Merge branch 'master' into sphinx-doc-experimental

Conflicts:
	matlab/utilities/tests

.dir-locals.el

@@ -2,6 +2,4 @@
       ((c-file-style . "gnu")
        (indent-tabs-mode . nil)
        (fill-column . 79)))
- (makefile-mode . ((indent-tabs-mode . t)))
- (matlab-mode . ((matlab-indent-level . 4)
-                 (matlab-indent-function-body . nil))))
+ (makefile-mode . ((indent-tabs-mode . t)))
\ No newline at end of file

.gitignore

@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ mex/build/matlab/run_m2html.m
 /contrib/ms-sbvar/*.dat
 /contrib/ms-sbvar/sbvar_commandline
 /contrib/ms-sbvar/sbvar_init_file
+/tests/ms-sbvar/*.tmp
 
 # Reporting
-*synctex.gz
\ No newline at end of file
+*synctex.gz
+tests/reporting/tmpRepDir

.gitmodules

@@ -10,3 +10,14 @@
 [submodule "contrib/dmm"]
 	path = contrib/dmm
 	url = http://www.dynare.org/git/dmm.git
+[submodule "matlab/utilities/tests"]
+	path = matlab/utilities/tests
+	url = https://github.com/DynareTeam/m-unit-tests.git
+[submodule "matlab/modules/dates"]
+	path = matlab/modules/dates
+	url = https://github.com/DynareTeam/dates.git
+	branch = old-oop-syntax
+[submodule "matlab/modules/dseries"]
+	path = matlab/modules/dseries
+	url = https://github.com/DynareTeam/dseries.git
+	branch = old-oop-style

NEWS

+Announcement for Dynare 4.4.3 (on 2014-07-31)
+=============================================
+
+We are pleased to announce the release of Dynare 4.4.3.
+
+This is a bugfix release.
+
+The Windows packages are already available for download at:
+
+ http://www.dynare.org/download/dynare-stable
+
+The Mac and GNU/Linux packages (for Debian and Ubuntu LTS) should follow soon.
+
+This release is compatible with MATLAB versions 7.3 (R2006b) to 8.2 (R2013b)
+and with GNU Octave versions 3.6 to 3.8.
+
+Here is a list of the problems identified in version 4.4.2 and that have been
+fixed in version 4.4.3:
+
+ - When loading a dataset in XLS, XLSX or CSV format, the first
+   observation was discarded.
+
+ - Reading data in an Excel-file with only one variable wasz leading
+   to a crash.
+
+ - When using the k_order_perturbation option (which is implicit at
+   3rd order) without the use_dll option, crashes or unexpected
+   behavior could happen if some 2nd or 3rd derivative evaluates to
+   zero (while not being symbolically zero)
+
+ - When using external function, Ramsey policy could crash or return
+   wrong results.
+
+ - For Ramsey policy, the equation numbers associated with the
+   Lagrange multipliers stored in M_.aux_vars were erroneously one too
+   low
+
+ - When updating deep parameters in the steady state file, the changes
+   were not fully taken into account (this was only affecting the
+   Ramsey policy).
+
+ - When using external functions and the bytecode option, wrong
+   results were returned (if second order derivates of the external
+   functions were needed).
+
+ - The confidence level for computations in estimation, conf_sig could
+   not be changed and was fixed at 0.9. The new option mh_conf_sig is
+   now used to set this interval
+
+ - Conditional forecasts with non-diagonal covariance matrix used an
+   incorrect decomposition of the covariance matrix. A Cholesky
+   factorization is used.
+
+ - Option geweke_interval was not effective, Dynare always defaulted
+   to the standard value.
+
+ - The mode_file option lacked backward compatibility with older
+   Dynare versions.
+
+ - Loading an mh_mode file with the mode_file option was broken.
+
+ - Using identification with var_exo_det leaded to crashes (the
+   preprocessor now returns an error if they are used simultaneously)
+
+ - The identification command did not print results if the initial
+   parameter set was invalid and then crashed later on if the MC
+   sample is bigger than 1
+
+ - Inconsistencies between static and dynamic models leaded to crashes
+   instead of error messages (only with block option).
+
+ - The use of external functions crashed the preprocessor when the
+   derivatives of the external function are explicitly called in the
+   model block. The preprocessor now forbids the use of external
+   functions derivates in the model block.
+
+ - Using the block option when a variable does not appear in the
+   current period crashed Dynare instead of providing an error
+   message.
+
+
 Announcement for Dynare 4.4.2 (on 2014-03-04)
 =============================================
 

