noUnit(this)

function this = noUnit(this)
% the direct instantiation of NOUNIT objects is deprecated.
% It should only be used used by the functions of the class UNIT

if nargin < 1
   this = noUnit(1);
else
   if strcmp(class(this),'noUnit')
      return
   elseif isnumeric(this)
      [thisUnit,setComposite] = unit;
      name  = num2str(this);
      value = this;
      this  = class(struct([]),'noUnit',thisUnit);
      this.unit = setComposite(this.unit,this,name,value);
   else
      error('unexpected input type for ''unit'' class')
   end
end