function getfiles(libfile);
%   example:
%       getfiles('lib.txt');
%   gets files included in file named as argument
%   named file has text files in blocks
%   each block starts with $start <filename>
%        (one space between start and file name)
%   each block ends with $end
%   this will overwrite any previous versions of the named files

 fidlib = fopen(libfile,'r');
 if fidlib < 0
    disp (['ERROR -- missing file: ' libfile]);
    return;
 end; 
 true = 1==1;
 false = ~true;
 infile = false;
 while ~feof(fidlib)
    line = fgetl(fidlib);
    if length(line) > 0
       if findstr(line,'$start') == 1
         infile = true;
         starting = true;
         fname = line(7:length(line));
         fid = fopen(fname,'w');
         if fid<0
            disp(['problem with:' fname]);
            return;  
         end 
         disp(['writing file: ' fname]);
       end; 
       if findstr(line,'$end') == 1
         fclose(fid);
         disp('.... done');
         infile = false;
       end;   
       if infile & ~starting
           if isstr(line)  
             if length(line)>0
                for i=1:length(line)
                   fwrite(fid,line(i),'char'); 
                end;
             end;
           end;
           fprintf(fid, '\r\n');
         else
            starting = false;
       end;
    end; 
 end;
 fclose(fidlib);