README.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ A number of tools and libraries are needed in order to recompile everything. You
 
 - A POSIX compliant shell and an implementation of Make (mandatory)
 - The [GNU Compiler Collection](http://gcc.gnu.org/), with gcc, g++ and gfortran (mandatory)
-- [MATLAB](http://www.dynare.org/DynareWiki/BuildingDynareFromSource?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=dynare-mingw64-libs.zip) (if you want to compile MEX for MATLAB)
+- MATLAB (if you want to compile MEX for MATLAB)
 - [GNU Octave](http://www.octave.org), with the development headers (if you want to compile MEX for Octave)
 - [Boost libraries](http://www.boost.org), version 1.36 or later
 - [Bison](http://www.gnu.org/software/bison/), version 2.5 or later (only if you get the source through Git)
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ The following instructions are compatible with MATLAB or with Octave/MinGW (as d
     - `mingw64-i686-gcc-core`, `mingw64-i686-gcc-g++`, `mingw64-i686-gcc-fortran` (if you have Octave/MinGW or if you have MATLAB 32-bit)
     - `mingw64-x86_64-gcc-core`, `mingw64-x86_64-gcc-g++`, `mingw64-x86_64-gcc-fortran` (if you have MATLAB 64-bit)
 - Second, install precompiled librairies for BLAS, LAPACK, Boost and GSL:
-    - If you have Octave or MATLAB 32-bit, download [dynare-mingw32-libs.zip](http://www.dynare.org/DynareWiki/BuildingDynareFromSource?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=dynare-mingw32-libs.zip), and uncompress it in `c:\cygwin\usr\local\lib\mingw32`
-    - If you have MATLAB 64-bit, download [dynare-mingw64-libs.zip](http://www.dynare.org/DynareWiki/BuildingDynareFromSource?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=dynare-mingw64-libs.zip), and uncompress it in `c:\cygwin\usr\local\lib\mingw64`
+    - If you have Octave or MATLAB 32-bit, download [dynare-mingw32-libs.zip](http://www.dynare.org/build/dynare-mingw32-libs.zip), and uncompress it in `c:\cygwin\usr\local\lib\mingw32`
+    - If you have MATLAB 64-bit, download [dynare-mingw64-libs.zip](http://www.dynare.org/build/dynare-mingw64-libs.zip), and uncompress it in `c:\cygwin\usr\local\lib\mingw64`
 
 *Remark*: You need to make sure that Cygwin’s git is used and not a potentially installed msysgit. The latter typically happens when one installs msysgit and allows it to set a system path. This will result in wrong line endings and cryptic error messages à la "syntax error near unexpected token `fi'". In that case it might be necessary to uninstall msysgit and reinstall it without setting a system path.
 
@@ -251,35 +251,34 @@ Configure and make:
 
