array_out=subarray(array_in, varargin)

function array_out=subarray(array_in, varargin)
% Author: Peter H. Mao, Caltech
%
% simple program to access an element of an array when the array is
% the output of another function
%
% usage array_out=subarray(array_in,dim1_indices,dim2_indices,....);
% to use the ':' symbol or the 'end' keyword, pass the range as a string
%
% intent: I call this function when I have a function that returns an array
% and I want to access some subset or element of that array.  this saves me from
% having a temporary variable in my workspace.

  dimlength = size(array_in);
  NonSingletonDimensions = find(dimlength > 1);
  n_dimensions = length(NonSingletonDimensions);
  if n_dimensions < length(varargin)
    warning('you may have too many index ranges specified');
  end

  kk = NonSingletonDimensions(1);
  for jj=1:length(varargin)
    if ischar(varargin{jj}) & ~strcmp(varargin{jj},':')
      range = regexprep(varargin{jj},'end', 'dimlength(kk)');
      varargin{jj} = eval(range);
    end
    kk=kk+1;
  end
  
  array_out = array_in(varargin{:});
  return;