--- /dev/null
+import string, sys, os
+
+# current output directory
+#
+output_dir = None
+
+
+# This function is used to sort the index. It is a simple lexicographical
+# sort, except that it places capital letters before lowercase ones.
+#
+def index_sort( s1, s2 ):
+ if not s1:
+ return -1
+
+ if not s2:
+ return 1
+
+ l1 = len( s1 )
+ l2 = len( s2 )
+ m1 = string.lower( s1 )
+ m2 = string.lower( s2 )
+
+ for i in range( l1 ):
+ if i >= l2 or m1[i] > m2[i]:
+ return 1
+
+ if m1[i] < m2[i]:
+ return -1
+
+ if s1[i] < s2[i]:
+ return -1
+
+ if s1[i] > s2[i]:
+ return 1
+
+ if l2 > l1:
+ return -1
+
+ return 0
+
+# Sort input_list, placing the elements of order_list in front.
+#
+def sort_order_list( input_list, order_list ):
+ new_list = order_list[:]
+ for id in input_list:
+ if not id in order_list:
+ new_list.append( id )
+ return new_list
+
+
+
+# Open the standard output to a given project documentation file. Use
+# "output_dir" to determine the filename location if necessary and save the
+# old stdout in a tuple that is returned by this function.
+#
+def open_output( filename ):
+ global output_dir
+
+ if output_dir and output_dir != "":
+ filename = output_dir + os.sep + filename
+
+ old_stdout = sys.stdout
+ new_file = open( filename, "w" )
+ sys.stdout = new_file
+
+ return ( new_file, old_stdout )
+
+
+# Close the output that was returned by "close_output".
+#
+def close_output( output ):
+ output[0].close()
+ sys.stdout = output[1]
+
+
+# Check output directory.
+#
+def check_output( ):
+ global output_dir
+ if output_dir:
+ if output_dir != "":
+ if not os.path.isdir( output_dir ):
+ sys.stderr.write( "argument" + " '" + output_dir + "' " +
+ "is not a valid directory" )
+ sys.exit( 2 )
+ else:
+ output_dir = None