Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/miscellaneous/fielddisplay.py
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/miscellaneous/fielddisplay.py	(revision 13019)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/miscellaneous/fielddisplay.py	(revision 13019)
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#Module import 
+from math import isnan
+
+
+def fielddisplay(md,name,comment):
+#FIELDDISPLAY - display model field
+#
+#   Usage:
+#      fielddisplay(md,name,comment)
+
+	#get field
+	field=getattr(md,name)
+
+	#disp corresponding line as a function of field type (offset set as 9 spaces)
+	return parsedisplay("         ",name,field,comment);
+
+#parsedisplay{{{ 
+def  parsedisplay(offset,name,field,comment):
+
+	#string
+	if isinstance(field,str):
+		if len(field)>30:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,"not displayed",comment)
+		else:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,field,comment)
+
+	#numeric
+	elif isinstance(field, int):
+		string=displayunit(offset,name,"%i" % (field),comment) 
+
+	elif isinstance(field, complex):
+		raise RuntimeError("fielddisplay cannot handle complex numbers")
+
+	elif isinstance(field, float):
+		string=displayunit(offset,name,"%g"%(field),comment)
+
+	#logical
+	elif isinstance(field,bool):
+		if field:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,"true",comment)
+		else:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,"false",comment)
+	
+	elif isinstance(field,dict):
+		if not field:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,'N/A',comment)
+		else:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,'(dictionary)',comment)
+			for key in field.keys():
+				string="%s\n%s"%(string,parsedisplay(offset + '   ',key,field[key],''))
+
+	elif isinstance(field,list):
+		if not field:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,'N/A',comment),
+		else:
+			string=displayunit(offset,name,'(structure)',comment)
+			for i in range(len(field)):
+				string="%s\n%s"%(string,displayunit(offset + '   ',name,field[i],comment))
+	#cell
+	#elif  iscell(field):
+	#	cell_display(offset,name,field,comment),
+
+	else:
+		string=displayunit(offset,name,"not displayed",comment)
+		
+	return string
+
+#}}}
+#displayunit {{{
+def  displayunit(offset,name,characterization,comment):
+
+	#take care of name
+	if len(name)>23:
+		name="%s..." % (name[:19])
+	
+	#take care of characterization
+	if characterization=="":
+		characterization="N/A"
+	
+	if characterization=="nan":
+		characterization="N/A"
+	
+	if len(characterization)>15:
+		characterization="%s%s" % (characterization[:11],"...")
+	
+	#print
+	if not comment:
+		string="%s%-23s: %-15s" % (offset,name,characterization)
+	else:
+		if isinstance(comment,str):
+			string="%s%-23s: %-15s -- %s" % (offset,name,characterization,comment)
+		elif isinstance(comment,list):
+			print(comment)
+			string="%s%-23s: %-15s -- %s" % (offset,name,characterization,comment[0])
+			for i in range(1,len(comment)):
+				string2="%s%-23s  %-15s    %s" %(offset,"","",comment[i])
+				string="%s\n%s"%(string,string2)
+		else:
+			raise RuntimeError("fielddisplay error message: format for comment not supportet yet")
+
+	return string
+#}}}