +-
 rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf   |  2 +-
 .../ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf |  2 +-
 .../ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf  |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf                   |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf                    |  2 +-
 rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf     |  2 +-
 .../rose-app.conf                                    |  2 +-
 10 files changed, 20 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index 01fe332..94ec6e1 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -37,18 +37,19 @@
 
 def load_data(
     source,
-    ignore_metadata_files,
     target_grid=None,
     target_landseamask=None,
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
+    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
     source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
-        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(target_grid)
+        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(target_grid,
+                                             ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     else:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_landsea_mask(
             target_landseamask, land_fraction_threshold
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ def main(
         provided source(s) consistent with the provided land sea mask.
         This should only be provided if a target land sea mask is also
         provided via target_lsm_path.
-    invert_mask : :obj:`bool`, optional
+    ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
         When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
         and added as attributes to the cube.
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 155c2f7..5dca7d9 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -232,18 +232,18 @@ def load_landsea_mask(filename, land_threshold=None):
     """
     try:
         # Is it a landsea mask field?
-        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask")
+        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True)
         lbm = lbm.copy(lbm.data.astype("bool", copy=False))
     except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
         try:
             # Is it a land fraction field?
-            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction")
+            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction",ignore_metadata_files=True)
             lbm = land_fraction.copy(land_fraction.data > land_threshold)
             lbm.rename("land_binary_mask")
         except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
             # It looks like we are wanting to extract a landsea mask from some
             # other field.
-            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename)[0]
+            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename, ignore_metadata_files=True)[0]
             y = cube.coord(axis="y")
             x = cube.coord(axis="x")
             cube = cube.slices((y, x)).next()
@@ -357,9 +357,13 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 FutureWarning,
             )
             ignore_metadata_files = False
+            print("the func: ", func)
             print("args: ", args)
             print("kwargs: ", kwargs)
-            if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
+            print("boo")
+            print('ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs)
+            if 'ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs:
+                print("its here!!!")
                 ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
             print(
                 "ignore metadata files: ",
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
index 7ab4ed0..60f9ee4 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ history=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_ID}@${ROSE_SUITE_REVISION}:${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_2anc.py \
        =${source} --grid-staggering ${grid_staggering} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG}
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
index 4f37bbf..ac0bbe0 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [command]
-default=ants-launch ancil_create_shapefile.py ${SHAPEFILE_JSON} ${OUTPUT}
+default=ants-launch ancil_create_shapefile.py ${SHAPEFILE_JSON} ${OUTPUT} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 OUTPUT=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 5d8e792..88b6cc2 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} -o ${output} \
        =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --invert-mask \
-       =--search-method ${search_method}
+       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 search_method=${CYLC_TASK_PARAM_fill}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
index 4db75a3..bd71de6 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
index 23bc985..78e6087 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 9a4c4ba..5a7fd0e 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
index fb1a949..778e84f 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end}
+       =${begin} ${end} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
index 6f166bd..ad44222 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf

From 119dfcf8154e12e4857b6f30592513ff71a80f69 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2026 13:16:50 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 13/80] #32: Run black

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py           |  2 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py   | 14 +++++++++-----
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py |  9 ++++++---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                  | 12 ++++++++----
 4 files changed, 24 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 84e4f54..48a6f05 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.output,
         args.grid_staggering,
         args.netcdf_only,
-        args.ignore_metadata_files
+        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 41333ab..4f15bd1 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -57,12 +57,16 @@ def load_data(
         respectively.
 
     """
-    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
+    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+        primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+    )
     if begin is not None:
         primary_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(primary_cubes, begin, end)
     alternate_cubes = None
     if alternate_source:
-        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(alternate_source,ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
+        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+            alternate_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+        )
         if begin is not None:
             alternate_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(alternate_cubes, begin, end)
 
@@ -97,7 +101,7 @@ def main(
     end,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
-    ignore_metadata_files
+    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     Perform merge and fill operation on the provided sources.
@@ -161,7 +165,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
-        ignore_metadata_files
+        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
     result = primary_cubes
@@ -254,7 +258,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         end=args.end,
         netcdf_only=args.netcdf_only,
         search_method=args.search_method,
-        ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files
+        ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index 94ec6e1..dd84790 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -44,12 +44,15 @@ def load_data(
     end=None,
     ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
-    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
+    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+        source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+    )
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
-        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(target_grid,
-                                             ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
+        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(
+            target_grid, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+        )
     else:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_landsea_mask(
             target_landseamask, land_fraction_threshold
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 5dca7d9..1a69025 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -232,12 +232,16 @@ def load_landsea_mask(filename, land_threshold=None):
     """
     try:
         # Is it a landsea mask field?
-        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True)
+        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+            filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True
+        )
         lbm = lbm.copy(lbm.data.astype("bool", copy=False))
     except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
         try:
             # Is it a land fraction field?
-            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction",ignore_metadata_files=True)
+            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+                filename, "vegetation_area_fraction", ignore_metadata_files=True
+            )
             lbm = land_fraction.copy(land_fraction.data > land_threshold)
             lbm.rename("land_binary_mask")
         except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
@@ -361,8 +365,8 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
             print("args: ", args)
             print("kwargs: ", kwargs)
             print("boo")
-            print('ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs)
-            if 'ignore_metadata_files' in kwargs:
+            print("ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs)
+            if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
                 print("its here!!!")
                 ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
             print(

From 04b3f9c2359f3c9d4ce2c4149c87b9533a390d7e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2026 13:17:23 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 14/80] #32: Remove unneeded argument flag

---
 rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
index ac0bbe0..4f37bbf 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_create_shapefile/rose-app.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [command]
-default=ants-launch ancil_create_shapefile.py ${SHAPEFILE_JSON} ${OUTPUT} --ignore-metadata-files
+default=ants-launch ancil_create_shapefile.py ${SHAPEFILE_JSON} ${OUTPUT}
 
 [env]
 OUTPUT=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp

From abcdeae83cc29145609835d1739c8618fec20f9e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2026 09:38:27 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 15/80] #32: Fix to work with unittests

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py            |  2 +-
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           |  2 ++
 .../tests/command_parse/test_integration.py   | 34 +++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 4f15bd1..3fee185 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
 
 def load_data(
     primary_source,
-    ignore_metadata_files,
     alternate_source=None,
     validity_polygon_filepath=None,
     target_mask_filepath=None,
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
+    ignore_metadata_files=None
 ):
     """
     Load the necessary data for performing a merge and fill operation.
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 1a69025..0753226 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -434,6 +434,8 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         will run the user callback
         """
         print("callback has been added")
+        if type(filename) is list:
+            filename = filename[0]
         metadata_filenames = "".join([filename, ".*"])
         metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
         if metadata_files != []:
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
index 31105ab..cd5f50c 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.addCleanup(patch.stop)
 
     def test_default_args(self):
+        """Tests that the default arguments are as expected."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ def path_check(filename, **kwargs):
             output="/path/to/output",
             sources=["/path/to/source"],
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ def test_add_args(self):
             output="/path/to/output",
             ants_config=None,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
             new_arg="new_arg_value",
         )
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -150,6 +153,7 @@ def test_invalid_output_same_file(self):
         self.mock_dirpath_writeable.assert_called_once()
 
     def test_time_constraint_args(self):
+        """Tests that using time constraint arguments will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -176,11 +180,13 @@ def test_time_constraint_args(self):
             begin=2016,
             end=2021,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
 
     def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
+        """Tests that using time constraint flags will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -207,6 +213,7 @@ def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
             begin=1990,
             end=1996,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -265,3 +272,30 @@ def test_both_time_constraints_exist(self):
             parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True, time_constraints=True)
             with self.assertRaises(exceptions.TimeConstraintMissingException):
                 parser.parse_args()
+
+    def test_set_ignore_metadata_files_flag(self):
+        "Tests that ignore_metadata_files will be set to True when passed in."
+        new = [
+            "program",
+            "/path/to/source",
+            "--target-lsm",
+            "/path/to/lsm",
+            "-o",
+            "/path/to/output",
+            "--ignore-metadata-files"
+        ]
+        with mock.patch("sys.argv", new=new):
+            parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True)
+            args = parser.parse_args()
+
+        target_args = argparse.Namespace(
+            ants_config=None,
+            land_threshold=None,
+            target_lsm="/path/to/lsm",
+            output="/path/to/output",
+            sources=["/path/to/source"],
+            netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=True,
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
+        self.assertEqual(args, target_args)

From 212dd0bb47e3f685fe666f735ee81a332432b037 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2026 09:40:09 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 16/80] #32: Add working tests

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           | 29 ++++++++--
 .../tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py    | 57 +++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 80 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 0753226..beed200 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
             filename = filename[0]
         metadata_filenames = "".join([filename, ".*"])
         metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
+        print("m_file: ", metadata_files)
         if metadata_files != []:
             self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
         if self._user_callback is not None:
@@ -457,15 +458,31 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
             The cube being loaded.
 
         """
+        valid_metadata_names = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
+        other_license= ["lisense", "licence", "lisence"]
         for metadata_file in metadata_files:
-            open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
-            metadata = open_file.readlines()
-            open_file.close()
             file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
             attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
-            cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
-            with open("written_license.txt", "a") as file:
-                file.write("".join(metadata))
+            if attribute_name in other_license:
+                warnings.warn(f"The attribute name {attribute_name} has been changed to "
+                              "license, in line with ANTS working practices.", category=UserWarning)
+                attribute_name = "license"
+            if attribute_name not in valid_metadata_names:
+                warnings.warn(f"Attribute {attribute_name} is not a valid metadata file "
+                              "name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution "
+                              "and restrictions.", category=UserWarning)
+            else:
+                print("cube attributes", cube.attributes)
+                if attribute_name in cube.attributes:
+                    raise AttributeError(f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "
+                                "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
+                                "--ignore-metadata-files flag.")
+                open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
+                metadata = open_file.readlines()
+                open_file.close()
+                cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
+                with open("written_license.txt", "a") as file:
+                    file.write("".join(metadata))
 
 
 def load_cube(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 50a3c5b..71b71dd 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class directly.
 import iris
 import pytest
 import unittest.mock as mock
+import warnings
 
 
 def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
@@ -81,3 +82,59 @@ def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_positional_args(tmp_path):
     iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
     ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path, None, mock_callback)
     mock_callback.assert_called()
+
+def test_existing_metadata_error(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that an error is raised when a cube has existing metadata attributes."""
+    license_text = "a license"
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    test_cube.attributes['license'] = 'an existing license'
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.license"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    error_message="The license is already an attribute on the cube. To ignore metadata files, use the --ignore-metadata-files flag."
+
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=error_message):
+        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+
+def test_misspelt_license_warning(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that different spellings for license will raise a warning."""
+    license_text = "a license"
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+
+    warning_message = "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS working practices."
+    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
+        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+
+def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a different spelling of license will add a license attribute."""
+    license_text = "a license"
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    # ignore warning that will be raised
+    warning_message = "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS working practices."
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        warnings.filterwarnings(
+            "ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning
+        )
+        loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+        assert loaded_cube.attributes['license'] == ['a license']
+
+def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that an invalid metadata name will not be added as an attribute."""
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.invalid-name"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(" ", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    warning_message = "Attribute invalid-name is not a valid metadata file name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution and restrictions."
+    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
+        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)

From ae8aab899e1e69ea5c648b5e253a6afa2b6047b2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <108924122+mo-tgeddes@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:46:54 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 17/80] #32: Run stylechecks

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py            |  2 +-
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           | 33 +++++++++------
 .../tests/command_parse/test_integration.py   |  4 +-
 .../tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py    | 41 ++++++++++++++-----
 4 files changed, 54 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 3fee185..4776891 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def load_data(
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
-    ignore_metadata_files=None
+    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
     """
     Load the necessary data for performing a merge and fill operation.
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index beed200..6a4a801 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@
 
 """
 import copy
-import warnings
 import glob
+import warnings
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import wraps
 
@@ -374,9 +374,10 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 ignore_metadata_files,
                 type(ignore_metadata_files),
             )
-            if ignore_metadata_files == False:
+            if not ignore_metadata_files:
                 print("doing the thing")
-                # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through iris
+                # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through
+                # iris
                 user_callback = None
                 if len(args) == 3:
                     user_callback = args[2]
@@ -459,24 +460,32 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
 
         """
         valid_metadata_names = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
-        other_license= ["lisense", "licence", "lisence"]
+        other_license = ["lisense", "licence", "lisence"]
         for metadata_file in metadata_files:
             file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
             attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
             if attribute_name in other_license:
-                warnings.warn(f"The attribute name {attribute_name} has been changed to "
-                              "license, in line with ANTS working practices.", category=UserWarning)
+                warnings.warn(
+                    f"The attribute name {attribute_name} has been changed to "
+                    "license, in line with ANTS working practices.",
+                    category=UserWarning,
+                )
                 attribute_name = "license"
             if attribute_name not in valid_metadata_names:
-                warnings.warn(f"Attribute {attribute_name} is not a valid metadata file "
-                              "name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution "
-                              "and restrictions.", category=UserWarning)
+                warnings.warn(
+                    f"Attribute {attribute_name} is not a valid metadata file "
+                    "name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution "
+                    "and restrictions.",
+                    category=UserWarning,
+                )
             else:
                 print("cube attributes", cube.attributes)
                 if attribute_name in cube.attributes:
-                    raise AttributeError(f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "
-                                "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
-                                "--ignore-metadata-files flag.")
+                    raise AttributeError(
+                        f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "
+                        "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
+                        "--ignore-metadata-files flag."
+                    )
                 open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
                 metadata = open_file.readlines()
                 open_file.close()
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
index cd5f50c..50c11e0 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
             begin=1990,
             end=1996,
             netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=False
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ def test_set_ignore_metadata_files_flag(self):
             "/path/to/lsm",
             "-o",
             "/path/to/output",
-            "--ignore-metadata-files"
+            "--ignore-metadata-files",
         ]
         with mock.patch("sys.argv", new=new):
             parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True)
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 71b71dd..5bc3d5d 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
+# (C) Crown Copyright, Met Office. All rights reserved.
+#
+# This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
+# See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
 """
 Includes tests for end-to-end functionality of CallbackMetadata as well as calling the
 class directly.
 """
 
+import unittest.mock as mock
+import warnings
+
 import ants.io.load
 import iris
 import pytest
-import unittest.mock as mock
-import warnings
 
 
 def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
@@ -83,20 +88,25 @@ def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_positional_args(tmp_path):
     ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path, None, mock_callback)
     mock_callback.assert_called()
 
+
 def test_existing_metadata_error(tmp_path):
     """Tests that an error is raised when a cube has existing metadata attributes."""
     license_text = "a license"
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    test_cube.attributes['license'] = 'an existing license'
+    test_cube.attributes["license"] = "an existing license"
     temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
     iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
     temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.license"
     temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-    error_message="The license is already an attribute on the cube. To ignore metadata files, use the --ignore-metadata-files flag."
+    error_message = (
+        "The license is already an attribute on the cube. To ignore "
+        "metadata files, use the --ignore-metadata-files flag."
+    )
 
     with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=error_message):
         ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
 
