attrByID.put(ad.getDmdID(), ad);
if (ad.getAbbrev() != null){
// We have an abbreviation - so it must also be unique and
// added to the appropriate maps
StringName abbrevName = new StringName(ad.getAbbrev());
if (checkAndAdd(abbrevName,ad,attrDefs) == false){
ResultException ex = new ResultException();
ex.addError(clashMsg(ad.getObjectName(),ad,attrDefs,"attribute abbreviation"));
throw(ex);
}