 ## Mac OS X
 
-- Install the Xcode Common Tools:
-    - Install [Xcode](http://developer.apple.com/xcode/) from the App Store
-    - Open Xcode
-    - Go to `Xcode->Preferences...`
-    - In the window that opens, click on the `Downloads` tab
-    - In the tab that appears, click on the `Components` button
-    - Next to `Command Line Tools`, click on `Install`
-- Download [MacOSX10.6.sdk.zip](http://www.jamesgeorge.org/uploads/MacOSX10.6.sdk.zip) and unzip it in `/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs`. Change the owner to be `root` and the group to be `wheel`
-
+- Install the Xcode Command Line Tools:
+    - Download "Command Line Tools (OS X 10.X) for Xcode," where 10.X corresponds to your OS X version, from https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action
 - Install [Homebrew](http://mxcl.github.io/homebrew/) by following the instructions on the website
-- Tap [Homebrew Science](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-science) by doing:
+- Tap [Homebrew Science](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-science) by opening Terminal and typing:
     - ```brew tap homebrew/science```
 - Install the following brews:
+    - ```brew install gcc```
     - ```brew install automake```
     - ```brew install gsl```
     - ```brew install bison```
     - ```brew install boost```
-    - ```brew install gfortran```
     - ```brew install libmatio --with-hdf5```
     - ```brew install slicot --with-default-integer-8```
-- **(Optional)** To compile Dynare mex files for use on Octave, first install Octave following the [Simple Installation Instructions](http://wiki.octave.org/Octave_for_MacOS_X#Simple_Installation_Instructions_3). Then, you will probably also want to install graphicsmagick via Homebrew with `brew install graphicsmagick`.
+- Force link ```flex``` and ```bison```
+    - ```brew link --force flex```
+    - ```brew link --force bison```
+- **(Optional)** To compile Dynare mex files for use on Octave:
+    - ```brew install octave```
 - **(Optional)** To compile Dynare's documentation, first install the latest version of [MacTeX](http://www.tug.org/mactex/). Then install `doxygen`, `latex2html` and `texi2html` via Homebrew with the following commands:
     - ```brew install doxygen```
     - ```brew install texinfo```
     - ```brew install latex2html```
     - ```brew install texi2html```
-- **(On OS X 10.7 Only)** Copy [FlexLexer.h](http://www.dynare.org/DynareWiki/BuildingDynareFromSource?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=FlexLexer.h) into the `preprocessor` directory (there was an error in the `FlexLexer.h` file distributed with 10.7)
-- Finally, switch to the root dynare directory. Ensure your path contains `/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/opt/X11/bin:/usr/texbin:/usr/local/sbin`. Run:
+- **(On OS X 10.7 Only)** Copy [FlexLexer.h](http://www.dynare.org/build/FlexLexer.h) into the `preprocessor` directory (there was an error in the `FlexLexer.h` file distributed with 10.7)
+- Ensure `/usr/local/bin` is at the beginning of your path:
+    - ```PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH```
+- Finally, switch to the root dynare directory and compile dynare
     - `autoreconf -si`
-    - `./configure --with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2013a.app MATLAB_VERSION=8.1 YACC=/usr/local/Cellar/bison/<<BISON VERSION>>/bin/bison`
+    - `./configure --with-matlab=/Applications/MATLAB_R2014b.app MATLAB_VERSION=8.4`
     - `make`
     - `make pdf TEXI2DVI=/usr/local/Cellar/texinfo/5.2/bin/texi2dvi`, where you replace everything after the equal sign with the path to the `texi2dvi` installed by homebrew when you installed `texinfo`.

TZcode @ 4be47034

-Subproject commit b642763676536c148ad827a0286862be87c5ae8e
+Subproject commit 4be470341a73bb22d58bb0d930ff624a5bf1a7f6

license.txt

@@ -80,15 +80,17 @@ Copyright: 1995-2007 Kurt Hornik
            2008-2009 Dynare Team
 License: GPL-3+
 
-Files: matlab/missing/bicgstab/bicgstab.m
-Copyright: 2008 Radek Salac
-License: GPL-3+
-
 Files: matlab/missing/strjoin/strjoin.m
 Copyright: 2007 Muthiah Annamalai <muthiah.annamalai@uta.edu>
            2013 Dynare Team
 License: GPL-3+
 