+
 def test_misspelt_license_warning(tmp_path):
     """Tests that different spellings for license will raise a warning."""
     license_text = "a license"
@@ -106,10 +116,14 @@ def test_misspelt_license_warning(tmp_path):
     temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
     temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
 
-    warning_message = "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS working practices."
+    warning_message = (
+        "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in "
+        "line with ANTS working practices."
+    )
     with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
         ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
 
+
 def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a different spelling of license will add a license attribute."""
     license_text = "a license"
@@ -119,13 +133,15 @@ def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
     temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
     temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
     # ignore warning that will be raised
-    warning_message = "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS working practices."
+    warning_message = (
+        "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in "
+        "line with ANTS working practices."
+    )
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
-        warnings.filterwarnings(
-            "ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning
-        )
+        warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning)
         loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
-        assert loaded_cube.attributes['license'] == ['a license']
+        assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == ["a license"]
+
 
 def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
     """Tests that an invalid metadata name will not be added as an attribute."""
@@ -135,6 +151,9 @@ def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
     temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.invalid-name"
     temporary_license_path.write_text(" ", encoding="utf-8")
 
-    warning_message = "Attribute invalid-name is not a valid metadata file name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution and restrictions."
+    warning_message = (
+        "Attribute invalid-name is not a valid metadata file name. "
+        "Accepted metadata names are license, attribution and restrictions."
+    )
     with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
         ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)

From 2c00cd47cc1c891aa4ca921e9569712796492bff Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:07:14 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 18/80] #32: remove print statements

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 18 ------------------
 1 file changed, 18 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 6a4a801..b2a4107 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -361,21 +361,9 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 FutureWarning,
             )
             ignore_metadata_files = False
-            print("the func: ", func)
-            print("args: ", args)
-            print("kwargs: ", kwargs)
-            print("boo")
-            print("ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs)
             if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
-                print("its here!!!")
                 ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
-            print(
-                "ignore metadata files: ",
-                ignore_metadata_files,
-                type(ignore_metadata_files),
-            )
             if not ignore_metadata_files:
-                print("doing the thing")
                 # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through
                 # iris
                 user_callback = None
@@ -384,8 +372,6 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 else:
                     if "callback" in kwargs:
                         user_callback = kwargs.pop("callback")
-                print("first args: ", args)
-                print("first kwargs: ", kwargs)
                 args, kwargs = _add_callback(
                     _CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs
                 )
@@ -434,16 +420,13 @@ def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         The method that runs when iris runs the callback. Collects the filenames and
         will run the user callback
         """
-        print("callback has been added")
         if type(filename) is list:
             filename = filename[0]
         metadata_filenames = "".join([filename, ".*"])
         metadata_files = glob.glob(metadata_filenames)
-        print("m_file: ", metadata_files)
         if metadata_files != []:
             self._retrieve_metadata(metadata_files, cube)
         if self._user_callback is not None:
-            print("should have added user callback")
             self._user_callback(cube, field, filename)
 
     def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
@@ -479,7 +462,6 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
                     category=UserWarning,
                 )
             else:
-                print("cube attributes", cube.attributes)
                 if attribute_name in cube.attributes:
                     raise AttributeError(
                         f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "

From 1519caa1de5de9fa72bdb4e767718bf46e0d06e7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:13:59 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 19/80] add more unit tests

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py                    |   9 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py            |  12 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py          |  15 +-
 lib/ants/command_parse.py                     |  12 --
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           |  39 ++---
 .../tests/command_parse/test_integration.py   |  34 ----
 .../tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py    | 151 ++++++------------
 rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf        |   2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf             |   2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf              |   2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf            |   2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf             |   2 +-
 .../app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf    |   2 +-
 .../rose-app.conf                             |   2 +-
 14 files changed, 74 insertions(+), 212 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 48a6f05..60deaa1 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -37,16 +37,16 @@
 import iris
 
 
-def load_data(source, ignore_metadata_files):
+def load_data(source):
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings(
             "ignore", "NetCDF default loading", iris._deprecation.IrisDeprecation
         )
-        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
+        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
     return cubes
 
 
-def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata_files):
+def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only):
     """
     Convert specified source file to an ancillary.
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata
         written to an ancillary.
 
     """
-    source_cubes = load_data(source_path, ignore_metadata_files)
+    source_cubes = load_data(source_path)
     if grid_staggering is not None:
         for source_cube in source_cubes:
             source_cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = grid_staggering
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.output,
         args.grid_staggering,
         args.netcdf_only,
-        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 4776891..9bb7cea 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ def load_data(
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
-    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
     """
     Load the necessary data for performing a merge and fill operation.
@@ -57,16 +56,12 @@ def load_data(
         respectively.
 
     """
-    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
-        primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-    )
+    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(primary_source)
     if begin is not None:
         primary_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(primary_cubes, begin, end)
     alternate_cubes = None
     if alternate_source:
-        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
-            alternate_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-        )
+        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(alternate_source)
         if begin is not None:
             alternate_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(alternate_cubes, begin, end)
 
@@ -101,7 +96,6 @@ def main(
     end,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
-    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     Perform merge and fill operation on the provided sources.
@@ -165,7 +159,6 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
-        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
     result = primary_cubes
@@ -258,7 +251,6 @@ def cli_interface():
         end=args.end,
         netcdf_only=args.netcdf_only,
         search_method=args.search_method,
-        ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index dd84790..7f6bd86 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -42,17 +42,12 @@ def load_data(
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
-    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
-    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
-        source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-    )
+    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
-        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(
-            target_grid, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-        )
+        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(target_grid)
     else:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_landsea_mask(
             target_landseamask, land_fraction_threshold
@@ -81,7 +76,6 @@ def main(
     save_ukca,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
-    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     General regrid application top level call function.
@@ -124,9 +118,6 @@ def main(
         provided source(s) consistent with the provided land sea mask.
         This should only be provided if a target land sea mask is also
         provided via target_lsm_path.
-    ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
-        When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
-        and added as attributes to the cube.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -141,7 +132,6 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
-        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
     if ants.utils.cube._is_ugrid(target_cube):
         raise ValueError(
@@ -220,7 +210,6 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.save_ukca,
         args.netcdf_only,
         args.search_method,
-        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/command_parse.py b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
index 3a58ed3..2a3a01c 100644
--- a/lib/ants/command_parse.py
+++ b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             sources <SOURCE1> <SOURCE2> ... <SOURCEN>     Source data path(s).
             --output <OUTPUT>, -o <OUTPUT>                Output filepath
             --ants-config <ANTS_CONFIG>                   Configuration path.
-            --ignore-metadata-files                       Stops the application from
-                                                          searching for metadata files
-                                                          with the same name as the
-                                                          source and loading them
-                                                          alongside the source.
 
         Additionally, there are standardised optional arguments and these are
         activated by passing the relevant keyword argument.  See 'Parameters'
@@ -176,13 +171,6 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             help="Only write out a netCDF file.",
             required=False,
         )
-        self.add_argument(
-            "--ignore-metadata-files",
-            action="store_true",
-            help="Turn off the automatic loading of metadata files alongside source "
-            "files",
-            required=False,
-        )
         if time_constraints:
             self.add_argument(
                 "--begin",
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index b2a4107..9afdef2 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -232,22 +232,18 @@ def load_landsea_mask(filename, land_threshold=None):
     """
     try:
         # Is it a landsea mask field?
-        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(
-            filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True
-        )
+        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask")
         lbm = lbm.copy(lbm.data.astype("bool", copy=False))
     except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
         try:
             # Is it a land fraction field?
-            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(
-                filename, "vegetation_area_fraction", ignore_metadata_files=True
-            )
+            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction")
             lbm = land_fraction.copy(land_fraction.data > land_threshold)
             lbm.rename("land_binary_mask")
         except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
             # It looks like we are wanting to extract a landsea mask from some
             # other field.
-            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename, ignore_metadata_files=True)[0]
+            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename)[0]
             y = cube.coord(axis="y")
             x = cube.coord(axis="x")
             cube = cube.slices((y, x)).next()
@@ -360,21 +356,6 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 "iris.FUTURE.datum_support flag.",
                 FutureWarning,
             )
-            ignore_metadata_files = False
-            if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
-                ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
-            if not ignore_metadata_files:
-                # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through
-                # iris
-                user_callback = None
-                if len(args) == 3:
-                    user_callback = args[2]
-                else:
-                    if "callback" in kwargs:
-                        user_callback = kwargs.pop("callback")
-                args, kwargs = _add_callback(
-                    _CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs
-                )
             # Use context manager to avoid permanently modifying iris behaviour.
             with ants_format_agent():
                 cubes = func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -454,6 +435,12 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
                     category=UserWarning,
                 )
                 attribute_name = "license"
+            if attribute_name in cube.attributes:
+                raise AttributeError(
+                    f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "
+                    "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
+                    "--ignore-metadata-files flag."
+                )
             if attribute_name not in valid_metadata_names:
                 warnings.warn(
                     f"Attribute {attribute_name} is not a valid metadata file "
@@ -462,18 +449,10 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
                     category=UserWarning,
                 )
             else:
-                if attribute_name in cube.attributes:
-                    raise AttributeError(
-                        f"The {attribute_name} is already an attribute on the "
-                        "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
-                        "--ignore-metadata-files flag."
-                    )
                 open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
                 metadata = open_file.readlines()
                 open_file.close()
                 cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
-                with open("written_license.txt", "a") as file:
-                    file.write("".join(metadata))
 
 
 def load_cube(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
index 50c11e0..31105ab 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.addCleanup(patch.stop)
 
     def test_default_args(self):
-        """Tests that the default arguments are as expected."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@ def path_check(filename, **kwargs):
             output="/path/to/output",
             sources=["/path/to/source"],
             netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -71,7 +69,6 @@ def test_add_args(self):
             output="/path/to/output",
             ants_config=None,
             netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=False,
             new_arg="new_arg_value",
         )
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -153,7 +150,6 @@ def test_invalid_output_same_file(self):
         self.mock_dirpath_writeable.assert_called_once()
 
     def test_time_constraint_args(self):
-        """Tests that using time constraint arguments will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -180,13 +176,11 @@ def test_time_constraint_args(self):
             begin=2016,
             end=2021,
             netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
 
     def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
-        """Tests that using time constraint flags will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -213,7 +207,6 @@ def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
             begin=1990,
             end=1996,
             netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -272,30 +265,3 @@ def test_both_time_constraints_exist(self):
             parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True, time_constraints=True)
             with self.assertRaises(exceptions.TimeConstraintMissingException):
                 parser.parse_args()
-
-    def test_set_ignore_metadata_files_flag(self):
-        "Tests that ignore_metadata_files will be set to True when passed in."
-        new = [
-            "program",
-            "/path/to/source",
-            "--target-lsm",
-            "/path/to/lsm",
-            "-o",
-            "/path/to/output",
-            "--ignore-metadata-files",
-        ]
-        with mock.patch("sys.argv", new=new):
-            parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True)
-            args = parser.parse_args()
-
-        target_args = argparse.Namespace(
-            ants_config=None,
-            land_threshold=None,
-            target_lsm="/path/to/lsm",
-            output="/path/to/output",
-            sources=["/path/to/source"],
-            netcdf_only=False,
-            ignore_metadata_files=True,
-        )
-        self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
-        self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 5bc3d5d..a081613 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -15,48 +15,6 @@ class directly.
 import pytest
 
 
-def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that metadata files are found and added to the cube's attributes."""
-    # The text that would be in a license file
-    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
-
-    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
-    """
-    # How the text should look while stored in an array
-    loaded_license = [
-        "This is the license of the cube.\n",
-        "\n",
-        "    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.\n",
-        "    ",
-    ]
-    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
-    assert loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"] == loaded_license
-
-
-def test_no_metadata_loaded(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that metadata files are not loaded when the option is turned off."""
-    # The text that would be in a license file
-    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
-
-    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
-    """
-    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(
-        temporary_cube_path, ignore_metadata_files=True
-    )
-    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
-        loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"]
-
-
 def test_user_callback_added():
     """Test that on ititialisation, the user's function will be set."""
 
@@ -68,7 +26,7 @@ def user_callback(cube, field, filename):
 
 
 def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_kwargs(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that when passed a callback using a keyword argument,
+    """Tests that when passed a user callback using a keyword argument,
     the callback is parsed correctly."""
     mock_callback = mock.Mock()
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
@@ -79,7 +37,7 @@ def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_kwargs(tmp_path):
 
 
 def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_positional_args(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that when passed a callback using a keyword argument,
+    """Tests that when passed a user callback using a keyword argument,
     the callback is parsed correctly."""
     mock_callback = mock.Mock()
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
@@ -89,71 +47,62 @@ def test_args_parsed_correctly_with_positional_args(tmp_path):
     mock_callback.assert_called()
 
 
-def test_existing_metadata_error(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that an error is raised when a cube has existing metadata attributes."""
-    license_text = "a license"
+def test__retrieve_metadata_correct_name():
+    """Tests that correctly named metadata files are going to be read."""
+    class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(None)
+    mock_file_open = mock.mock_open()
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    test_cube.attributes["license"] = "an existing license"
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.license"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-    error_message = (
-        "The license is already an attribute on the cube. To ignore "
-        "metadata files, use the --ignore-metadata-files flag."
-    )
+    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.attribution"]
+    with mock.patch("builtins.open", mock_file_open):
+        class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
+    mock_file_open.assert_called_once_with("fake-path/fake-cube.attribution", "r")
 
-    with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=error_message):
-        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
 
-
-def test_misspelt_license_warning(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that different spellings for license will raise a warning."""
-    license_text = "a license"
+def test__retrieve_metadata_incorrect_name():
+    """Tests that files without a valid metadata name won't be read."""
+    class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(None)
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-
-    warning_message = (
-        "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in "
-        "line with ANTS working practices."
+    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.pp"]
+    expected_message = (
+        "Attribute pp is not a valid metadata file "
+        "name. Accepted metadata names are license, attribution "
+        "and restrictions."
     )
-    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
-        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=expected_message):
+        class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
 
