This is an inefficient format, so be warned: you are going to get a datafile.
The NOAA NCEP-NCAR CDAS-1 MONTHLY Diagnostic total_air_column cloud cover data are available as a columnar table, i.e. as multiple columns of data, intended primarily to be read. However, if you have other intentions for this table, or simply do not like the default choices, you may want to choose from the columnar tables with options.