out=writef(fid,varargin)

function out=writef(fid,varargin)
% function out=writef(fid,varargin)
%  Catches fortran stdout (6) and reroutes in to Matlab's stdout (1)
%  Catches fortran stderr (0) and reroutes in to Matlab's stderr (2)
if isnumeric(fid)
 if fid==6,      out=fprintf(1,varargin{:});
 elseif fid==0,  out=fprintf(2,varargin{:});
 elseif isempty(fid) %% treat empty array like a string array [sethg 2008-03-03]
  out=sprintf(varargin{:});
  if nargin>2 %set the calling var to out
   if ~isempty(inputname(1)), assignin('caller',inputname(1),out); end
  end
 else,           out=fprintf(fid,varargin{:});
 end
elseif ischar(fid)
 out=sprintf(varargin{:});
 if nargin>2 %set the calling var to out
  if ~isempty(inputname(1)), assignin('caller',inputname(1),out); end
 end
else,            out=fprintf(fid,varargin{:});
end
end