 
-def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that a different spelling of license will add a license attribute."""
-    license_text = "a license"
+def test_attribute_already_on_cube():
+    """Tests that having both metadata attributes and sidecar files of the same type
+    will raise an attribute error."""
+    class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(None)
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.lisense"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
-    # ignore warning that will be raised
-    warning_message = (
-        "The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in "
-        "line with ANTS working practices."
+    test_cube.attributes["attribution"] = "This is a attribution. "
+    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.attribution"]
+    expected_message = (
+        "The attribution is already an attribute on the "
+        "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
+        "--ignore-metadata-files flag."
     )
-    with warnings.catch_warnings():
-        warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning)
-        loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
-        assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == ["a license"]
-
-
-def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
-    """Tests that an invalid metadata name will not be added as an attribute."""
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=expected_message):
+        class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS "
+    "working practices.:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
+    """Tests that when given a sidecar file with a miss-spelt license and a cube with an
+    existing license, an error will be given."""
+    class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(None)
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
-    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
-    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.invalid-name"
-    temporary_license_path.write_text(" ", encoding="utf-8")
-
-    warning_message = (
-        "Attribute invalid-name is not a valid metadata file name. "
-        "Accepted metadata names are license, attribution and restrictions."
+    test_cube.attributes["license"] = "This is a license. "
+    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.lisense"]
+    expected_message = (
+        "The license is already an attribute on the "
+        "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "
+        "--ignore-metadata-files flag."
     )
-    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
-        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=expected_message):
+        class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
index 60f9ee4..7ab4ed0 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ history=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_ID}@${ROSE_SUITE_REVISION}:${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_2anc.py \
        =${source} --grid-staggering ${grid_staggering} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 88b6cc2..5d8e792 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} -o ${output} \
        =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --invert-mask \
-       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 search_method=${CYLC_TASK_PARAM_fill}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
index bd71de6..4db75a3 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
index 78e6087..23bc985 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-grid_to_grid.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 5a7fd0e..9a4c4ba 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
index 778e84f..fb1a949 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =${begin} ${end}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
index ad44222..6f166bd 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf

From 0af2eceb4b5ebcc60be08220f161ae3d98a1b295 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:23:45 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 20/80] remove unused import

---
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 1 -
 1 file changed, 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index a081613..ebe2b07 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ class directly.
 """
 
 import unittest.mock as mock
-import warnings
 
 import ants.io.load
 import iris

From 8f49436a3a6c2317ec3687aae62cd61f9e1824b0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:57:25 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 21/80] Update iris punctuation

Co-authored-by: Andrew Clark <2562650+arjclark@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 9afdef2..92053ae 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def __init__(self, user_callback):
 
     def __call__(self, cube, field, filename):
         """
-        The method that runs when iris runs the callback. Collects the filenames and
+        The method that runs when Iris runs the callback. Collects the filenames and
         will run the user callback
         """
         if type(filename) is list:

From 95538de8339d6adf3701b22a2427a50e0c0794c6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2026 10:33:15 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 22/80] Update docstring in _add_callback()

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 92053ae..8cff074 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -375,6 +375,12 @@ def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Adds both the ants callback and the user provided callback (if any) to the
     load.
+
+    Parameters
+        ----------
+        callback: :class:`_CallbackMetadata`
+            An object that will contain the ants call back and an attribute
+            with the user callback if applicable.
     """
     args = list(args)
     if len(args) == 1:

From 8b3334992dd9cb49b80d5bc51b0646c76100659c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2026 13:14:31 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 23/80] Add speechmarks around license

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                             | 2 +-
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 8cff074..69aab25 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
             if attribute_name in other_license:
                 warnings.warn(
                     f"The attribute name {attribute_name} has been changed to "
-                    "license, in line with ANTS working practices.",
+                    "'license', in line with ANTS working practices.",
                     category=UserWarning,
                 )
                 attribute_name = "license"
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index ebe2b07..6b0450b 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def test_attribute_already_on_cube():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:The attribute name lisense has been changed to license, in line with ANTS "
+    "ignore:The attribute name lisense has been changed to 'license', in line with ANTS "
     "working practices.:UserWarning"
 )
 def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():

From 077b0dba0365f729f16060bc30dd9c05b8295596 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2026 13:30:21 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 24/80] Update _CallbackMetadata docstring

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 69aab25..9ae2ccb 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ class _CallbackMetadata(object):
     """Callback for collecting metadata from sidecar files.
 
     This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
-    filename.<metadata> and append the contents of those files to the cube
+    filename.[license,attribution,restrictions] and append the contents of those files to the cube
     attributes.
     """
 

From 4bbb16640edb6a5bfd1634fc08f1fe6717c38bd5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2026 16:16:15 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 25/80] Remove checks for misspelling

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                             | 4 ++--
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 4 ++--
 2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 9ae2ccb..af42cb6 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -430,11 +430,11 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
 
         """
         valid_metadata_names = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
-        other_license = ["lisense", "licence", "lisence"]
+        other_license = "licence"
         for metadata_file in metadata_files:
             file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")
             attribute_name = file_name_splits[-1]
-            if attribute_name in other_license:
+            if attribute_name == other_license:
                 warnings.warn(
                     f"The attribute name {attribute_name} has been changed to "
                     "'license', in line with ANTS working practices.",
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 6b0450b..c502b7e 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def test_attribute_already_on_cube():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:The attribute name lisense has been changed to 'license', in line with ANTS "
+    "ignore:The attribute name licence has been changed to 'license', in line with ANTS "
     "working practices.:UserWarning"
 )
 def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
     class_instance = ants.io.load._CallbackMetadata(None)
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
     test_cube.attributes["license"] = "This is a license. "
-    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.lisense"]
+    path = ["fake-path/fake-cube.licence"]
     expected_message = (
         "The license is already an attribute on the "
         "cube. To ignore metadata files, use the "

From 1761aeec0ad4dabfc72cba003fbd8ca614217a99 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026 10:28:52 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 26/80] Changes implementing the loading of metadata

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                           | 21 +++++-
 .../tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py    | 75 +++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 93 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index af42cb6..8455618 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -232,18 +232,18 @@ def load_landsea_mask(filename, land_threshold=None):
     """
     try:
         # Is it a landsea mask field?
-        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask")
+        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True)
         lbm = lbm.copy(lbm.data.astype("bool", copy=False))
     except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
         try:
             # Is it a land fraction field?
-            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction")
+            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction", ignore_metadata_files=True)
             lbm = land_fraction.copy(land_fraction.data > land_threshold)
             lbm.rename("land_binary_mask")
         except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
             # It looks like we are wanting to extract a landsea mask from some
             # other field.
-            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename)[0]
+            cube = ants.io.load.load(filename, ignore_metadata_files=True)[0]
             y = cube.coord(axis="y")
             x = cube.coord(axis="x")
             cube = cube.slices((y, x)).next()
@@ -356,6 +356,21 @@ def load_function(*args, **kwargs):
                 "iris.FUTURE.datum_support flag.",
                 FutureWarning,
             )
+            ignore_metadata_files = False
+            if "ignore_metadata_files" in kwargs:
+                ignore_metadata_files = kwargs.pop("ignore_metadata_files")
+            if not ignore_metadata_files:
+                # Do the handling for each way a user callback can be passed in through
+                # iris
+                user_callback = None
+                if len(args) == 3:
+                    user_callback = args[2]
+                else:
+                    if "callback" in kwargs:
+                        user_callback = kwargs.pop("callback")
+                args, kwargs = _add_callback(
+                    _CallbackMetadata(user_callback), *args, **kwargs
+                )
             # Use context manager to avoid permanently modifying iris behaviour.
             with ants_format_agent():
                 cubes = func(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index c502b7e..50a8db6 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -8,12 +8,54 @@ class directly.
 """
 
 import unittest.mock as mock
+import warnings
 
 import ants.io.load
 import iris
 import pytest
 
 
+def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that metadata files are found and added to the cube's attributes."""
+    # The text that would be in a license file
+    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
+
+    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
+    """
+    # How the text should look while stored in an array
+    loaded_license = [
+        "This is the license of the cube.\n",
+        "\n",
+        "    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.\n",
+        "    ",
+    ]
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+    assert loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"] == loaded_license
+
+
+def test_no_metadata_loaded(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that metadata files are not loaded when the option is turned off."""
+    # The text that would be in a license file
+    license_text = """This is the license of the cube.
+
+    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
+    """
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp.license"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    loaded_test_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+        temporary_cube_path, ignore_metadata_files=True
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"]
+
 def test_user_callback_added():
     """Test that on ititialisation, the user's function will be set."""
 
@@ -105,3 +147,36 @@ def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
     )
     with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=expected_message):
         class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
+
+def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a different spelling of license will add a license attribute."""
+    license_text = "a license"
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.licence"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(license_text, encoding="utf-8")
+    # ignore warning that will be raised
+    warning_message = (
+        "The attribute name licence has been changed to 'license', in "
+        "line with ANTS working practices."
+    )
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning)
+        loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
+        assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == ["a license"]
+
+def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that an invalid metadata name will not be added as an attribute."""
+    test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc"
+    iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
+    temporary_license_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.nc.invalid-name"
+    temporary_license_path.write_text(" ", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    warning_message = (
+        "Attribute invalid-name is not a valid metadata file name. "
+        "Accepted metadata names are license, attribution and restrictions."
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=warning_message):
+        ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)

From 23f56efb73faa76d631bcf1a7092028a32945518 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026 10:33:11 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 27/80] Run black

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                             | 8 ++++++--
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 3 +++
 2 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 8455618..9806d6f 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -232,12 +232,16 @@ def load_landsea_mask(filename, land_threshold=None):
     """
     try:
         # Is it a landsea mask field?
-        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True)
+        lbm = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+            filename, "land_binary_mask", ignore_metadata_files=True
+        )
         lbm = lbm.copy(lbm.data.astype("bool", copy=False))
     except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
         try:
             # Is it a land fraction field?
-            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(filename, "vegetation_area_fraction", ignore_metadata_files=True)
+            land_fraction = ants.io.load.load_cube(
+                filename, "vegetation_area_fraction", ignore_metadata_files=True
+            )
             lbm = land_fraction.copy(land_fraction.data > land_threshold)
             lbm.rename("land_binary_mask")
         except iris.exceptions.ConstraintMismatchError:
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 50a8db6..d9f9bf7 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ def test_no_metadata_loaded(tmp_path):
     with pytest.raises(KeyError):
         loaded_test_cube.attributes["license"]
 
+
 def test_user_callback_added():
     """Test that on ititialisation, the user's function will be set."""
 
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
     with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match=expected_message):
         class_instance._retrieve_metadata(path, test_cube)
 
+
 def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a different spelling of license will add a license attribute."""
     license_text = "a license"
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
         loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
         assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == ["a license"]
 
+
 def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):
     """Tests that an invalid metadata name will not be added as an attribute."""
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))

From 03bf80011de55da364b5ceb70f3c8df7ae835d42 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026 14:31:38 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 28/80] fix flake8 line lengths

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py                             | 4 ++--
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 4 ++--
 2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 9806d6f..1c393fc 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -414,8 +414,8 @@ class _CallbackMetadata(object):
     """Callback for collecting metadata from sidecar files.
 
     This callback will load additional metadata files with the naming convention:
-    filename.[license,attribution,restrictions] and append the contents of those files to the cube
-    attributes.
+    filename.[license,attribution,restrictions] and append the contents of those files
+    to the cube attributes.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, user_callback):
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index d9f9bf7..892b8ac 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ def test_attribute_already_on_cube():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:The attribute name licence has been changed to 'license', in line with ANTS "
-    "working practices.:UserWarning"
+    "ignore:The attribute name licence has been changed to 'license', in line with "
+    "ANTS working practices.:UserWarning"
 )
 def test_missplet_license_with_licensed_cube():
     """Tests that when given a sidecar file with a miss-spelt license and a cube with an

From 106714d06f739178880bc1b64a947d3e0526ab32 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:34:10 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 29/80] Add command line support

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py                    |  9 ++---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py            | 19 ++++++++--
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py          | 15 ++++++--
 lib/ants/command_parse.py                     | 12 +++++++
 .../tests/command_parse/test_integration.py   | 35 +++++++++++++++++++
 rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf        |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf             |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf              |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf             |  2 +-
 .../app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf    |  2 +-
 .../rose-app.conf                             |  2 +-
 11 files changed, 88 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 60deaa1..84e4f54 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -37,16 +37,16 @@
 import iris
 
 
-def load_data(source):
+def load_data(source, ignore_metadata_files):
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings(
             "ignore", "NetCDF default loading", iris._deprecation.IrisDeprecation
         )
-        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
+        cubes = ants.io.load.load(source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     return cubes
 
 
-def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only):
+def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata_files):
     """
     Convert specified source file to an ancillary.
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only):
         written to an ancillary.
 
     """
-    source_cubes = load_data(source_path)
+    source_cubes = load_data(source_path, ignore_metadata_files)
     if grid_staggering is not None:
         for source_cube in source_cubes:
             source_cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = grid_staggering
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.output,
         args.grid_staggering,
         args.netcdf_only,
+        args.ignore_metadata_files
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 9bb7cea..a9252ef 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ def load_data(
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
+    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
     """
     Load the necessary data for performing a merge and fill operation.
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ def load_data(
         Datetime to start the processing.
     end: :obj:`datetime`, optional
         Datetime to end the processing.
+    ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
+        When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
+        and added as attributes to the cube.
 
 
     Returns
@@ -56,12 +60,16 @@ def load_data(
         respectively.
 
     """
-    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(primary_source)
+    primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+        primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+        )
     if begin is not None:
         primary_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(primary_cubes, begin, end)
     alternate_cubes = None
     if alternate_source:
-        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(alternate_source)
+        alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+            alternate_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+            )
         if begin is not None:
             alternate_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(alternate_cubes, begin, end)
 
@@ -96,6 +104,7 @@ def main(
     end,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
+    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     Perform merge and fill operation on the provided sources.
@@ -141,6 +150,10 @@ def main(
     search_method : :obj:`str`
         Select the search method to be used when filling missing points. The methods
         currently supported are "spiral" and "kdtree".
+    ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
+        When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
+        and added as attributes to the cube.
+
     Returns
     -------
     : :class:`~iris.cube.CubeList`
@@ -159,6 +172,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
+        ignore_metadata_files
     )
 
     result = primary_cubes
@@ -251,6 +265,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         end=args.end,
         netcdf_only=args.netcdf_only,
         search_method=args.search_method,
+        ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index 7f6bd86..8589e8e 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -42,12 +42,17 @@ def load_data(
     land_fraction_threshold=None,
     begin=None,
     end=None,
+    ignore_metadata_files=None,
 ):
-    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(source)
+    source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
+        source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+        )
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
-        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(target_grid)
+        target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(
+            target_grid, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
+            )
     else:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_landsea_mask(
             target_landseamask, land_fraction_threshold
@@ -76,6 +81,7 @@ def main(
     save_ukca,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
+    ignore_metadata_files,
 ):
     """
     General regrid application top level call function.
@@ -118,6 +124,9 @@ def main(
         provided source(s) consistent with the provided land sea mask.
         This should only be provided if a target land sea mask is also
         provided via target_lsm_path.
+    ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
+        When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
+        and added as attributes to the cube.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -132,6 +141,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
+        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
     if ants.utils.cube._is_ugrid(target_cube):
         raise ValueError(
@@ -210,6 +220,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.save_ukca,
         args.netcdf_only,
         args.search_method,
+        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/command_parse.py b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
index 2a3a01c..e40cb0c 100644
--- a/lib/ants/command_parse.py
+++ b/lib/ants/command_parse.py
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             sources <SOURCE1> <SOURCE2> ... <SOURCEN>     Source data path(s).
             --output <OUTPUT>, -o <OUTPUT>                Output filepath
             --ants-config <ANTS_CONFIG>                   Configuration path.
+            --ignore-metadata-files                       Stops the application from
+                                                          searching for metadata files
+                                                          with the same name as the
+                                                          source and loading them
+                                                          alongside the source.
 
