--- MITgcm_contrib/mitgcm_tools/mitgcmhistory.m	2007/12/02 05:45:51	1.2
+++ MITgcm_contrib/mitgcm_tools/mitgcmhistory.m	2007/12/10 05:28:50	1.3
@@ -20,10 +20,31 @@
 for k=1:nargin-1;
  try
   eval(['!grep ' varargin{k} ' ' file ' | sed s/.\*=// | sed s/NAN/1.23456789/ > ' tfile])
-  vals(:,k)=textread(tfile,'%f');
+
+  % vals(:,k)=textread(tfile,'%f');
+
+  % When output file is from an ongoing integration, one or more of
+  % the diagnostics may be missing at the last available time step.
+  % The code below accomodates this difference in length.
+
+  if k==1
+   vals(:,k)=textread(tfile,'%f');
+   lngt=length(vals(:,k));
+  else
+   tmp=textread(tfile,'%f');
+   % allow 
+   if abs(length(tmp)-lngt)>1
+    error(sprintf('An error occured while scanning for: %s',varargin{k}));
+   else
+    lngt=min(lngt,length(tmp));
+    vals(1:lngt,k)=tmp(1:lngt);
+   end
+
+  end
   delete(tfile)
  catch
   delete(tfile)
   error(sprintf('An error occured while scanning for: %s',varargin{k}));
  end
 end
+vals=vals(1:lngt,:);