/* parameters */
#define ALWAYS 1      /* required */
#define OPTION 0      /* optional */
#define OPTION2 2     /* optional, doesn't require an argument */

/******************************************************************* 
 * Routines to get the parameter values                            * 
 *******************************************************************/

static int no_parameters = -1;

int parameters_left(void)
{
  return(no_parameters);
}

long oatoi(char *str, long def)
{
  if (str == (char *) NULL)
    return(def);
  else
    return(atoi(str));
}

float oatof(char *str, float def)
{
  if (str == (char *) NULL)
    return(def);
  else
    return((float) atof(str));
}

char *extract_parameter(int argc, char **argv, char *param, int when)
{
  int i = 0;

  if (no_parameters == -1)
    no_parameters = argc - 1;

  while ((i < argc) && (strcmp(param, argv[i]))) {
    i++;
  }

  if ((i <= argc - 1) && (when == OPTION2))
    {
      no_parameters -= 1;
      return "";
    }

  if (i < argc-1) {
    no_parameters -= 2;
    return(argv[i+1]);
  }
  else {
    if (when == ALWAYS) {
      fprintf(stderr, "Can't find asked option %s\n", param);
      exit(-1);
    }
  }

  return((char *) NULL);
}