         Additionally, there are standardised optional arguments and these are
         activated by passing the relevant keyword argument.  See 'Parameters'
@@ -171,6 +176,13 @@ def __init__(self, target_lsm=False, target_grid=False, time_constraints=False):
             help="Only write out a netCDF file.",
             required=False,
         )
+        self.add_argument(
+            "--ignore-metadata-files",
+            action="store_true",
+            help="Stops the application from searching for metadata files with "
+            "the same name as the source and loading them alongside the source.",
+            required=False,
+        )
         if time_constraints:
             self.add_argument(
                 "--begin",
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
index 31105ab..fe4fc40 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.addCleanup(patch.stop)
 
     def test_default_args(self):
+        """Tests that the default arguments are as expected."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ def path_check(filename, **kwargs):
             output="/path/to/output",
             sources=["/path/to/source"],
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ def test_add_args(self):
             output="/path/to/output",
             ants_config=None,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
             new_arg="new_arg_value",
         )
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -150,6 +153,7 @@ def test_invalid_output_same_file(self):
         self.mock_dirpath_writeable.assert_called_once()
 
     def test_time_constraint_args(self):
+        """Tests that using time constraint arguments will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -176,11 +180,13 @@ def test_time_constraint_args(self):
             begin=2016,
             end=2021,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
 
     def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
+        """Tests that using time constraint flags will be correctly parsed."""
         new = [
             "program",
             "/path/to/source",
@@ -207,6 +213,7 @@ def test_time_constraint_flags(self):
             begin=1990,
             end=1996,
             netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=False,
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
@@ -265,3 +272,31 @@ def test_both_time_constraints_exist(self):
             parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True, time_constraints=True)
             with self.assertRaises(exceptions.TimeConstraintMissingException):
                 parser.parse_args()
+
+    def test_set_ignore_metadata_files_flag(self):
+        "Tests that ignore_metadata_files will be set to True when passed in."
+        new = [
+            "program",
+            "/path/to/source",
+            "--target-lsm",
+            "/path/to/lsm",
+            "-o",
+            "/path/to/output",
+            "--ignore-metadata-files",
+        ]
+        with mock.patch("sys.argv", new=new):
+            parser = AntsArgParser(target_lsm=True)
+            args = parser.parse_args()
+
+        target_args = argparse.Namespace(
+            ants_config=None,
+            land_threshold=None,
+            target_lsm="/path/to/lsm",
+            output="/path/to/output",
+            sources=["/path/to/source"],
+            netcdf_only=False,
+            ignore_metadata_files=True,
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
+        self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
+
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
index 7ab4ed0..60f9ee4 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ history=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_ID}@${ROSE_SUITE_REVISION}:${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_2anc.py \
        =${source} --grid-staggering ${grid_staggering} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG}
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 5d8e792..1bc2cec 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} -o ${output} \
        =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --invert-mask \
-       =--search-method ${search_method}
+       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
 
 [env]
 search_method=${CYLC_TASK_PARAM_fill}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
index 4db75a3..4d63e55 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
 
 [env]
 polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 9a4c4ba..30166ce 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
index fb1a949..b3e7520 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end}
+       =${begin} ${end} --ignore_metadata_files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
index 6f166bd..d6771f6 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf

From 1835b2691c895d859059d34a7853f4cca67a558e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:39:37 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 30/80] Update extra argument to be correct

---
 rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf  | 2 +-
 rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf   | 2 +-
 .../app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf      | 2 +-
 rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf                | 2 +-
 .../app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf | 2 +-
 5 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 1bc2cec..88b6cc2 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} -o ${output} \
        =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --invert-mask \
-       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
+       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 search_method=${CYLC_TASK_PARAM_fill}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
index 4d63e55..bd71de6 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 30166ce..5a7fd0e 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
+       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
index b3e7520..778e84f 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end} --ignore_metadata_files
+       =${begin} ${end} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
index d6771f6..ad44222 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore_metadata_files
+       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf

From 3d37136a17cd4d7c30215acec1905af6c05536da Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:53:13 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 31/80] Add full command parse integration and test

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py                       | 2 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py               | 6 +++---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py             | 4 ++--
 lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py | 1 -
 4 files changed, 6 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 84e4f54..48a6f05 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def cli_interface():
         args.output,
         args.grid_staggering,
         args.netcdf_only,
-        args.ignore_metadata_files
+        args.ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index a9252ef..96dc0a7 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ def load_data(
     """
     primary_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
         primary_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-        )
+    )
     if begin is not None:
         primary_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(primary_cubes, begin, end)
     alternate_cubes = None
     if alternate_source:
         alternate_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
             alternate_source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-            )
+        )
         if begin is not None:
             alternate_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(alternate_cubes, begin, end)
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def main(
         land_fraction_threshold,
         begin,
         end,
-        ignore_metadata_files
+        ignore_metadata_files,
     )
 
     result = primary_cubes
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index 8589e8e..dd84790 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ def load_data(
 ):
     source_cubes = ants.io.load.load(
         source, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-        )
+    )
     if begin is not None:
         source_cubes = create_time_constrained_cubes(source_cubes, begin, end)
     if target_grid:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_grid(
             target_grid, ignore_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files
-            )
+        )
     else:
         target_cube = ants.io.load.load_landsea_mask(
             target_landseamask, land_fraction_threshold
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
index fe4fc40..50c11e0 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/command_parse/test_integration.py
@@ -299,4 +299,3 @@ def test_set_ignore_metadata_files_flag(self):
         )
         self.assertFalse(self.mock_config.called)
         self.assertEqual(args, target_args)
-

From 8b5447e1be462edde9c8be0879af2fc76a12d7fc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 14:22:48 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 32/80] partial commit to save work on adding rose stem test

---
 rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf               |  2 +-
 .../ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf |  2 +-
 .../ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf  |  2 +-
 .../opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf                  |  3 +++
 .../opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf                    |  2 +-
 rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf     |  2 +-
 .../rose-app.conf                                    |  2 +-
 .../app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf      |  1 +
 rose-stem/flow.cylc                                  | 12 +++++++++---
 9 files changed, 19 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
index 60f9ee4..7ab4ed0 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_2anc/rose-app.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ history=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_ID}@${ROSE_SUITE_REVISION}:${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_2anc.py \
        =${source} --grid-staggering ${grid_staggering} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 88b6cc2..5d8e792 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} -o ${output} \
        =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --invert-mask \
-       =--search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 search_method=${CYLC_TASK_PARAM_fill}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
index bd71de6..4db75a3 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-land_cover.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
        =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6bc106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[env]
+
+source=/data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/cci_ukv.nc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
index 5a7fd0e..9a4c4ba 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-invert_mask.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--invert-mask ${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
index 778e84f..fb1a949 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =${begin} ${end} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =${begin} ${end}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
index ad44222..6f166bd 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint/rose-app.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ scheme=TwoStage
 [command]
 default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
        =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
-       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method} --ignore-metadata-files
+       =--begin ${begin} --end ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
 
 [env]
 ANTS_CONFIG=rose-app-run.conf
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
index 4315909..2063854 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ filelist=ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_spiral
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_kdtree.nc
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree.nc
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_latitude_weighted_kdtree.nc
+        =ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 48941eb..9acd870 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {% set ANTS_MODULE = "ants/developer" %}
 {% set PYTHONPATH_PREPEND = "$CYLC_WORKFLOW_RUN_DIR/share/fcm_make_ants/build/lib" %}
 
-{% set fill_n_merge_source = ['land_cover', 'invert_mask'] %}
+{% set fill_n_merge_source = ['land_cover', 'invert_mask', 'metadata_file'] %}
 {% set grid_source = ['grid_to_grid', 'grid_to_variable_resolution_grid', 'grid_to_n48e_namelist', 'grid_to_n48_namelist', '3d_to_3d', '3d_to_3d_with_extrapolation', 'invert_mask'] %}
 {% set target_lsm_grid_sources = ['grid_to_grid', 'invert_mask'] %}
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 {%- set name_graphs = {
     "install_graph" : "install_cold",
     "ancil_2anc_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_2anc<split> => rose_ana_2anc:fail? => plot_comparisons_2anc",
-    "fill_n_merge_land_cover_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_create_ite_shapefile => ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
+    "fill_n_merge_land_cover_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_create_ite_shapefile => ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file & ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
     "fill_n_merge_invert_mask_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
     "general_regrid_grid_to_grid_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_grid<fill,split> => rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>:fail? => plot_comparisons_general_regrid<fill>
         install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_grid_latitude_weighted_kdtree<split> => rose_ana_general_regrid_latitude_weighted_kdtree:fail? => plot_comparisons_general_regrid_latitude_weighted_kdtree",
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ else
     module unload {{ ANTS_MODULE }}
 fi
 '''
-
+ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file &
     {% for source in fill_n_merge_source %}
     [[ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}]]
         inherit = ANTS_CORE, LARGE
@@ -197,8 +197,14 @@ fi
     [[ancil_fill_n_merge_{{ source }}_latitude_weighted_kdtree]]
         inherit = ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}
         script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_fill_n_merge -O {{ source }} -O latitude-weighted-kdtree
+
+    [[ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file]]
+        inherit = ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}
+        script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_fill_n_merge -O {{ source }}
     {% endfor %}
 
+
+
     [[ancil_create_ite_shapefile]]
         inherit = ANTS_CORE, SMALL
         [[[environment]]]

From b808ac98b99bbde10f31ecff025989f154bb992b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:54:54 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 33/80] update rose stem

---
 .../opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf               | 11 +++++++++--
 .../opt/rose-app-metadata.conf                    | 15 +++++++++++++++
 .../app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf |  2 ++
 rose-stem/flow.cylc                               | 12 ++++++++++--
 4 files changed, 36 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
index c6bc106..c3e608c 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
-[env]
+[command]
+default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
+       =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
+       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
 
-source=/data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/cci_ukv.nc
\ No newline at end of file
+[env]
+polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
+search_method=kdtree
+source=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_fill_n_merge/ancil_lct_ite.nc /data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/cci_ukv.nc
+target=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_fill_n_merge/ukv_coarse_land_cover_fraction.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3429ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+[ants_decomposition]
+x_split=0
+y_split=0
+
+[command]
+default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
+       =${source} -o ${output} --ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --target-${target_type} ${target} \
+       =${begin} ${end} --search-method ${search_method}
+
+[env]
+output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
+search_method=kdtree
+source=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_general_regrid/n96e_orca_land_cover_fraction
+target=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_general_regrid/qrparm.mask.nc
+target_type=lsm
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
index 487f9de..6f7127b 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
@@ -29,3 +29,5 @@ filelist=ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_variable_resolution_grid_split1
         =ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_n48e_namelist_split0.nc
         =ancil_general_regrid_3d_to_3d_split0.nc
         =ancil_general_regrid_3d_to_3d_with_extrapolation_split0.nc
+        =ancil_general_regrid_metadata
+        =ancil_general_regrid_metadata.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 9acd870..cc9ec68 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@
 {%- set name_graphs = {
     "install_graph" : "install_cold",
     "ancil_2anc_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_2anc<split> => rose_ana_2anc:fail? => plot_comparisons_2anc",
-    "fill_n_merge_land_cover_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_create_ite_shapefile => ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file & ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
+    "fill_n_merge_land_cover_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_create_ite_shapefile => ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
+    "load_metadata_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file => rose_ana_fill_n_merge",
+    "load_metadata_regrid_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_metadata => rose_ana_general_regrid",
     "fill_n_merge_invert_mask_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
     "general_regrid_grid_to_grid_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_grid<fill,split> => rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>:fail? => plot_comparisons_general_regrid<fill>
         install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_grid_latitude_weighted_kdtree<split> => rose_ana_general_regrid_latitude_weighted_kdtree:fail? => plot_comparisons_general_regrid_latitude_weighted_kdtree",
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@ else
     module unload {{ ANTS_MODULE }}
 fi
 '''
-ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file &
+
     {% for source in fill_n_merge_source %}
     [[ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}]]
         inherit = ANTS_CORE, LARGE
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file &
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = fill_n_merge
+            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE = /home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run78/share/data
 
     [[ANCIL_2ANC]]
         inherit=ANTS_CORE, LARGE
@@ -260,11 +263,16 @@ ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file &
         inherit=ANCIL_GENERAL_REGRID_WITH_TIME_CONSTRAINT
         script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_general_regrid_with_time_constraint -O latitude-weighted-kdtree
 
+    [[ancil_general_regrid_metadata]]
+    inherit = ANTS_CORE, ANCIL_GENERAL_REGRID, LARGE
+    script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_general_regrid -O metadata
+
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = general_regrid
+            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run83/share/data/
 
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA

From d9c6d056ea3beefb5c57b3a243c32e4492c29a40 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:21:28 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 34/80] Clean up rose stem to only have general regrid
 additions

---
 .../ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf | 10 ----------
 rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf  |  1 -
 rose-stem/flow.cylc                                    |  8 +-------
 3 files changed, 1 insertion(+), 18 deletions(-)
 delete mode 100644 rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index c3e608c..0000000
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_fill_n_merge/opt/rose-app-metadata_file.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-[command]
-default=ants-launch ancil_fill_n_merge.py \
-       =${source} --target-lsm ${target} --polygon ${polygon} -o ${output} \
-       =--ants-config ${ANTS_CONFIG} --search-method ${search_method}
-
-[env]
-polygon=${ROSE_DATA}/ite.shp
-search_method=kdtree
-source=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_fill_n_merge/ancil_lct_ite.nc /data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/cci_ukv.nc
-target=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_fill_n_merge/ukv_coarse_land_cover_fraction.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
index 2063854..4315909 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-fill_n_merge.conf
@@ -11,4 +11,3 @@ filelist=ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_spiral
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_kdtree.nc
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree.nc
         =ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_latitude_weighted_kdtree.nc
-        =ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index cc9ec68..127689f 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {% set ANTS_MODULE = "ants/developer" %}
 {% set PYTHONPATH_PREPEND = "$CYLC_WORKFLOW_RUN_DIR/share/fcm_make_ants/build/lib" %}
 
-{% set fill_n_merge_source = ['land_cover', 'invert_mask', 'metadata_file'] %}
+{% set fill_n_merge_source = ['land_cover', 'invert_mask'] %}
 {% set grid_source = ['grid_to_grid', 'grid_to_variable_resolution_grid', 'grid_to_n48e_namelist', 'grid_to_n48_namelist', '3d_to_3d', '3d_to_3d_with_extrapolation', 'invert_mask'] %}
 {% set target_lsm_grid_sources = ['grid_to_grid', 'invert_mask'] %}
 
