#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

/***********************************************************************
 *
 *  Procedure:
 *	safemalloc - mallocs specified space or exits if there's a 
 *		     problem
 *
 ***********************************************************************/
char *safemalloc(int length)
{
  char *ptr;

  if(length <= 0)
    length = 1;

  ptr = malloc(length);
  if(ptr == (char *)0)
    {
      fprintf(stderr,"malloc of %d bytes failed. Exiting\n",length);
      exit(1);
    }
  return ptr;
}