absolutepath

 function f = absolutepath(x)

 <x> is a string referring to a file.  can be absolute or
   relative to the current directory.

 return the absolute path to the file.
 we rely on pwd to figure out the path.
 note: the file does not actually have to exist.

 example:
 absolutepath('temp')

0001 function f = absolutepath(x)
0002 
0003 % function f = absolutepath(x)
0004 %
0005 % <x> is a string referring to a file.  can be absolute or
0006 %   relative to the current directory.
0007 %
0008 % return the absolute path to the file.
0009 % we rely on pwd to figure out the path.
0010 % note: the file does not actually have to exist.
0011 %
0012 % example:
0013 % absolutepath('temp')
0014 
0015 % find any /
0016 locs = strfind(x,filesep);
0017 
0018 % if none, be relative to current directory and get out
0019 if isempty(locs)
0020   f = [pwd filesep x];
0021   return;
0022 end
0023 
0024 % save old cd
0025 oldcd = cd;
0026 
0027 % change to new
0028 cd(x(1:locs(end)));
0029 
0030 % what is the filename
0031 remain = x(locs(end)+1:end);
0032 
0033 % return
0034 cwd = pwd;
0035 if isequal(cwd,filesep)
0036   f = [cwd remain];
0037 else
0038   f = [cwd filesep remain];
0039 end
0040 
0041 % change back to old cd
0042 cd(oldcd);