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     "install_graph" : "install_cold",
     "ancil_2anc_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_2anc<split> => rose_ana_2anc:fail? => plot_comparisons_2anc",
     "fill_n_merge_land_cover_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_create_ite_shapefile => ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_land_cover_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
-    "load_metadata_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file => rose_ana_fill_n_merge",
     "load_metadata_regrid_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_metadata => rose_ana_general_regrid",
     "fill_n_merge_invert_mask_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask<fill> & ancil_fill_n_merge_invert_mask_latitude_weighted_kdtree => rose_ana_fill_n_merge:fail? => plot_comparisons_fill_n_merge",
     "general_regrid_grid_to_grid_graph" : "install_cold => ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_grid<fill,split> => rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>:fail? => plot_comparisons_general_regrid<fill>
@@ -199,10 +198,6 @@ fi
     [[ancil_fill_n_merge_{{ source }}_latitude_weighted_kdtree]]
         inherit = ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}
         script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_fill_n_merge -O {{ source }} -O latitude-weighted-kdtree
-
-    [[ancil_fill_n_merge_metadata_file]]
-        inherit = ANCIL_FILL_N_MERGE_{{ source }}
-        script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_fill_n_merge -O {{ source }}
     {% endfor %}
 
 
@@ -217,7 +212,6 @@ fi
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = fill_n_merge
-            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE = /home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run78/share/data
 
     [[ANCIL_2ANC]]
         inherit=ANTS_CORE, LARGE

From d71456b6e71696f30351fc0e4067a6bd6f8311a2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:05:59 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 35/80] remove whitespcae

---
 rose-stem/flow.cylc | 2 --
 1 file changed, 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 127689f..21ecd3a 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -200,8 +200,6 @@ fi
         script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_fill_n_merge -O {{ source }} -O latitude-weighted-kdtree
     {% endfor %}
 
-
-
     [[ancil_create_ite_shapefile]]
         inherit = ANTS_CORE, SMALL
         [[[environment]]]

From 4ec679b4bc711b4151198f2aed01eb904927676d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:38:49 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 36/80] add functionality for checking for multiple attributes
 to be saved

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                           | 16 +++++++++
 .../save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py   | 36 +++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 52 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 9cbc83e..04cb182 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -322,3 +322,19 @@ def _update_history_cmd(cube):
         items[0] = os.path.basename(items[0])
         items.append("({})".format(metadata)) if metadata else None
         ants.utils.cube.update_history(cc, " ".join(items), date)
+
+
+def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
+    """Checks whether the attribute can be written out exactly as is, or if it has to be
+    pre-pended with the cube name."""
+    # check if multiple things in list
+    if len(attribute_list) == 1:
+        return attribute_list
+    # check if attributes are the same
+    if len(set(attribute_list)) == 1:
+        return attribute_list[:1]
+    # if they are not the same, add the cube name
+    concatonated_attribute = []
+    for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
+        concatonated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
+    return concatonated_attribute
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b19a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# (C) Crown Copyright, Met Office. All rights reserved.
+#
+# This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
+# See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
+
+from ants.io.save import _check_multiple_attributes
+
+
+def test_one_element_in_list():
+    """Tests that when given a list with one element, that is returned."""
+    expected = ["This is the only attribution given. "]
+    cube_name = ["a cube with an attribution"]
+    actual = _check_multiple_attributes(expected, cube_name)
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
+def test_all_elements_in_list_same():
+    """Tests that when all elements in list are the same, one is returned."""
+    expected = ["This is the only attribution given. "]
+    cube_name = ["a cube with an attribution"]
+    attribute_list = [
+        "This is the only attribution given. ",
+        "This is the only attribution given. ",
+        "This is the only attribution given. ",
+    ]
+    actual = _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_name)
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
+def test_different_elements_have_cube_names():
+    """Tests that when multiple attributes are given, cube names are included."""
+    expected = ["cube1 = license 1. ", "cube2 = license 2. "]
+    licenses = ["license 1. ", "license 2. "]
+    cube_names = ["cube1", "cube2"]
+    actual = _check_multiple_attributes(licenses, cube_names)
+    assert expected == actual

From f79cc0d66558368db2b04d7d0b7b5f452f58b0d4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:55:30 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 37/80] Fix spelling

Co-authored-by: Andrew Clark <2562650+arjclark@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 04cb182..5f54ea6 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     if len(set(attribute_list)) == 1:
         return attribute_list[:1]
     # if they are not the same, add the cube name
-    concatonated_attribute = []
+    concatenated_attribute = []
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
         concatonated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
     return concatonated_attribute

From 9b71d8fcb7fb6cd6ef6d7f5b612fe77f2b370ab8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:56:44 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 38/80] Fix variable spelling

Co-authored-by: Andrew Clark <2562650+arjclark@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 5f54ea6..73e9680 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -336,5 +336,5 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     # if they are not the same, add the cube name
     concatenated_attribute = []
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
-        concatonated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
-    return concatonated_attribute
+        concatenated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
+    return concatenated_attribute

From 7fcbbc309cb58a5345f5d49cf3d9ecdd5b26ab54 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:20:30 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 39/80] Add handling for one single cube being passed in

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                                   |  3 +++
 .../tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py  | 11 +++++++++++
 2 files changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 73e9680..3dfeaac 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -333,6 +333,9 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     # check if attributes are the same
     if len(set(attribute_list)) == 1:
         return attribute_list[:1]
+    # check if there is only one cube
+    if len(cube_names) == 1:
+        return attribute_list
     # if they are not the same, add the cube name
     concatenated_attribute = []
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
index 5b19a9c..ae534ed 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
@@ -14,6 +14,17 @@ def test_one_element_in_list():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_only_one_Cube_in_list():
+    """Tests that when given only one cube name, the attributes are returned."""
+    expected = [
+        "This is an attribution for some of the data. ",
+        "This is a different attribution for the rest of the data.",
+    ]
+    cube_name = ["a cube with multiple attributions"]
+    actual = _check_multiple_attributes(expected, cube_name)
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_all_elements_in_list_same():
     """Tests that when all elements in list are the same, one is returned."""
     expected = ["This is the only attribution given. "]

From 9e7e27a8a819e2f4e4549badbc3ba0819376324b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:41:34 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 40/80] add the ability to write metadata to sidecar files

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py                    |   4 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py            |   2 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py          |   6 +-
 lib/ants/io/save.py                           |  65 ++++++++-
 .../tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py     | 123 ++++++++++++++++++
 .../opt/rose-app-metadata.conf                |   2 +-
 rose-stem/flow.cylc                           |   2 +-
 7 files changed, 198 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 48a6f05..39f46b3 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata
             source_cube.attributes["grid_staggering"] = grid_staggering
 
     if not netcdf_only:
-        save.ancil(source_cubes, output_path)
+        save.ancil(
+            source_cubes, output_path, ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files
+        )
     save.netcdf(source_cubes, output_path)
 
     return source_cubes
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 96dc0a7..0db80c8 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def main(
         ants.analysis.make_consistent_with_lsm(result, lbm, invert_mask, search_method)
 
     if not netcdf_only:
-        save.ancil(result, output)
+        save.ancil(result, output, ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files)
     save.netcdf(result, output)
 
     return result
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index dd84790..bc0b88c 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -159,7 +159,11 @@ def main(
         save.ukca_netcdf(regridded_cubes, output_path)
     else:
         if not netcdf_only:
-            save.ancil(regridded_cubes, output_path)
+            save.ancil(
+                regridded_cubes,
+                output_path,
+                ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files,
+            )
         save.netcdf(regridded_cubes, output_path)
 
     return regridded_cubes
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 3dfeaac..5ccf458 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import ants.utils.cube
 import iris
+import numpy as np
 from ants.fileformats.ancil import _cubes_to_ancilfile, _mule_set_lbuser2
 from ants.fileformats.netcdf.cf import (
     _coerce_netcdf_classic_dtypes,
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@
 from ants.fileformats.netcdf.ukca import LOCAL_ATTS, _ukca_conventions
 
 
-def ancil(cubes, filename):
+def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_external_metadata=False):
     """
     Save one or more cubes to a F03 UM ancillary file.
 
@@ -73,6 +74,9 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename):
         One or more cubes to be saved.
     filename : str
         The name of the F03 UM ancillary file, including any extension.
+    ignore_external_metadata : bool
+        Determines whether attributes should be saved to a seperate metadata file.
+        Default behavior is false, so will write out the metadata.
 
     Notes
     -----
@@ -92,6 +96,8 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename):
         raise ValueError("F03 UM ancillary files cannot be saved with a .nc extension.")
 
     cubes = ants.utils.cube.as_cubelist(cubes)
+    if not ignore_external_metadata:
+        _write_metadata(cubes, filename)
     ancilfile = _cubes_to_ancilfile(cubes)
     _mule_set_lbuser2(ancilfile)
     ancilfile.to_file(filename)
@@ -324,6 +330,47 @@ def _update_history_cmd(cube):
         ants.utils.cube.update_history(cc, " ".join(items), date)
 
 
+def _write_metadata(cubes, filename):
+    """Check for metadata in the cubes and write out external files
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    cubes : :class:`iris.cube.Cube` or :class:`iris.cube.CubeList`
+        One or more cubes to be saved.
+    filename : str
+        The name of the file where the data will be saved to.
+    """
+    license = []
+    license_names = []
+    attribution = []
+    attribution_names = []
+    restrictions = []
+    restrictions_names = []
+    for cube in cubes:
+        for key, value in cube.attributes.items():
+            if key == "license":
+                license.append(value)
+                license_names.append(cube.name())
+            if key == "attribution":
+                attribution.append(value)
+                attribution_names.append(cube.name())
+            if key == "restrictions":
+                restrictions.append(value)
+                restrictions_names.append(cube.name())
+    if len(license) > 0:
+        writable_license = _check_multiple_attributes(license, license_names)
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_license, filename, "license")
+    if len(attribution) > 0:
+        writable_attribution = _check_multiple_attributes(
+            attribution, attribution_names
+        )
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_attribution, filename, "attribution")
+    if len(restrictions) > 0:
+        writable_restrictions = _check_multiple_attributes(
+            restrictions, restrictions_names
+        )
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_restrictions, filename, "restrictions")
+
+
 def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     """Checks whether the attribute can be written out exactly as is, or if it has to be
     pre-pended with the cube name."""
@@ -341,3 +388,19 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
         concatenated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
     return concatenated_attribute
+
+
+def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
+    """Takes a list of metadata and writes it to a file called filename.attribute_name.
+    If for any reason, the file to be written already exists, the new metadata will be
+    appended to it.
+    """
+    filepath = str(filename) + "." + attribute_name
+    # flatten list, if metadata contains list of list - possible in cases where metadata
+    #  is being read in
+    if any(isinstance(element, list) for element in metadata):
+        metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()
+    with open(filepath, "a") as metadata_file:
+        metadata_file.writelines(metadata)
+    print("saved")
+    warnings.warn(f"{attribute_name} has been written to sidecar file {filepath}")
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c19e52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+# (C) Crown Copyright, Met Office. All rights reserved.
+#
+# This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
+# See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
+import os
+from unittest import mock
+
+import ants.tests.stock as stock
+import pytest
+from ants.io.save import _write_metadata
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_license_attribute_written(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a cube with a license is written out."""
+    cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    license = "This is a cube's license. "
+    cube.attributes["license"] = license
+    cube.rename("license test cube")
+    filename = tmp_path / "test_cube"
+    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
+    expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
+    with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
+        actual_license = file.read()
+    assert actual_license == license
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a cube with a license that resembles the format of a longer license
+    written in, is written out correctly."""
+    loaded_license = [
+        "This is the license of the cube.\n",
+        "\n",
+        "    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.\n",
+        "    ",
+    ]
+    cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    cube.attributes["license"] = loaded_license
+    cube.rename("loaded license test cube")
+    filename = tmp_path / "test_cube"
+    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
+    expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
+    with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
+        actual_license = file.readlines()
+    assert actual_license == loaded_license
+
+
+def test_warning_given():
+    """Tests that a warning is given when file is written out."""
+    cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    attribution = "This date came from an institution. "
+    cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
+    expected_message = (
+        "attribution has been written to sidecar file filename.attribution"
+    )
+    # mocks out the opening of files, so no file is created
+    with mock.patch("builtins.open"):
+        with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=expected_message):
+            _write_metadata([cube], "filename")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_multiple_cubes(tmp_path):
+    """Test that multiple_cubes with attributes is written out correctly."""
+    # creating three cubes with different license attributes
+    cube1 = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    license1 = "This is a cube's license. "
+    cube1.attributes["license"] = license1
+    cube1.rename("the first cube")
+    cube2 = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    license2 = "This is another cube's license. "
+    cube2.attributes["license"] = license2
+    cube2.rename("the second cube")
+    cube3 = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    license3 = "This is a third cube's license. "
+    cube3.attributes["license"] = license3
+    cube3.rename("the third cube")
+    cubelist = [cube1, cube2, cube3]
+    filename = tmp_path / "multiple_cube_test"
+    # The actual test
+    _write_metadata(cubelist, filename)
+    expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
+    with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
+        actual_license = file.read()
+    expected_license = (
+        "the first cube = This is a cube's license. the second cube = "
+        "This is another cube's license. the third cube = This is a third cube's "
+        "license. "
+    )
+    assert actual_license == expected_license
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:attribution has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:restrictions has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_all_different_attributes_written_out(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a cube with a multiple different attributes writes
+    out all metadata files."""
+    cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    attribution = "This date came from an institution. "
+    cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
+    cube.attributes["restrictions"] = (
+        "This data is restricted to be used for testing purposes only."
+    )
+    cube.attributes["license"] = "This is a license for the data"
+    filename = tmp_path / "test_multiple_attributes"
+    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
+    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".attribution")
+    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".restrictions")
+    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".license")
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf
index f3429ea..9b79396 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/ancil_general_regrid/opt/rose-app-metadata.conf
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@ default=ants-launch ancil_general_regrid.py \
 [env]
 output=${ROSE_DATA}/${ROSE_TASK_NAME}
 search_method=kdtree
-source=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_general_regrid/n96e_orca_land_cover_fraction
+source=/data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/n96e_orca_land_cover_fraction
 target=${TEST_SOURCES_DIR}/ancil_general_regrid/qrparm.mask.nc
 target_type=lsm
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 21ecd3a..499411d 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ fi
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = general_regrid
-            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run83/share/data/
+            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run95/share/data/
 
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA

From a0e13e8c5cb241089ed56c316d5eeeb131a16639 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:56:33 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 41/80] Update rose stem source for roseana

---
 rose-stem/flow.cylc | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 499411d..bb3cad4 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ fi
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = general_regrid
-            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run95/share/data/
+            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run98/share/data/
 
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA

From e1b0595324bc7050e69c7e2038caf90fac54a384 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:18:57 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 42/80] Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Andrew Clark <2562650+arjclark@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                            | 4 ++--
 lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py | 4 ++--
 2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 5ccf458..2c4da99 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_external_metadata=False):
         The name of the F03 UM ancillary file, including any extension.
     ignore_external_metadata : bool
         Determines whether attributes should be saved to a seperate metadata file.
-        Default behavior is false, so will write out the metadata.
+        Default setting is False, so will write out the metadata.
 
