diff --git a/src/tools/other/mode_graphics/mode_nc_output_file.cc b/src/tools/other/mode_graphics/mode_nc_output_file.cc
index b54b9d3601..ce45948a81 100644
--- a/src/tools/other/mode_graphics/mode_nc_output_file.cc
+++ b/src/tools/other/mode_graphics/mode_nc_output_file.cc
@@ -255,23 +255,17 @@ for (x=0; x<Nx; ++x)  {
    //  get init time, valid time, lead time from FcstRaw variable attributes
    //
 
-   att = get_nc_att(FcstRaw, (string)"init_time_ut");
-   InitTime = get_att_value_unixtime(att);
-   if (InitTime < 0) {
+   if (!get_att_unixtime(FcstRaw, init_time_ut_att_name, InitTime) || InitTime < 0) {
       mlog << Error
            << "ModeNcOutputFile::open(const char *) -> init time should be an integer or a string!\n\n";
       exit ( 1 );
    }
-   if (att) delete att;
    
-   att = get_nc_att(FcstRaw, (string)"valid_time_ut");
-   ValidTime = get_att_value_unixtime(att);
-   if (ValidTime < 0) {
+   if (!get_att_unixtime(FcstRaw, valid_time_ut_att_name, ValidTime) || ValidTime < 0) {
       mlog << Error
            << "ModeNcOutputFile::open(const char *) -> valid time should be an integer or a string!\n\n";
       exit ( 1 );
    }
-   if (att) delete att;
    
 // att = FcstRaw->get_att("accum_time_sec");
 // 
@@ -1006,6 +1000,3 @@ return ( s );
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-
-
-