diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a311a91..4f61a3d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -67,7 +67,15 @@ jobs:
         sudo apt update
         sudo apt install --no-install-recommends libhdf5-dev
 
-    - run: cmake -B build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }}
+    - name: Configure NetCDF4
+      run: cmake -S scripts -B scripts/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=${{ matrix.shared }}
+
+    - name: Build/install NetCDF4
+      run: cmake --build scripts/build --parallel
+
+    - name: configure nc4fortran
+      run: cmake -B build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${{ runner.temp }}
+
     - run: cmake --build build --parallel
     - run: ctest --test-dir build --preset default
     - run: cmake --install build
@@ -127,7 +135,15 @@ jobs:
     - name: install libs
       run: brew install hdf5
 
-    - run: cmake -B build --install-prefix=${{ runner.temp }}
+    - name: Configure NetCDF4
+      run: cmake -S scripts -B scripts/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=${{ matrix.shared }}
+
+    - name: Build/install NetCDF4
+      run: cmake --build scripts/build --parallel
+
+    - name: configure nc4fortran
+      run: cmake -B build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${{ runner.temp }}
+
     - run: cmake --build build
     - run: ctest --test-dir build --preset default
     - run: cmake --install build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_windows.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_windows.yml
index 6dcb8ca..0508c31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_windows.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,14 @@ jobs:
 
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
-    - run: cmake --preset multi -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }}
+    - name: Configure NetCDF4
+      run: cmake -S scripts -B scripts/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=${{ matrix.shared }}
+
+    - name: Build/install NetCDF4
+      run: cmake --build scripts/build --parallel
+
+    - name: configure nc4fortran
+      run: cmake --preset multi -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${{ runner.temp }} -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${{ runner.temp }}
 
     - run: cmake --build --preset debug
     - run: ctest --preset debug
diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
index ddd80de..3546d17 100644
--- a/CITATION.cff
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -5,4 +5,3 @@ authors:
     orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1637-6526
 title: nc4fortran
 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.3598941
-date-released: 2021-11-21
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9ca1b40..c283ede 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,9 +23,19 @@ endif()
 include(cmake/options.cmake)
 include(cmake/compilers.cmake)
 
-# --- find or build NetCDF4
+find_package(NetCDF COMPONENTS C Fortran)
+if(NOT NetCDF_FOUND)
+message(FATAL_ERROR "NetCDF not found or working on the system. First build:
 
-include(cmake/netcdf.cmake)
+cmake -S scripts -B scripts/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=~/mylibs
+cmake --build scripts/build
+
+Then build nc4fortran:
+
+cmake -B build -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=~/mylibs
+cmake --build build
+")
+endif()
 
 # --- build
 
diff --git a/cmake/Modules/FindHDF5.cmake b/cmake/Modules/FindHDF5.cmake
index 4ce11dd..d94fa56 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/FindHDF5.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/FindHDF5.cmake
@@ -160,8 +160,19 @@ if(NOT ZLIB_ROOT)
   set(ZLIB_ROOT "${HDF5_ROOT};${zlib_dir}")
 endif()
 
+
+set(hdf5_prereqs true PARENT_SCOPE)
+
 if(hdf5_have_zlib)
-  find_package(ZLIB)
+  if(HDF5_FIND_REQUIRED)
+    find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
+  else()
+    find_package(ZLIB)
+  endif()
+  if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND)
+    set(hdf5_prereqs false PARENT_SCOPE)
+    return()
+  endif()
 
   if(hdf5_have_szip)
     # Szip even though not used by default.
@@ -170,7 +181,16 @@ if(hdf5_have_zlib)
     if(NOT SZIP_ROOT)
       set(SZIP_ROOT ${ZLIB_ROOT})
     endif()
-    find_package(SZIP)
+    if(HDF5_FIND_REQUIRED)
+      find_package(SZIP REQUIRED)
+    else()
+      find_package(SZIP)
+    endif()
+    if(NOT SZIP_FOUND)
+      set(hdf5_prereqs false PARENT_SCOPE)
+      return()
+    endif()
+
     list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES ${SZIP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
     list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES ${SZIP_LIBRARIES})
   endif()
@@ -656,7 +676,7 @@ endfunction(check_fortran_links)
 
 function(check_hdf5_link)
 
-if(NOT HDF5_C_FOUND)
+if(NOT (hdf5_prereqs AND HDF5_C_FOUND))
   return()
 endif()
 
@@ -777,11 +797,11 @@ if(HDF5_C_FOUND)
   detect_config()
 endif(HDF5_C_FOUND)
 
-if(HDF5_C_FOUND AND CXX IN_LIST HDF5_FIND_COMPONENTS)
+if(hdf5_prereqs AND HDF5_C_FOUND AND CXX IN_LIST HDF5_FIND_COMPONENTS)
   find_hdf5_cxx()
 endif()
 