     Notes
     -----
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
     """
     filepath = str(filename) + "." + attribute_name
     # flatten list, if metadata contains list of list - possible in cases where metadata
-    #  is being read in
+    # is being read in
     if any(isinstance(element, list) for element in metadata):
         metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()
     with open(filepath, "a") as metadata_file:
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
index 1c19e52..81a976f 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
 def test_warning_given():
     """Tests that a warning is given when file is written out."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    attribution = "This date came from an institution. "
+    attribution = "This data came from an institution. "
     cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
     expected_message = (
         "attribution has been written to sidecar file filename.attribution"
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def test_all_different_attributes_written_out(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a cube with a multiple different attributes writes
     out all metadata files."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    attribution = "This date came from an institution. "
+    attribution = "This data came from an institution. "
     cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
     cube.attributes["restrictions"] = (
         "This data is restricted to be used for testing purposes only."

From 5e70363cbd7c9380d5a6ac7c3a92578fa22c7ce1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:40:41 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 43/80] Change name of variable for turning off the save option

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py           | 4 +++-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py   | 2 +-
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py | 2 +-
 lib/ants/io/save.py                  | 6 +++---
 4 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
index 39f46b3..2d24b97 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_2anc.py
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ def main(source_path, output_path, grid_staggering, netcdf_only, ignore_metadata
 
     if not netcdf_only:
         save.ancil(
-            source_cubes, output_path, ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files
+            source_cubes,
+            output_path,
+            ignore_writing_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files,
         )
     save.netcdf(source_cubes, output_path)
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index 0db80c8..caa29ca 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def main(
         ants.analysis.make_consistent_with_lsm(result, lbm, invert_mask, search_method)
 
     if not netcdf_only:
-        save.ancil(result, output, ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files)
+        save.ancil(result, output, ignore_writing_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files)
     save.netcdf(result, output)
 
     return result
diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
index bc0b88c..355226a 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_general_regrid.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def main(
             save.ancil(
                 regridded_cubes,
                 output_path,
-                ignore_external_metadata=ignore_metadata_files,
+                ignore_writing_metadata_files=ignore_metadata_files,
             )
         save.netcdf(regridded_cubes, output_path)
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 2c4da99..f64bca0 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 from ants.fileformats.netcdf.ukca import LOCAL_ATTS, _ukca_conventions
 
 
-def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_external_metadata=False):
+def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_writing_metadata_files=False):
     """
     Save one or more cubes to a F03 UM ancillary file.
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_external_metadata=False):
         One or more cubes to be saved.
     filename : str
         The name of the F03 UM ancillary file, including any extension.
-    ignore_external_metadata : bool
+    ignore_writing_metadata_files : bool
         Determines whether attributes should be saved to a seperate metadata file.
         Default setting is False, so will write out the metadata.
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_external_metadata=False):
         raise ValueError("F03 UM ancillary files cannot be saved with a .nc extension.")
 
     cubes = ants.utils.cube.as_cubelist(cubes)
-    if not ignore_external_metadata:
+    if not ignore_writing_metadata_files:
         _write_metadata(cubes, filename)
     ancilfile = _cubes_to_ancilfile(cubes)
     _mule_set_lbuser2(ancilfile)

From 84808571ecf5becccdfce7284cde222a963a8242 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:53:59 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 44/80] Clarify variable name

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 10 +++++-----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index f64bca0..f3f1fc2 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -330,13 +330,13 @@ def _update_history_cmd(cube):
         ants.utils.cube.update_history(cc, " ".join(items), date)
 
 
-def _write_metadata(cubes, filename):
+def _write_metadata(cubes, data_filepath):
     """Check for metadata in the cubes and write out external files
     Parameters
     ----------
     cubes : :class:`iris.cube.Cube` or :class:`iris.cube.CubeList`
         One or more cubes to be saved.
-    filename : str
+    data_filepath : str
         The name of the file where the data will be saved to.
     """
     license = []
@@ -358,17 +358,17 @@ def _write_metadata(cubes, filename):
                 restrictions_names.append(cube.name())
     if len(license) > 0:
         writable_license = _check_multiple_attributes(license, license_names)
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_license, filename, "license")
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_license, data_filepath, "license")
     if len(attribution) > 0:
         writable_attribution = _check_multiple_attributes(
             attribution, attribution_names
         )
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_attribution, filename, "attribution")
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_attribution, data_filepath, "attribution")
     if len(restrictions) > 0:
         writable_restrictions = _check_multiple_attributes(
             restrictions, restrictions_names
         )
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_restrictions, filename, "restrictions")
+        _write_metadata_file(writable_restrictions, data_filepath, "restrictions")
 
 
 def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):

From acbf778f935dfba015af2d0375d097e568c88238 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:22:01 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 45/80] Remove print statement

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 1 -
 1 file changed, 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index f3f1fc2..b3db582 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -402,5 +402,4 @@ def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
         metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()
     with open(filepath, "a") as metadata_file:
         metadata_file.writelines(metadata)
-    print("saved")
     warnings.warn(f"{attribute_name} has been written to sidecar file {filepath}")

From f1d7906b6c183ca8d93f9efab86474f1fd84e5a1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:54:48 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 46/80] Update name and docstring of function

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 7 ++++---
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index b3db582..5498960 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def ancil(cubes, filename, ignore_writing_metadata_files=False):
 
     cubes = ants.utils.cube.as_cubelist(cubes)
     if not ignore_writing_metadata_files:
-        _write_metadata(cubes, filename)
+        _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, filename)
     ancilfile = _cubes_to_ancilfile(cubes)
     _mule_set_lbuser2(ancilfile)
     ancilfile.to_file(filename)
@@ -330,8 +330,9 @@ def _update_history_cmd(cube):
         ants.utils.cube.update_history(cc, " ".join(items), date)
 
 
-def _write_metadata(cubes, data_filepath):
-    """Check for metadata in the cubes and write out external files
+def _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, data_filepath):
+    """Checks for a license, attribution or restrictions in the metadata of the cubes,
+    and calls `_write_metadata_file` for each attribute.
     Parameters
     ----------
     cubes : :class:`iris.cube.Cube` or :class:`iris.cube.CubeList`

From 3ef2e612f46d7b4e391964906e12b80e9f5621f8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:23:21 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 47/80] change docstring syntax

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 3 ++-
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 5498960..7ce683e 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
 
 
 def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
-    """Takes a list of metadata and writes it to a file called filename.attribute_name.
+    """Takes a list of metadata and writes it to a file called
+    filename.<attribute_name>.
     If for any reason, the file to be written already exists, the new metadata will be
     appended to it.
     """

From 7c5d69c641149f26b95718a4632db5398f8b59b3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:01:55 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 48/80] Update unittest to use mock

---
 .../tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py     | 48 +++++++++++--------
 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
index 81a976f..7ca3e28 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@
 #
 # This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
 # See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
-import os
 from unittest import mock
 
 import ants.tests.stock as stock
 import pytest
-from ants.io.save import _write_metadata
+from ants.io.save import _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ def test_license_attribute_written(tmp_path):
     cube.attributes["license"] = license
     cube.rename("license test cube")
     filename = tmp_path / "test_cube"
-    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
+    _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], filename)
     expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
     with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
         actual_license = file.read()
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
     cube.attributes["license"] = loaded_license
     cube.rename("loaded license test cube")
     filename = tmp_path / "test_cube"
-    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
+    _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], filename)
     expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
     with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
         actual_license = file.readlines()
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ def test_warning_given():
     # mocks out the opening of files, so no file is created
     with mock.patch("builtins.open"):
         with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=expected_message):
-            _write_metadata([cube], "filename")
+            _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], "filename")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ def test_multiple_cubes(tmp_path):
     cubelist = [cube1, cube2, cube3]
     filename = tmp_path / "multiple_cube_test"
     # The actual test
-    _write_metadata(cubelist, filename)
+    _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubelist, filename)
     expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
     with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
         actual_license = file.read()
@@ -97,16 +96,7 @@ def test_multiple_cubes(tmp_path):
     assert actual_license == expected_license
 
 
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:attribution has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:restrictions has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
-def test_all_different_attributes_written_out(tmp_path):
+def test_all_different_attributes_written_out():
     """Tests that a cube with a multiple different attributes writes
     out all metadata files."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
@@ -116,8 +106,24 @@ def test_all_different_attributes_written_out(tmp_path):
         "This data is restricted to be used for testing purposes only."
     )
     cube.attributes["license"] = "This is a license for the data"
-    filename = tmp_path / "test_multiple_attributes"
-    _write_metadata([cube], filename)
-    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".attribution")
-    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".restrictions")
-    assert os.path.exists(str(filename) + ".license")
+    filename = "test_multiple_attributes"
+    with mock.patch("ants.io.save._write_metadata_file") as mock_method:
+        _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], filename)
+
+    expected_license = mock.call(
+        ["This is a license for the data"], "test_multiple_attributes", "license"
+    )
+    expected_attribution = mock.call(
+        ["This data came from an institution. "],
+        "test_multiple_attributes",
+        "attribution",
+    )
+    expected_restrictions = mock.call(
+        ["This data is restricted to be used for testing purposes only."],
+        "test_multiple_attributes",
+        "restrictions",
+    )
+
+    assert expected_license in mock_method.call_args_list
+    assert expected_attribution in mock_method.call_args_list
+    assert expected_restrictions in mock_method.call_args_list

From 7453293be9d9322dc6381f59565d4499527bb28a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:40:42 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 49/80] Update warning to log info

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                            | 4 +++-
 lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py | 8 +++++---
 2 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 7ce683e..fa633f6 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 specifying ``saver='ukca'`` (see :func:`ants.io.save.ukca_netcdf`).
 
 """
+import logging
 import os
 import sys
 import warnings
@@ -404,4 +405,5 @@ def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
         metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()
     with open(filepath, "a") as metadata_file:
         metadata_file.writelines(metadata)
-    warnings.warn(f"{attribute_name} has been written to sidecar file {filepath}")
+    _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+    _LOGGER.info(f"{attribute_name} has been written to sidecar file {filepath}")
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
index 7ca3e28..79325d7 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #
 # This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
 # See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
+import logging
 from unittest import mock
 
 import ants.tests.stock as stock
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
     assert actual_license == loaded_license
 
 
-def test_warning_given():
-    """Tests that a warning is given when file is written out."""
+def test_log_output(caplog):
+    """Tests that the logger gives the correct output when a file is written out."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
     attribution = "This data came from an institution. "
     cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
@@ -59,8 +60,9 @@ def test_warning_given():
     )
     # mocks out the opening of files, so no file is created
     with mock.patch("builtins.open"):
-        with pytest.raises(UserWarning, match=expected_message):
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.INFO):
             _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], "filename")
+    assert expected_message in caplog.text
 
 
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings(

From 67301b059de72f4a2e91f10d4ff75e1ae4e07c05 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:53:59 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 50/80] Update code comment to be more clear

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index fa633f6..a47395f 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -399,8 +399,8 @@ def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
     appended to it.
     """
     filepath = str(filename) + "." + attribute_name
-    # flatten list, if metadata contains list of list - possible in cases where metadata
-    # is being read in
+    # Order metadata to be in one list, if metadata contains list of list - possible in
+    # cases where metadata is being read in
     if any(isinstance(element, list) for element in metadata):
         metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()
     with open(filepath, "a") as metadata_file:

From cc97f9f6c0b01a2457ca1a59df137007147061d7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:44:39 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 51/80] Rewrite check_and_sort_metadata to use a dictionary

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 47 +++++++++++++++++++--------------------------
 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index a47395f..0e80db4 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -341,36 +341,29 @@ def _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, data_filepath):
     data_filepath : str
         The name of the file where the data will be saved to.
     """
-    license = []
-    license_names = []
-    attribution = []
-    attribution_names = []
-    restrictions = []
-    restrictions_names = []
+    # a dictionary to contain all of the metadata to be saved
+    metadata_dictionary = {}
+    # a dictionary to keep track of which cubes have metadata
+    cube_names_dictionary = {}
+    # a list of approved attributes that can be saved
+    attributes_to_save = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
     for cube in cubes:
         for key, value in cube.attributes.items():
-            if key == "license":
-                license.append(value)
-                license_names.append(cube.name())
-            if key == "attribution":
-                attribution.append(value)
-                attribution_names.append(cube.name())
-            if key == "restrictions":
-                restrictions.append(value)
-                restrictions_names.append(cube.name())
-    if len(license) > 0:
-        writable_license = _check_multiple_attributes(license, license_names)
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_license, data_filepath, "license")
-    if len(attribution) > 0:
-        writable_attribution = _check_multiple_attributes(
-            attribution, attribution_names
+            # check the attribute is one we want to save
+            if key in attributes_to_save:
+                if key in metadata_dictionary:
+                    metadata_dictionary[key].append(value)
+                    cube_names_dictionary[key + "_names"].append(cube.name())
+                else:
+                    metadata_dictionary[key] = [value]
+                    cube_names_dictionary[key + "_names"] = [cube.name()]
+    for key, value in metadata_dictionary.items():
+        # sort the metadata ready to save
+        metadata_dictionary[key] = _check_multiple_attributes(
+            metadata_dictionary[key], cube_names_dictionary[key + "_names"]
         )
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_attribution, data_filepath, "attribution")
-    if len(restrictions) > 0:
-        writable_restrictions = _check_multiple_attributes(
-            restrictions, restrictions_names
-        )
-        _write_metadata_file(writable_restrictions, data_filepath, "restrictions")
+        # write the metadata
+        _write_metadata_file(metadata_dictionary[key], data_filepath, key)
 
 
 def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):

From 9abe77c8c632b3c6237420d3091c01499c1af591 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:54:16 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 52/80] Change save behaviour to add newlines

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                            | 3 ++-
 lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py | 6 +++---
 2 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 0e80db4..681e593 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -381,7 +381,8 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     # if they are not the same, add the cube name
     concatenated_attribute = []
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
-        concatenated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute)
+        concatenated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute + "\n")
+    print("concatenated_attribute", concatenated_attribute)
     return concatenated_attribute
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
index 79325d7..d556bd6 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ def test_multiple_cubes(tmp_path):
     with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
         actual_license = file.read()
     expected_license = (
-        "the first cube = This is a cube's license. the second cube = "
-        "This is another cube's license. the third cube = This is a third cube's "
-        "license. "
+        "the first cube = This is a cube's license. \nthe second cube = "
+        "This is another cube's license. \nthe third cube = This is a third cube's "
+        "license. \n"
     )
     assert actual_license == expected_license
 

