Open large dataset without loading the whole file in RAM

[rsatapat]

What is your issue?

Is it possible to load a large dataset (larger than available RAM) by providing preconditions similar to standard indexing (for example, sel(dim_x = value))? If not, is it possible to add this functionality?

I am planning to use xarray to store data gathered from neuroscience experiments that tend to by quite large and might come across this issue.

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[TomNicholas]

Xarray opens files lazily by default, and our lazy classes understand indexing, so what you're asking for should already work by default. If you want to actually process larger-than-RAM datasets (not just view subsections of them) you will need to install dask.