import commands

def varmax(datadir='data/', phiavg=False):
    """
    $Id: for_pencil.py,v 1.1.1.1 2009/04/20 11:19:04 dintrans Exp $
    Give the maximum number of VAR files (or PHIAGV ones)

        >>> vmax = varmax()

    @param datadir: name of datadir directory
    @type datadir: string
    @type phiavg: string
    @return: last VAR or PHIAVG file
    @rtype: integer
    """
    if (not phiavg):
        cmd = 'tail -1 '+datadir+'proc0/'+'varN.list'
    else:
        cmd = 'tail -1 '+datadir+'averages/'+'phiavg.files'
    varname = commands.getoutput(cmd)
    if (not phiavg):
        lastvar = int(varname.split('VAR')[1])
    else:
        lastvar = int(varname.split('PHIAVG')[1])
    return lastvar