From df0839195281beaccd82ae90ae09863502bda111 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:57:24 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 53/80] Rename test__write_metadata.py to
 test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py

---
 ...te_metadata.py => test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py} | 0
 1 file changed, 0 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
 rename lib/ants/tests/io/save/{test__write_metadata.py => test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py} (100%)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
similarity index 100%
rename from lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__write_metadata.py
rename to lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py

From ccce4db7d2608c58d4d1533d54a8da2178b96e65 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:20:34 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 54/80] Clean up unittests

---
 .../save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py   | 10 ----------
 .../tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py   |  2 +-
 2 files changed, 1 insertion(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
index d556bd6..d738ffb 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -6,13 +6,9 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
 import ants.tests.stock as stock
-import pytest
 from ants.io.save import _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes
 
 
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
 def test_license_attribute_written(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a cube with a license is written out."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
@@ -27,9 +23,6 @@ def test_license_attribute_written(tmp_path):
     assert actual_license == license
 
 
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
 def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a cube with a license that resembles the format of a longer license
     written in, is written out correctly."""
@@ -65,9 +58,6 @@ def test_log_output(caplog):
     assert expected_message in caplog.text
 
 
-@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
-    "ignore:license has been written to sidecar file /var/tmp/:UserWarning"
-)
 def test_multiple_cubes(tmp_path):
     """Test that multiple_cubes with attributes is written out correctly."""
     # creating three cubes with different license attributes
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
index ae534ed..1d37924 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_multiple_attributes.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_all_elements_in_list_same():
 
 def test_different_elements_have_cube_names():
     """Tests that when multiple attributes are given, cube names are included."""
-    expected = ["cube1 = license 1. ", "cube2 = license 2. "]
+    expected = ["cube1 = license 1. \n", "cube2 = license 2. \n"]
     licenses = ["license 1. ", "license 2. "]
     cube_names = ["cube1", "cube2"]
     actual = _check_multiple_attributes(licenses, cube_names)

From 84362b5303bf06da01114aba4f994a75e1734f87 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2026 10:11:49 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 55/80] Add support for other attributes to be written out

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py                                      | 9 ++++++++-
 .../io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py  | 6 +++---
 2 files changed, 11 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 681e593..2be35aa 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -346,7 +346,14 @@ def _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, data_filepath):
     # a dictionary to keep track of which cubes have metadata
     cube_names_dictionary = {}
     # a list of approved attributes that can be saved
-    attributes_to_save = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
+    attributes_to_save = [
+        "license",
+        "attribution",
+        "restrictions",
+        "institution",
+        "acknowledgement",
+        "references",
+    ]
     for cube in cubes:
         for key, value in cube.attributes.items():
             # check the attribute is one we want to save
diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
index d738ffb..78bc80e 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
 def test_log_output(caplog):
     """Tests that the logger gives the correct output when a file is written out."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    attribution = "This data came from an institution. "
-    cube.attributes["attribution"] = attribution
+    institution = "This data came from Unseen University. "
+    cube.attributes["institution"] = institution
     expected_message = (
-        "attribution has been written to sidecar file filename.attribution"
+        "institution has been written to sidecar file filename.institution"
     )
     # mocks out the opening of files, so no file is created
     with mock.patch("builtins.open"):

From cc84db7b71950762e1854594ca9f5ed797e28202 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2026 10:14:49 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 56/80] Change test placeholder reference

---
 .../tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py   | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
index 78bc80e..cac92af 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
 def test_log_output(caplog):
     """Tests that the logger gives the correct output when a file is written out."""
     cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
-    institution = "This data came from Unseen University. "
+    institution = "This data came from University Blah. "
     cube.attributes["institution"] = institution
     expected_message = (
         "institution has been written to sidecar file filename.institution"

From ae88f5795c9868a835d70f099bc401b1ffa86cc4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:36:53 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 57/80] Update comment

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index 2be35aa..a29470c 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ def _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, data_filepath):
                     metadata_dictionary[key] = [value]
                     cube_names_dictionary[key + "_names"] = [cube.name()]
     for key, value in metadata_dictionary.items():
-        # sort the metadata ready to save
+        # Update the metadata ready to save
         metadata_dictionary[key] = _check_multiple_attributes(
             metadata_dictionary[key], cube_names_dictionary[key + "_names"]
         )

From a159bc7696d2535924a97963ac7adaa0c3a9db4c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:38:26 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 58/80] Remove print statement

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 1 -
 1 file changed, 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index a29470c..eeae8df 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -389,7 +389,6 @@ def _check_multiple_attributes(attribute_list, cube_names):
     concatenated_attribute = []
     for attribute, name in zip(attribute_list, cube_names, strict=True):
         concatenated_attribute.append(name + " = " + attribute + "\n")
-    print("concatenated_attribute", concatenated_attribute)
     return concatenated_attribute
 
 

From 7df8ca4755133a904a206482984bee60cf9e9b0f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:42:07 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 59/80] Update spelling

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index eeae8df..e1be662 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ def _write_metadata_file(metadata, filename, attribute_name):
     appended to it.
     """
     filepath = str(filename) + "." + attribute_name
-    # Order metadata to be in one list, if metadata contains list of list - possible in
+    # Order metadata to be in one list, if metadata contains list of lists - possible in
     # cases where metadata is being read in
     if any(isinstance(element, list) for element in metadata):
         metadata = np.concatenate(metadata).tolist()

From d0478ec4cc09ecad3baf308ded6238fe11c48573 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:48:56 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 60/80] remove merging artifacts

---
 lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py | 9 ---------
 1 file changed, 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
index dede518..59c7efd 100755
--- a/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
+++ b/lib/ants/cli/ancil_fill_n_merge.py
@@ -104,11 +104,8 @@ def main(
     end,
     netcdf_only,
     search_method,
-<<<<<<< main
     blending_distance,
-=======
     ignore_metadata_files,
->>>>>>> load_save_feature_branch
 ):
     """
     Perform merge and fill operation on the provided sources.
@@ -159,17 +156,14 @@ def main(
     search_method : :obj:`str`
         Select the search method to be used when filling missing points. The methods
         currently supported are "spiral" and "kdtree".
-<<<<<<< main
     blending_distance : float
         Distance over which blending between the primary and alternate sources
         is applied. Note that this is in units of grid cells, not a physical distance.
         If ``None``, no blending is applied, and there will be a hard edge between
         the two sources.
-=======
     ignore_metadata_files : :obj:`bool`, optional
         When set to True, files containing metadata will not be loaded alongside data
         and added as attributes to the cube.
->>>>>>> load_save_feature_branch
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -289,11 +283,8 @@ def cli_interface():
         end=args.end,
         netcdf_only=args.netcdf_only,
         search_method=args.search_method,
-<<<<<<< main
         blending_distance=args.blending_distance,
-=======
         ignore_metadata_files=args.ignore_metadata_files,
->>>>>>> load_save_feature_branch
     )
 
 

From f3b85fb5113c827101cd3a52d711c2d49e27b63b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:14:50 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 61/80] Add fix for netcdf saving error

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 1c393fc..9f63d8b 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
                 )
             else:
                 open_file = open(metadata_file, "r")
-                metadata = open_file.readlines()
+                metadata = open_file.read()
                 open_file.close()
                 cube.attributes[attribute_name] = metadata
 

From e3aea7e98588fe5945c5ff39af438a18f10841f3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:35:21 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 62/80] Update unittests with new load format

---
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py | 12 +++++-------
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
index 892b8ac..c7e2619 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test_CallbackMetadata.py
@@ -23,12 +23,10 @@ def test_metadata_files_added_to_attributes(tmp_path):
     It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.
     """
     # How the text should look while stored in an array
-    loaded_license = [
-        "This is the license of the cube.\n",
-        "\n",
-        "    It should be preserved and added to the cube when loaded.\n",
-        "    ",
-    ]
+    loaded_license = (
+        "This is the license of the cube.\n\n    It should be preserved"
+        " and added to the cube when loaded.\n    "
+    )
     test_cube = ants.tests.stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
     temporary_cube_path = tmp_path / "cube_attribute.pp"
     iris.save(test_cube, str(temporary_cube_path))
@@ -166,7 +164,7 @@ def test_misspelt_license_added(tmp_path):
     with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=warning_message, category=UserWarning)
         loaded_cube = ants.io.load.load_cube(temporary_cube_path)
-        assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == ["a license"]
+        assert loaded_cube.attributes["license"] == "a license"
 
 
 def test_invalid_metadata_name(tmp_path):

From fcf45a41a80e4efaaeb56b102bc609eb65f163c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:40:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 63/80] Cleanup and add fix for using constraints

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 2 ++
 rose-stem/flow.cylc | 1 -
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 9f63d8b..87e9103 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ def _add_callback(callback, *args, **kwargs):
     args = list(args)
     if len(args) == 1:
         kwargs["callback"] = callback
+    elif len(args) == 2:
+        args.append(callback)
     elif len(args) == 3:
         args[2] = callback
     args = tuple(args)
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index bb3cad4..1846e8a 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -264,7 +264,6 @@ fi
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = general_regrid
-            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE=/home/users/theo.geddes/cylc-run/dev-ants-core/run98/share/data/
 
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid<fill>]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA

From d9294f8179bd134c46443abba4ca48f0973a48ad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:44:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 64/80] Add tests for _add_callback()

---
 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test__add_callback.py | 62 ++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 62 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 lib/ants/tests/io/load/test__add_callback.py

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test__add_callback.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test__add_callback.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b03a154
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/load/test__add_callback.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# (C) Crown Copyright, Met Office. All rights reserved.
+#
+# This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
+# See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
+"""Tests that aren't suited to being testsed with end-to-end functionality in
+test__CallbackMetadata.py."""
+
+from ants.io.load import _add_callback, _CallbackMetadata
+
+
+def test_one_argument_input():
+    """Tests that the arguments are correctly returned when given one positional
+    argument."""
+    callback = _CallbackMetadata(None)
+    source = "filepath"
+    expected_args = (source,)
+    expected_kwargs = {"callback": callback}
+    actual_args, actual_kwargs = _add_callback(callback, source)
+    assert actual_args == expected_args
+    assert actual_kwargs == expected_kwargs
+
+
+def test_two_argument_input():
+    """Tests that the arguments are correctly returned when given two positional
+    arguments."""
+    callback = _CallbackMetadata(None)
+    source = "filepath"
+    constraint = "a test constraint"
+    expected_args = (source, constraint, callback)
+    # this should return an empty dictionary of kwargs
+    actual_args, _empty_kwargs = _add_callback(callback, source, constraint)
+    assert actual_args == expected_args
+    assert _empty_kwargs == {}
+
+
+def test_three_argument_input():
+    """Tests that the arguments are correctly returned when given three positional
+    arguments."""
+    user_callback = "a callback that will be wrapped in _CallbackMetadata"
+    callback = _CallbackMetadata(user_callback)
+    source = "filepath"
+    constraint = "a test constraint"
+    expected_args = (source, constraint, callback)
+    # this should return an empty dictionary of kwargs
+    actual_args, _empty_kwargs = _add_callback(
+        callback, source, constraint, user_callback
+    )
+    assert actual_args == expected_args
+    assert _empty_kwargs == {}
+
+
+def test_kwargs_input():
+    """Tests that arguments are correctly returned when given keyword arguments."""
+    callback = _CallbackMetadata(None)
+    source = "filepath"
+    expected_args = (source,)
+    constraint = "a test constraint"
+    # user callback will always be removed if passed in as a kwarg before this function
+    expected_kwargs = {"constraint": constraint, "callback": callback}
+    actual_args, actual_kwargs = _add_callback(callback, source, constraint=constraint)
+    assert actual_args == expected_args
+    assert actual_kwargs == expected_kwargs

From 5676e054707ba672ab8d321a9a5c8cdefcab5548 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:21:56 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 65/80] Add copy metadata attributes

---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 48 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 48 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index 076e919..8638052 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1139,6 +1139,54 @@ def inherit_metadata(source, reference):
         source.attributes["grid_staggering"] = reference.attributes["grid_staggering"]
 
 
+def copy_metadata_attributes(
+    source,
+    reference,
+    approved_metadata=[
+        "license",
+        "attribution",
+        "restrictions",
+        "institution",
+        "acknowledgement",
+        "references",
+    ],
+):
+    """
+    Inherit cube metadata attributes from a provided reference.
+
+    In-place operation on source cube.
+
+    Metadata attributes from the refrence are added into the source cube. This is done
+    in the manner of `attribute: cube-name = metadata content` for tracebaility and
+    allowing for the stacking of metadata.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    source : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
+        Source to have its metadata update.
+    reference : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
+        Reference which defines the metadata to inherit from.
+    """
+
+    for attribute in approved_metadata:
+        if attribute in reference.attributes:
+            if attribute in source.attributes:
+                if source.attributes[attribute] != reference.attributes[attribute]:
+                    source.attributes[attribute] = (
+                        source.name()
+                        + " = "
+                        + source.attributes[attribute]
+                        + "\n"
+                        + reference.name()
+                        + " = "
+                        + reference.attributes[attribute]
+                    )
+            else:
+                source.attributes[attribute] = (
+                    reference.name() + " = " + reference.attributes[attribute]
+                )
+
+
 def set_crs(cube, crs=None):
     """
     Set cube coordinate system.