+Files: matlab/missing/corrcoef/corrcoef.m matlab/missing/corrcoef/sumskipnan.m
+ matlab/missing/corrcoef/flag_implicit_skip_nan.m matlab/missing/corrcoef/tcdf.m
+Copyright: 2000-2005,2008,2009,2011 by Alois Schloegl <alois.schloegl@gmail.com>
+           2014 Dynare Team
+License: GPL-3+
+
 Files: matlab/lmmcp/catstruct.m
 Copyright: 2005 Jos van der Geest <jos@jasen.nl>
            2013 Christophe Gouel

m4/ax_blas.m4

@@ -170,11 +170,11 @@ if test $ax_blas_ok = no; then
 	AC_CHECK_LIB(mkl, $sgemm, [ax_blas_ok=yes;BLAS_LIBS="-lmkl -lguide -lpthread"],,[-lguide -lpthread])
 fi
 
-# BLAS in Apple vecLib library?
+# BLAS in Apple Accelerate library?
 if test $ax_blas_ok = no; then
-	save_LIBS="$LIBS"; LIBS="-framework vecLib $LIBS"
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for $sgemm in -framework vecLib])
-	AC_TRY_LINK_FUNC($sgemm, [ax_blas_ok=yes;BLAS_LIBS="-framework vecLib"])
+	save_LIBS="$LIBS"; LIBS="-framework Accelerate $LIBS"
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for $sgemm in -framework Accelerate])
+	AC_TRY_LINK_FUNC($sgemm, [ax_blas_ok=yes;BLAS_LIBS="-framework Accelerate"])
 	AC_MSG_RESULT($ax_blas_ok)
 	LIBS="$save_LIBS"
 fi

m4/ax_matlab_version.m4

@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ AC_REQUIRE([AX_MATLAB])
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for MATLAB version])
 if test "x$MATLAB_VERSION" != "x"; then
   case $MATLAB_VERSION in
+    *2014b | *2014B)
+      MATLAB_VERSION="8.4"
+      ;;
     *2014a | *2014A)
       MATLAB_VERSION="8.3"
       ;;

matlab/@dates/append.m

-function B = append(A,a) % --*-- Unitary tests --*--
-
-% append method for dates class.
-%
-% INPUTS 
-%  o A    dates object.
-%  o a    dates object with one element or string that can be interpreted as a date.
-%
-% OUTPUTS 
-%  o B    dates object containing dates defined in A and a.
-%
-% EXAMPLE 1 
-%  If A is a dates object with quarterly frequency, then B = A.append(dates('1950Q2')) and 
-%  B = A.append('1950Q2') are equivalent syntaxes.
-
-% Copyright (C) 2012-2013 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/>.
-
-if isa(a,'dates')
-    if ~isequal(length(a),1)
-        error(['dates::append: Input argument ' inputname(2) ' has to be a dates object with one element.'])
-    end
-    if isempty(a)
-        B = A;
-        return
-    end
-elseif isdate(a)
-    a = dates(a);
-end
-
-if ~isequal(A.freq, a.freq)
-    error(['dates::append: A and a must have common frequency!'])
-end
-
-B = dates();
-B.ndat = A.ndat+1;
-B.freq = A.freq;
-B.time = NaN(B.ndat,2);
-B.time(1:A.ndat,:) = A.time;
-B.time(A.ndat+1,:) = a.time; 
-
-%@test:1
-%$ % Define some dates
-%$ B1 = '1953Q4';
-%$ B2 = '1950Q2';
-%$ B3 = '1950Q1';
-%$ B4 = '1945Q3';
-%$ B5 = '2009Q2';
-%$
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.time = [1945 3; 1950 1; 1950 2; 1953 4; 2009 2];
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.ndat = 5;
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = dates(B4,B3,B2,B1);
-%$ d = d.append(dates(B5));
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ t(3) = dyn_assert(d.ndat,e.ndat);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%@eof:1
-
-%@test:2
-%$ % Define some dates
-%$ B1 = '1953Q4';
-%$ B2 = '1950Q2';
-%$ B3 = '1950Q1';
-%$ B4 = '1945Q3';
-%$ B5 = '2009q2';
-%$
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.time = [1945 3; 1950 1; 1950 2; 1953 4; 2009 2];
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.ndat = 5;
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = dates(B4,B3,B2,B1);
-%$ d = d.append(B5);
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ t(3) = dyn_assert(d.ndat,e.ndat);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%@eof:2
\ No newline at end of file