-if(HDF5_C_FOUND AND Fortran IN_LIST HDF5_FIND_COMPONENTS)
+if(hdf5_prereqs AND HDF5_C_FOUND AND Fortran IN_LIST HDF5_FIND_COMPONENTS)
   find_hdf5_fortran()
 endif()
 
@@ -795,9 +815,10 @@ set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES)
 # pop off ignored paths so rest of script can find Python
 list(REMOVE_ITEM CMAKE_IGNORE_PATH ${h5_ignore_path})
 
+
 include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
 find_package_handle_standard_args(HDF5
-REQUIRED_VARS HDF5_C_LIBRARIES HDF5_links
+REQUIRED_VARS HDF5_C_LIBRARIES HDF5_links hdf5_prereqs
 VERSION_VAR HDF5_VERSION
 HANDLE_COMPONENTS
 HANDLE_VERSION_RANGE
diff --git a/cmake/Modules/FindSZIP.cmake b/cmake/Modules/FindSZIP.cmake
index bbff875..940c276 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/FindSZIP.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/FindSZIP.cmake
@@ -27,24 +27,22 @@ Targets
   SZIP Imported Target
 #]=======================================================================]
 
-find_package(libaec QUIET)
 
-if(NOT SZIP_FOUND)
+find_library(SZIP_LIBRARY
+NAMES szip sz
+NAMES_PER_DIR
+DOC "SZIP API"
+)
 
-  find_library(SZIP_LIBRARY
-    NAMES szip sz
-    NAMES_PER_DIR
-    DOC "SZIP API")
-
-  find_path(SZIP_INCLUDE_DIR
-    NAMES szlib.h
-    DOC "SZIP header")
-
-endif()
+find_path(SZIP_INCLUDE_DIR
+NAMES szlib.h
+DOC "SZIP header"
+)
 
 include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
 find_package_handle_standard_args(SZIP
-  REQUIRED_VARS SZIP_LIBRARY SZIP_INCLUDE_DIR)
+REQUIRED_VARS SZIP_LIBRARY SZIP_INCLUDE_DIR
+)
 
 if(SZIP_FOUND)
   set(SZIP_INCLUDE_DIRS ${SZIP_INCLUDE_DIR})
@@ -53,8 +51,9 @@ if(SZIP_FOUND)
   if(NOT TARGET SZIP::SZIP)
     add_library(SZIP::SZIP INTERFACE IMPORTED)
     set_target_properties(SZIP::SZIP PROPERTIES
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${SZIP_LIBRARIES}"
-      INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${SZIP_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
+    INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${SZIP_LIBRARIES}"
+    INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${SZIP_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
+    )
   endif()
 endif()
 
diff --git a/cmake/abi_check/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/abi_check/CMakeLists.txt
index fa8da57..7703c4f 100644
--- a/cmake/abi_check/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/abi_check/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,21 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14...3.23)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.19...3.23)
 project(abi_check LANGUAGES C Fortran)
 
+enable_testing()
+
 add_library(addone OBJECT addone.c)
+add_executable(main_f main.f90 $<TARGET_OBJECTS:addone>)
+if(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "^Intel")
+  set_target_properties(main_f PROPERTIES LINKER_LANGUAGE Fortran)
+else()
+  set_target_properties(main_f PROPERTIES LINKER_LANGUAGE C)
+endif()
+add_test(NAME Fortran_main COMMAND main_f)
+
+add_library(addone_f OBJECT addone.f90)
+
+add_executable(main_c main.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:addone_f>)
+set_target_properties(main_c PROPERTIES LINKER_LANGUAGE C)
+add_test(NAME C_main COMMAND main_c)
 
-add_executable(main main.f90 $<TARGET_OBJECTS:addone>)
+set_tests_properties(Fortran_main C_main PROPERTIES TIMEOUT 10)
diff --git a/cmake/abi_check/addone.c b/cmake/abi_check/addone.c
index 9807f85..d8c2a12 100644
--- a/cmake/abi_check/addone.c
+++ b/cmake/abi_check/addone.c
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+extern int addone(int);
+
 int addone(int N){
   return N + 1;
 }
diff --git a/cmake/abi_check/addone.f90 b/cmake/abi_check/addone.f90
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3751eb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/abi_check/addone.f90
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+module adder
+
+use, intrinsic :: iso_c_binding, only : C_INT
+implicit none (type, external)
+
+contains
+
+pure integer(C_INT) function addone(N) bind(C)
+integer(C_INT), intent(in), value :: N
+addone = N + 1
+end function addone
+
+end module adder
diff --git a/cmake/abi_check/main.c b/cmake/abi_check/main.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2664e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/abi_check/main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+extern int addone(int);
+
+
+int main(void) {
+
+  if(addone(2) != 3) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "2 + 1 != %d", addone(2));
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/cmake/abi_check/main.f90 b/cmake/abi_check/main.f90
index 27c785d..0ba6cb8 100644
--- a/cmake/abi_check/main.f90
+++ b/cmake/abi_check/main.f90
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 program adder
 
