function smat =  getsmat(fnm);
% function smat =  getsmat(fnm);
%    gets a string matrix from ascii file
%    fnm is the name of the file
%    smat is the string matrix
%  REQUIRES that the matrix have every line EXACTLY the same length
%  REQUIRES that each line end in ascii 13, ascii 10 (CR LF)
%
%  example:
%     smat = getsmat('c:\dbases\xyz.dbd');

% copyright, 1996, William F. Sharpe
% wfsharpe@leland.stanford.edu
% this version Jan. 15, 1996

   fid = fopen(fnm,'r');
   s = fscanf(fid,'%c');
   fclose(fid);

   locr = findstr(s,setstr(13));
   ncols = locr(1) - 1;
   nrows = length(s)/(ncols+2);

   ss = reshape(s,ncols+2,nrows);
   smat = ss'; 

   smat = smat(:,1:ncols);