matlab/@dates/colon.m

-function C = colon(varargin) % --*-- Unitary tests --*--
-
-% Overloads the colon operator (:). This method can be used to create ranges of dates.
-%
-% INPUTS 
-%  o A    dates object with one element.
-%  o d    integer scalar, number of periods between each date (default value, if nargin==2, is one)
-%  o B    dates object with one element.
-%
-% OUTPUTS 
-%  o C    dates object with length(B-A) elements (if d==1).
-%
-% REMARKS 
-%  B must be greater than A if d>0.
-
-% Copyright (C) 2013 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/>.
-
-if isequal(nargin,2)
-    A = varargin{1};
-    B = varargin{2};
-    d = 1;
-    if ~(isa(A,'dates') && isa(B,'dates') && isequal(length(A),1) && isequal(length(B),1))
-        error('dates::colon: In an expression like A:B, A and B must be dates objects!')
-    end
-elseif isequal(nargin,3)
-    A = varargin{1};
-    B = varargin{3};
-    d = varargin{2};
-    if ~(isa(A,'dates') && isa(B,'dates') && isequal(length(A),1) && isequal(length(B),1))
-        error('dates::colon: In an expression like A:d:B, A and B must be dates objects and d a scalar integer (number of periods)!')
-    end
-    if ~(isscalar(d) && isint(d))
-        error('dates::colon: In an expression like A:d:B, A and B must be dates objects and d a scalar integer (number of periods)!')
-    end
-    if isequal(d,0)
-        error('dates::colon: In an expression like A:d:B, d (the incremental number of periods) must nonzero!')
-    end
-else
-    error('dates::colon: Wrong calling sequence! See the manual for the colon (:) operator and dates objects.')
-end
-
-if ~isequal(A.freq,B.freq)
-    error(['dates::colon: Input arguments ' inputname(1) 'and ' inputname(2) ' must have common frequency!'])
-end
-
-if A>B && d>0
-    error(['dates::colon: ' inputname(1) ' must precede ' inputname(2) '!' ])
-end
-
-if B>A && d<0
-    error(['dates::colon: ' inputname(2) ' must precede ' inputname(1) '!' ])
-end
-
-C = dates();
-n = (B-A)+1;
-m = n;
-if d>1
-    m = length(1:d:n);
-end
-C.freq = A.freq;
-
-if isequal(C.freq,1)
-    C.ndat = m;
-    C.time = NaN(m,2);
-    C.time(:,1) = A.time(1)+transpose(0:d:n-1);
-    C.time(:,2) = 1;
-else
-    C.time = NaN(n,2);
-    initperiods = min(C.freq-A.time(2)+1,n);
-    C.time(1:initperiods,1) = A.time(1);
-    C.time(1:initperiods,2) = transpose(A.time(2)-1+(1:initperiods));
-    if n>initperiods
-        p = n-initperiods;
-        if p<=C.freq
-            C.time(initperiods+(1:p),1) = A.time(1)+1;
-            C.time(initperiods+(1:p),2) = transpose(1:p);
-        else
-            q = fix(p/C.freq);
-            r = rem(p,C.freq);
-            C.time(initperiods+(1:C.freq*q),2) = repmat(transpose(1:C.freq),q,1);
-            C.time(initperiods+(1:C.freq*q),1) = kron(A.time(1)+transpose(1:q),ones(C.freq,1));
-            if r>0
-                C.time(initperiods+C.freq*q+(1:r),1) = C.time(initperiods+C.freq*q,1)+1;
-                C.time(initperiods+C.freq*q+(1:r),2) = transpose(1:r);
-            end
-        end
-    end
-    if d>1
-        C.time = C.time(1:d:n,:);
-        C.ndat = m;
-    else
-        C.ndat = n;
-    end
-end
-
-%@test:1
-%$ % Define two dates
-%$ date_1 = '1950Q2';
-%$ date_2 = '1951Q4';
-%$
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.time = [1950 2; 1950 3; 1950 4; 1951 1; 1951 2; 1951 3; 1951 4];
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d1 = dates(date_1);
-%$ d2 = dates(date_2);
-%$ d3 = d1:d2;
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d3.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d3.freq,e.freq);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%@eof:1
-
-%@test:2
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.time = [1950 2; 1950 3; 1950 4; 1951 1; 1951 2; 1951 3; 1951 4];
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = dates('1950Q2'):dates('1951Q4');
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%@eof:2
-
-%@test:3
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.time = [1950 2; 1950 4; 1951 2; 1951 4];
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = dates('1950Q2'):2:dates('1951Q4');
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%@eof:3
-
-
-%$ @test:3
-%$ % Create an empty dates object for quaterly data
-%$ qq = dates('Q');
-%$
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.time = [1950 2; 1950 3; 1950 4; 1951 1; 1951 2; 1951 3; 1951 4];
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = qq(1950,2):qq(1951,4);
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%$ @eof:3
-
-%$ @test:4
-%$ % Create an empty dates object for quaterly data
-%$ qq = dates('Q');
-%$
-%$ % Define expected results.
-%$ e.freq = 4;
-%$ e.time = [1950 1; 1950 2; 1950 3];
-%$
-%$ % Call the tested routine.
-%$ d = qq(1950,1):qq(1950,3);
-%$
-%$ % Check the results.
-%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d.time,e.time);
-%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d.freq,e.freq);
-%$ T = all(t);
-%$ @eof:4
\ No newline at end of file

