Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.m
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.m	(revision 12872)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.m	(revision 12873)
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@
 %   from a parameter matlab file, start filling in all the @model fields that were not 
 %   filled in by the mesh.m and mask.m @model methods.
-%   Warning: the paramter file must be able to be run in Matlab
+%   Warning: the parameter file must be able to be run in Matlab
 %
 %   Usage:
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@
 %some checks
 if ~exist(parametername),
-	error(['parameterize error message: file ' parametername ' not found !']);
+	error(['parameterize error message: file ' parametername ' not found!']);
 end
 
Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.py
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.py	(revision 12872)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/model/parameterization/parameterize.py	(revision 12873)
@@ -1,27 +1,33 @@
 import os
-def  parameterize(md,parametername):
-	#PARAMETERIZE - parameterize a model
-	#
-	#   from a parameter matlab file, start filling in all the model fields that were not 
-	#   filled in by the mesh.py and setmask.py model methods.
-	#   Warning: the parameter file must be able to be run in Python
-	#
-	#   Usage:
-	#      md=parameterize(md,parametername)
-	#
-	#   Example:
-	#      md=parameterize(md,'Square.par');
+import datetime
+
+def parameterize(md,parametername):
+	"""
+	PARAMETERIZE - parameterize a model
+	 
+	    from a parameter python file, start filling in all the model fields that were not 
+	    filled in by the mesh.py and mask.py model methods.
+	    Warning: the parameter file must be able to be run in Python
+	 
+	    Usage:
+	       md=parameterize(md,parametername)
+	 
+	    Example:
+	       md=parameterize(md,'Square.par');
+	"""
 
 	#some checks
-	if not os.path.isfile(parametername):
-		print 'parameterize error message: file '+parametername+' not found.'
-		return []
+	if not os.path.exists(parametername):
+		raise IOError("parameterize error message: file '%s' not found!" % parametername)
 
 	#Try and run parameter file.
 	execfile(parametername)
-	
-	#ame and notes
-	if len(md.miscellaneous.name)==0:
-		md.miscellaneous.name=os.path.basename(parametername)
-	
-	md=addnote(md,'Model created by using parameter file: '+parametername+' on: '+str(datetime.datetime.now()))
+
+	#Name and notes
+	if not md.miscellaneous.name:
+		md.miscellaneous.name=os.path.basename(parametername).split('.')[0]
+
+	md=addnote(md,"Model created by using parameter file: '%s' on: %s." % (parametername,datetime.datetime.strftime(datetime.datetime.now(),'%c') ))
+
+	return md
+