-implicit none
+use, intrinsic :: iso_fortran_env, only : stderr=>error_unit
+
+implicit none (type, external)
 
 interface
+
 integer function addone(N) bind(C)
 integer, intent(in), value :: N
 end function addone
+
 end interface
 
 
-if (addone(2) /= 3) error stop "unexpected addone result"
+if (addone(2) /= 3)  then
+  write(stderr,*) "ERROR: 2+1 /= ", addone(2)
+  error stop
+endif
 
-print *, "OK: 2+1=3"
+print *, "OK: Fortran main with C libraries"
 
 
 end program
diff --git a/cmake/hdf5.cmake b/cmake/hdf5.cmake
index c8d53c7..30d5be1 100644
--- a/cmake/hdf5.cmake
+++ b/cmake/hdf5.cmake
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 # builds HDF5 library from scratch
-# note: the use of "lib" vs. CMAKE_*_LIBRARY_PREFIX is deliberate based on HDF5
-# across Intel Fortran on Windows (MSVC-like) vs. Gfortran on Windows vs. Linux.
 
 include(ExternalProject)
 
-set(hdf5_external true CACHE BOOL "autobuild HDF5")
-
 if(hdf5_parallel)
   find_package(MPI REQUIRED COMPONENTS C)
 endif()
@@ -15,25 +11,7 @@ if(NOT MPI_ROOT AND DEFINED ENV{MPI_ROOT})
   set(MPI_ROOT $ENV{MPI_ROOT})
 endif()
 
-set(HDF5_LIBRARIES)
-foreach(_name hdf5_hl_fortran hdf5_hl_f90cstub hdf5_fortran hdf5_f90cstub hdf5_hl hdf5)
-  if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-    if(WIN32)
-      list(APPEND HDF5_LIBRARIES ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/lib${_name}${CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-    else()
-      list(APPEND HDF5_LIBRARIES ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib/lib${_name}${CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-    endif()
-  else()
-    list(APPEND HDF5_LIBRARIES ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/lib/lib${_name}${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-  endif()
-endforeach()
-
-set(HDF5_INCLUDE_DIRS ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/include)
-
-# --- Zlib
-if(NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
-  include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/zlib.cmake)
-endif()
+include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/zlib.cmake)
 
 # --- HDF5
 # https://forum.hdfgroup.org/t/issues-when-using-hdf5-as-a-git-submodule-and-using-cmake-with-add-subdirectory/7189/2
@@ -73,43 +51,7 @@ URL ${hdf5_url}
 URL_HASH SHA256=${hdf5_sha256}
 CMAKE_ARGS ${hdf5_cmake_args}
 CMAKE_GENERATOR ${EXTPROJ_GENERATOR}
-BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${HDF5_LIBRARIES}
-DEPENDS ZLIB::ZLIB
+DEPENDS ZLIB
 CONFIGURE_HANDLED_BY_BUILD ON
 INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT 15
 )
-
-# --- imported target
-
-file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${HDF5_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-# avoid race condition
-
-# this GLOBAL is required to be visible via other project's FetchContent of h5fortran
-add_library(HDF5::HDF5 INTERFACE IMPORTED GLOBAL)
-target_include_directories(HDF5::HDF5 INTERFACE "${HDF5_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
-target_link_libraries(HDF5::HDF5 INTERFACE "${HDF5_LIBRARIES}")
-
-add_dependencies(HDF5::HDF5 HDF5)
-
-# --- HDF5 parallel compression support
-# this could be improved by making it an ExternalProject post-build step instead of assumptions made here
-if(hdf5_parallel)
-  if(MPI_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 3)
-    message(STATUS "Building HDF5-MPI: MPI-3 available, assuming HDF5 parallel compression enabled")
-    set(hdf5_parallel_compression ".true." CACHE STRING "configure variable for HDF5 parallel compression")
-  else()
-    message(STATUS "Building HDF5-MPI: MPI-3 NOT available => HDF5 parallel compression disabled")
-    set(hdf5_parallel_compression ".false." CACHE STRING "configure variable for HDF5 parallel compression: MPI < 3")
-  endif()
-endif(hdf5_parallel)
-
-# --- external deps
-find_package(Threads)
-
-target_link_libraries(HDF5::HDF5 INTERFACE
-ZLIB::ZLIB
-${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
-${CMAKE_DL_LIBS}
-$<$<BOOL:${UNIX}>:m>
-)
-# libdl and libm are needed on some systems
diff --git a/cmake/nc4fortran.cmake b/cmake/nc4fortran.cmake
index 4e2846a..cd464a2 100644
--- a/cmake/nc4fortran.cmake
+++ b/cmake/nc4fortran.cmake
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ set(nc4fortran_cmake_args
 -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS}
 -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
 -DBUILD_TESTING:BOOL=false
--Dautobuild:BOOL=false
 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=${CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER}
 )
diff --git a/cmake/netcdf.cmake b/cmake/netcdf.cmake
index bcefebc..e5dbd4a 100644
--- a/cmake/netcdf.cmake
+++ b/cmake/netcdf.cmake
@@ -3,31 +3,11 @@ include(ExternalProject)
 # due to limitations of NetCDF-C 4.7.4 and NetCDF-Fortran 4.5.3, as per their docs,
 # we MUST use shared libraries or they don't archive/link properly.
 
