Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/mesh/rifts/rifttipsonmesh.m
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/mesh/rifts/rifttipsonmesh.m	(revision 21453)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/mesh/rifts/rifttipsonmesh.m	(revision 21454)
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 %                rifts.
 
-%read rifts from outline file
-%rifts=expread(riftoutline);
-[pathr,namer,extr]=fileparts(riftoutline);
-if strcmp(extr,'.exp'),
+%read rift file according to its extension: 
+[path,name,ext]=fileparts(riftoutline);
+if strcmp(ext,'.exp'),
 	rifts=expread(riftoutline);
-elseif strcmp(extr,'.shp'),
+elseif strcmp(ext,'.shp'),
 	rifts=shpread(riftoutline);
+else
+	error(['bamg error message: file ' riftoutline ' format not supported (.shp or .exp)']);
 end