New function for testing an Octave Forge package

matlab/dynare_config.m

@@ -88,15 +88,9 @@ end
 
 % nanmean is in Octave Forge Statistics package and in MATLAB Statistics
 % toolbox
-if exist('OCTAVE_VERSION')
-    [desc,flag] = pkg('describe', 'statistics');
-    if ~isequal(flag{1,1}, 'Loaded')
-        addpath([dynareroot '/missing/nanmean'])
-    end
-else
-    if ~user_has_matlab_license('statistics_toolbox')
-        addpath([dynareroot '/missing/nanmean'])
-    end
+if (exist('OCTAVE_VERSION') && ~user_has_octave_forge_package('statistics')) ...
+    || (~exist('OCTAVE_VERSION') && ~user_has_matlab_license('statistics_toolbox'))
+    addpath([dynareroot '/missing/nanmean'])
 end
 
 % Add path to MEX files

matlab/user_has_octave_forge_package.m

+function [hasPackage] = user_has_octave_forge_package(package)
+% Checks for the availability of a given Octave Forge package
+
+% Copyright (C) 2012 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+[desc,flag] = pkg('describe', package);
+
+hasPackage = isequal(flag{1,1}, 'Loaded');