matlab/@dates/dates.m

-function dd = dates(varargin) % --*-- Unitary tests --*--
-
-%@info:
-%! @deftypefn {Function File} {@var{dd} =} dates (@var{a},@var{b},...)
-%! @anchor{dates}
-%! @sp 1
-%! Constructor for the Dynare dates class (unordered sequence of dates).
-%! @sp 2
-%! @strong{Inputs}
-%! @sp 1
-%! @table @ @var
-%! @item a
-%! String, date.
-%! @item b
-%! @end table
-%! @sp 2
-%! @strong{Outputs}
-%! @sp 1
-%! @table @ @var
-%! @item dd
-%! Dynare dates object.
-%! @end table
-%! @sp 1
-%! @strong{Properties}
-%! @sp 1
-%! The constructor defines the following properties:
-%! @sp 1
-%! @table @ @var
-%! @item ndate
-%! Scalar integer, the number of dates.
-%! @item freq
-%! Scalar integer, the frequency of the time series. @var{freq} is equal to 1 if data are on a yearly basis or if
-%! frequency is unspecified. @var{freq} is equal to 4 if data are on a quaterly basis. @var{freq} is equal to
-%! 12 if data are on a monthly basis. @var{freq} is equal to 52 if data are on a weekly basis.
-%! @item time
-%! Array of integers (nobs*2). The first column defines the years associated to each date. The second column,
-%! depending on the frequency, indicates the week, month or quarter numbers. For yearly data or unspecified frequency
-%! the second column is filled by ones.
-%! @end table
-%! @sp 2
-%! @strong{This function is called by:}
-%! @sp 2
-%! @strong{This function calls:}
-%!
-%! @end deftypefn
-%@eod:
-
-% Copyright (C) 2011-2014 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/>.
-
-% Initialization.
-if nargin>0 && ischar(varargin{1}) && isequal(varargin{1},'initialize')
-    dd = struct('ndat', 0, 'freq', NaN(0), 'time', NaN(0,2));
-    dd = class(dd,'dates');
-    assignin('base','emptydatesobject',dd);
-    return
-end
-
-dd = evalin('base','emptydatesobject');
-
-if isequal(nargin, 0)
-