set_val(var_name, expression, workspace)

function set_val(var_name, expression, workspace)
%SET_VAL nicely displays a variable assignment.
%     SET_VAL(var_name, expression) assigns the result of the
%     expression to the named variable.
%     SET_VAL(var_name, expression, WS) is performed in the workspace
%     specified by WS.  At this time, only 'base' and 'caller' are valid
%     workspaces.  The default workspace is 'caller'.

% $Source: /home/stpierre/cvsroot/matlab/tools/test_tools/set_val.m,v $
% $Revision: 1.3 $
% $Date: 2009-07-26 20:41:24 $

% Copyright (c) 2000-2009, Jay A. St. Pierre.  All rights reserved.

if nargin~=2
  error('set_value() requires at least two input arguments')
elseif ~ischar(var_name)
  error('first input must be a string (try quoting the input expression)')
elseif ~ischar(expression)
  error('second input must be a string (try quoting the input expression)')
end

if nargin==2
  workspace='caller';
end

disp([var_name, ' = ', expression, 10])
evalin(workspace, [var_name, ' = ', expression, ';'])