-if(NOT hdf5_external)
-  if(autobuild)
-    find_package(HDF5 COMPONENTS C Fortran)
-  endif()
-  if(NOT (HDF5_FOUND OR TARGET HDF5::HDF5))
-    include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/hdf5.cmake)
-  endif()
-else()
-  find_package(HDF5 COMPONENTS C Fortran REQUIRED)
-endif()
-
-if(NOT netcdf_external)
-  if(autobuild)
-    find_package(NetCDF COMPONENTS Fortran)
-  else()
-    find_package(NetCDF COMPONENTS Fortran REQUIRED)
-  endif()
+find_package(HDF5 COMPONENTS C Fortran)
+if(NOT HDF5_FOUND)
+  include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/hdf5.cmake)
 endif()
 
-if(NetCDF_FOUND)
-  return()
-endif()
-
-set(netcdf_external true CACHE BOOL "autobuild NetCDF")
-
 cmake_path(SET NetCDF_C_INCLUDE_DIRS ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/include)
 
 if(WIN32)
diff --git a/cmake/options.cmake b/cmake/options.cmake
index f2496e8..b46c916 100644
--- a/cmake/options.cmake
+++ b/cmake/options.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-option(autobuild "auto-build NetCDF4 if missing/broken" on)
-
 option(ENABLE_COVERAGE "Code coverage tests")
 
 set(CMAKE_TLS_VERIFY true)
@@ -10,8 +8,6 @@ cmake_path(SET CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/Modules)
 
 file(READ ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/libraries.json json)
 
-set_directory_properties(PROPERTIES EP_UPDATE_DISCONNECTED true)
-
 if(CMAKE_GENERATOR STREQUAL "Ninja Multi-Config")
   set(EXTPROJ_GENERATOR "Ninja")
 else()
diff --git a/cmake/zlib.cmake b/cmake/zlib.cmake
index 01b90af..5b25aaf 100644
--- a/cmake/zlib.cmake
+++ b/cmake/zlib.cmake
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 include(ExternalProject)
 
 
-
 set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/include)
 
 if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
@@ -42,13 +41,3 @@ BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES}
 CONFIGURE_HANDLED_BY_BUILD ON
 INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT 15
 )
-
-# --- imported target
-
-file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-# avoid race condition
-
-add_library(ZLIB::ZLIB INTERFACE IMPORTED GLOBAL)
-add_dependencies(ZLIB::ZLIB ZLIB)  # to avoid include directory race condition
-target_link_libraries(ZLIB::ZLIB INTERFACE ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
-target_include_directories(ZLIB::ZLIB INTERFACE ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
diff --git a/codemeta.json b/codemeta.json
index 1672328..e458d87 100644
--- a/codemeta.json
+++ b/codemeta.json
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
     "@type": "SoftwareSourceCode",
     "codeRepository": "https://github.com/geospace-code/nc4fortran",
     "contIntegration": "https://github.com/geospace-code/nc4fortran/actions",
-    "dateModified": "2022-01-26",
+    "dateModified": "2022-03-27",
     "downloadUrl": "https://github.com/geospace-code/nc4fortran/releases",
     "issueTracker": "https://github.com/geospace-code/nc4fortran/issues",
     "name": "nc4fortran",
-    "version": "1.5.2",
+    "version": "1.6.0",
     "identifier": "10.5281/zenodo.3757221",
     "description": "Lightweight object-oriented NetCDF4 Fortran interface",
     "applicationCategory": "file I/O",
diff --git a/scripts/CMakeLists.txt b/scripts/CMakeLists.txt
index e60522d..0459d64 100644
--- a/scripts/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/scripts/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ project(NetCDF_build
 LANGUAGES C Fortran
 )
 
-set(autobuild on)
-
 # --- system checks
 if(CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX_INITIALIZED_TO_DEFAULT)
   message(FATAL_ERROR "please specify where to install NetCDF under, like