From 209b4c6f69be4dcdf49d7dfd0c9b662400086a98 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:58:18 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 66/80] Add tests for copying metadata

---
 .../cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py     | 69 +++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 69 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..604e275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# (C) Crown Copyright, Met Office. All rights reserved.
+#
+# This file is part of ANTS and is released under the BSD 3-Clause license.
+# See LICENSE.txt in the root of the repository for full licensing details.
+
+import pytest
+from ants.tests import stock
+from ants.utils.cube import copy_metadata_attributes
+
+
+def test_adding_new_attribute():
+    """Tests that a new attribute will be added to the source cube if it doesn't exist
+    already."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    # Reference cube:
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["license"] = "a test license"
+    reference.rename("test cube")
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    assert source.attributes["license"] == "test cube = a test license"
+
+
+def test_modifying_existing_attribute():
+    """Tests that an existing attribute will be modified on the source cube."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    source.attributes["references"] = "a test reference"
+    source.rename("source cube")
+    # Reference cube
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["references"] = "another different test reference"
+    reference.rename("reference cube")
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    assert (
+        source.attributes["references"]
+        == "source cube = a test reference\n"
+        + "reference cube = another different test reference"
+    )
+
+
+def test_no_reference_attribute():
+    """Tests that a source cube attribute with no reference will be left unchanged."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    source.attributes["restrictions"] = "a test restriction"
+    # Reference cube
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    assert source.attributes["restrictions"] == "a test restriction"
+
+
+def test_non_standard_attribute():
+    """Tests that an attribute not in the allowed list is not copied over."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    # Reference cube:
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["a value not in the allowed list"] = "not in the list"
+    reference.rename("test cube")
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    expected_msg = "a value not in the allowed list"
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError, match=expected_msg):
+        # Check the attribute hasn't been copied over
+        source.attributes["a value not in the allowed list"]

From c0e3128740ef64df17fe319c499e17753a7dfac7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:13:49 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 67/80] Add check for licence spelling when saving

---
 lib/ants/io/save.py | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/save.py b/lib/ants/io/save.py
index ec01a83..bba5c11 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/save.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/save.py
@@ -353,6 +353,13 @@ def _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes(cubes, data_filepath):
     for cube in cubes:
         for key, value in cube.attributes.items():
             # check the attribute is one we want to save
+            if key == "licence":
+                warnings.warn(
+                    "The attribute name licence has been changed to "
+                    "'license', in line with ANTS working practices.",
+                    category=UserWarning,
+                )
+                key = "license"
             if key in attributes_to_save:
                 if key in metadata_dictionary:
                     metadata_dictionary[key].append(value)

From 37ccb1398c849f5fccbc41691ce174dfded853fb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:35:32 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 68/80] Add test for licence key change

---
 ...est__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py | 19 +++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 19 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
index cac92af..e2190a5 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/io/save/test__check_and_sort_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
 import ants.tests.stock as stock
+import pytest
 from ants.io.save import _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes
 
 
@@ -23,6 +24,24 @@ def test_license_attribute_written(tmp_path):
     assert actual_license == license
 
 
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(
+    "ignore:The attribute name licence has been changed to 'license', in line with "
+    "ANTS working practices.:UserWarning"
+)
+def test_licence_attribute_written(tmp_path):
+    """Tests that a cube with a licence  is changed and written out."""
+    cube = stock.geodetic(shape=(2, 2))
+    licence = "This is a cube's license. "
+    cube.attributes["licence"] = licence
+    cube.rename("licence test cube")
+    filename = tmp_path / "test_cube"
+    _check_and_sort_metadata_attributes([cube], filename)
+    expected_filename = str(filename) + ".license"
+    with open(expected_filename, "r") as file:
+        actual_license = file.read()
+    assert actual_license == licence
+
+
 def test_loaded_license_written(tmp_path):
     """Tests that a cube with a license that resembles the format of a longer license
     written in, is written out correctly."""

From 1a95458e8b20e0c83a0e280cb9be0f502b43bc2e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:49:56 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 69/80] Update attribute name

---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index 8638052..d46c3f2 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1142,7 +1142,7 @@ def inherit_metadata(source, reference):
 def copy_metadata_attributes(
     source,
     reference,
-    approved_metadata=[
+    metadata_to_copy=[
         "license",
         "attribution",
         "restrictions",
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
         Reference which defines the metadata to inherit from.
     """
 
-    for attribute in approved_metadata:
+    for attribute in metadata_to_copy:
         if attribute in reference.attributes:
             if attribute in source.attributes:
                 if source.attributes[attribute] != reference.attributes[attribute]:

From 7cff6841212dabfd7675649bba71e67ad2c15a49 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:59:24 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 70/80] add test for changing metadata list

---
 .../utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py   | 15 +++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
index 604e275..d06222e 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -67,3 +67,18 @@ def test_non_standard_attribute():
     with pytest.raises(KeyError, match=expected_msg):
         # Check the attribute hasn't been copied over
         source.attributes["a value not in the allowed list"]
+
+
+def test_different_attribute_list():
+    """Tests that a different attribute list will copy over those attributes."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    # Reference cube:
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["test-attribute"] = "an attribute not in the standard list."
+    reference.rename("test cube")
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference, metadata_to_copy=["test-attribute"])
+    assert (
+        source.attributes["test-attribute"]
+        == "test cube = an attribute not in the standard list."
+    )

From 8910d4a6c80b0af8156b9b205f8b7b2190cd130f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:06:46 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 71/80] Add parameter to docstring

---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index d46c3f2..3d802c4 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1166,6 +1166,8 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
         Source to have its metadata update.
     reference : :class:`iris.cube.Cube`
         Reference which defines the metadata to inherit from.
+    metadata_to_copy : list
+        A list of metadata attribute keys to copy to the source cube.
     """
 
     for attribute in metadata_to_copy:

From 39e5229ac0612a1f7baaf2da613968e82a86f2d2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:49:02 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 72/80] Add logic comments

---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index 3d802c4..ba0aaa5 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1171,8 +1171,13 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
     """
 
     for attribute in metadata_to_copy:
+        # Only copy an attribute if it exists in the reference cube.
         if attribute in reference.attributes:
+            # If the attribute already exists in the source cube
             if attribute in source.attributes:
+                # If the attributes are the same then nothing needs to be done.
+                # If the attributes are not the same then both names must be prepended
+                # to ensure that the metadata is traceable.
                 if source.attributes[attribute] != reference.attributes[attribute]:
                     source.attributes[attribute] = (
                         source.name()
@@ -1184,6 +1189,7 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
                         + reference.attributes[attribute]
                     )
             else:
+                # If the attribute does not exist in the source cube
                 source.attributes[attribute] = (
                     reference.name() + " = " + reference.attributes[attribute]
                 )

From 288ef806dda1ad78438dcc8733b4a2c41c85fed1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:50:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 73/80] Add logic comments

---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index ba0aaa5..d98884f 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1173,7 +1173,7 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
     for attribute in metadata_to_copy:
         # Only copy an attribute if it exists in the reference cube.
         if attribute in reference.attributes:
-            # If the attribute already exists in the source cube
+            # If the attribute already exists in the source cube.
             if attribute in source.attributes:
                 # If the attributes are the same then nothing needs to be done.
                 # If the attributes are not the same then both names must be prepended
@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
                         + reference.attributes[attribute]
                     )
             else:
-                # If the attribute does not exist in the source cube
+                # If the attribute does not exist in the source cube.\
                 source.attributes[attribute] = (
                     reference.name() + " = " + reference.attributes[attribute]
                 )

From bedd16c7fed80013fe4ab90dd10964ea7660288f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:37:34 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 74/80] add whitespace stripping

---
 .../cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py     | 28 +++++++++++++++++++
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py                        |  5 +++-
 2 files changed, 32 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
index d06222e..8152be8 100644
--- a/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/ants/tests/utils/cube/test_copy_metadata_attributes.py
@@ -82,3 +82,31 @@ def test_different_attribute_list():
         source.attributes["test-attribute"]
         == "test cube = an attribute not in the standard list."
     )
+
+
+def test_same_attributes():
+    """Tests that if both cubes have the same attribute, nothing happens."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    source.attributes["restrictions"] = "a test restriction"
+    # Reference cube
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["restrictions"] = "a test restriction"
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    # Check that the attribute is unchanged
+    assert source.attributes["restrictions"] == "a test restriction"
+
+
+def test_different_whitespace():
+    """Tests that attributes with different whitespace will be registered as equal."""
+    # Source cube:
+    source = stock.geodetic(shape=(1, 2))
+    source.attributes["restrictions"] = "a test restriction"
+    # Reference cube
+    reference = stock.geodetic(shape=(3, 4))
+    reference.attributes["restrictions"] = "a      test restriction      "
+    # Copy the metadata
+    copy_metadata_attributes(source, reference)
+    # Check that the attribute is unchanged
+    assert source.attributes["restrictions"] == "a test restriction"
diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index d98884f..32ddf87 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1175,10 +1175,13 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
         if attribute in reference.attributes:
             # If the attribute already exists in the source cube.
             if attribute in source.attributes:
+                # Remove whitepace before comparisons.
+                source_compare = " ".join(source.attributes[attribute].split())
+                reference_compare = " ".join(reference.attributes[attribute].split())
                 # If the attributes are the same then nothing needs to be done.
                 # If the attributes are not the same then both names must be prepended
                 # to ensure that the metadata is traceable.
-                if source.attributes[attribute] != reference.attributes[attribute]:
+                if source_compare != reference_compare:
                     source.attributes[attribute] = (
                         source.name()
                         + " = "

From d1163ea85561221571254d42e58f19b32c8fafef Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:18:49 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 75/80] Update lib/ants/utils/cube.py

Co-authored-by: Andrew Clark <2562650+arjclark@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
---
 lib/ants/utils/cube.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
index 32ddf87..033af48 100644
--- a/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
+++ b/lib/ants/utils/cube.py
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ def copy_metadata_attributes(
                         + reference.attributes[attribute]
                     )
             else:
-                # If the attribute does not exist in the source cube.\
+                # If the attribute does not exist in the source cube.
                 source.attributes[attribute] = (
                     reference.name() + " = " + reference.attributes[attribute]
                 )

From 8b299c8afc27600285b68bbbb4810e933a2b2879 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026 12:53:37 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 76/80] #32: Add more accepted metadata attributes to load

---
 lib/ants/io/load.py | 9 ++++++++-
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/lib/ants/io/load.py b/lib/ants/io/load.py
index 87e9103..766e271 100644
--- a/lib/ants/io/load.py
+++ b/lib/ants/io/load.py
@@ -450,7 +450,14 @@ def _retrieve_metadata(self, metadata_files, cube):
             The cube being loaded.
 
         """
-        valid_metadata_names = ["license", "attribution", "restrictions"]
+        valid_metadata_names = [
+            "license",
+            "attribution",
+            "restrictions",
+            "institution",
+            "acknowledgement",
+            "references",
+        ]
         other_license = "licence"
         for metadata_file in metadata_files:
             file_name_splits = str(metadata_file).split(".")

From f1f4f3e1e4c343e6b5262185a29b238f60c9e554 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026 12:54:32 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 77/80] #32: Add documentation on handling metadata

---
 docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst | 49 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/source/tutorials.rst         |  1 +
 2 files changed, 50 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst

diff --git a/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2e2c4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+.. meta::
+   :description lang=en: Tutorial on managing metadata
+   :keywords: metadata, license, licensing, attribution, references, development, tutorial
+   :property=og:locale: en_GB
+
+.. include:: common.txt
+
+
+Managing Metadata
+=================
+
+Metadata in this tutorial refers to information about the data in a file, that does not
+directly affect that data. For example, licensing information or attributions.
+
+Some ancillary file formats cannot include metadata. Metadata can be very important to
+keep alongside the data as often data will have rome form of requirement or restriction
+on it. Because of this, ANTS can handle in external metadata files, provided they match
+the naming convention of `filename.attribute.accepted-metadata`. The current accepted
+metadata attributes are "license", "attribution", "restrictions", "institution",
+"acknowledgement", and "references".
+
+
+.. note::
+    Any attributes or files referencing licensing should use the 'license' spelling for
+    consistency.
+
+Loading Metadata
+----------------
+
+ANTS can load in external metadata files or 'sidecar' files, if they are kept in the
+same directory as the data files, and have the same name (including the extension).
+Metadata can be loaded alongside all files, including NetCDF files, however ANTS will
+not allow you to load a file with a metadata attribute and a sidecar file with the same
+attribute. This is to prevent unintentional loss or overwriting of metadata information.
+
+.. note::
+    When using wildcards for loading with sidecar files, add the file extension to the
+    end to prevent issues with ANTS attempting to load the sidecar files. E.g.
+    `data*.pp` rather than `data*`.
+
+
+Saving Metadata
+---------------
+
+Metadata will only be saved to a sidecar file, if the ancil loader is used. This is
+because NetCDF files will include the attributes within the file.
+
+The sidecar files produced by ANTS follow the same naming covenstions at those loaded in
+`filename.attribute.accepted-metadata`. Only accepted metadata will be written out.
diff --git a/docs/source/tutorials.rst b/docs/source/tutorials.rst
index ba69a82..51190e8 100644
--- a/docs/source/tutorials.rst
+++ b/docs/source/tutorials.rst
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ Tutorials
    tutorial_KGO.rst
    tutorial_sources.rst
    tutorial_rose_stem.rst
+   tutorial_metadata.rst

From fd5cec43e6730036ad680f129c2c884f570c38e0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026 12:58:42 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 78/80] #33: add metadata rose stem

---
 rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf   | 2 --
 .../rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid_metadata.conf    | 3 +++
 rose-stem/flow.cylc                                       | 8 ++++++++
 3 files changed, 11 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid_metadata.conf

diff --git a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
index 6f7127b..487f9de 100644
--- a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
+++ b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid.conf
@@ -29,5 +29,3 @@ filelist=ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_variable_resolution_grid_split1
         =ancil_general_regrid_grid_to_n48e_namelist_split0.nc
         =ancil_general_regrid_3d_to_3d_split0.nc
         =ancil_general_regrid_3d_to_3d_with_extrapolation_split0.nc
-        =ancil_general_regrid_metadata
-        =ancil_general_regrid_metadata.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid_metadata.conf b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid_metadata.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9b1eea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rose-stem/app/rose_ana/opt/rose-app-general_regrid_metadata.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[env]
+filelist=ancil_general_regrid_metadata
+        =ancil_general_regrid_metadata.nc
diff --git a/rose-stem/flow.cylc b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
index 1846e8a..3ba6ba1 100644
--- a/rose-stem/flow.cylc
+++ b/rose-stem/flow.cylc
@@ -259,6 +259,14 @@ fi
     inherit = ANTS_CORE, ANCIL_GENERAL_REGRID, LARGE
     script = rose task-run --app-key=ancil_general_regrid -O metadata
 
+    [[rose_ana_general_regrid_metadata]]
+        inherit = ROSE_ANA
+        [[[environment]]]
+            ROSE_TASK_APP = rose_ana
+            ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = general_regrid_metadata
+            ANTS_KGO_DIRECTORY_OVERRIDE = /data/users/theo.geddes/ants-source/KGO/
+
+
     [[rose_ana_general_regrid]]
         inherit = ROSE_ANA
         [[[environment]]]

From 64152eb34b6f502ce7053b43a750fcc1d641b32e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026 14:08:26 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 79/80] #32: Add documentation on turning off metadata load

---
 docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)

diff --git a/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
index a2e2c4d..5ae1a73 100644
--- a/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
+++ b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ the naming convention of `filename.attribute.accepted-metadata`. The current acc
 metadata attributes are "license", "attribution", "restrictions", "institution",
 "acknowledgement", and "references".
 
+This functionality can be turned off through the use of the argument
+``--ignore-metadata-files`` on the command line or when calling the ANTS load:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+    cube = ants.io.load('data', ignore_metadata_files=True)
+
 
 .. note::
     Any attributes or files referencing licensing should use the 'license' spelling for

From 1239cf3bca57e33288e73bde5d86c63d3671d7a6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Theo Geddes <theo.geddes@metoffice.gov.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026 14:15:39 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 80/80] #32: Add whitepsace

---
 docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)

diff --git a/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
index 5ae1a73..01897d8 100644
--- a/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
+++ b/docs/source/tutorial_metadata.rst
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ This functionality can be turned off through the use of the argument
 ``--ignore-metadata-files`` on the command line or when calling the ANTS load:
 
 .. code-block:: python
+
     cube = ants.io.load('data', ignore_metadata_files=True)