new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/general/perror.m
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+function perror (name, err)
+
+# usage: perror (name, err)
+#
+# Print an error message for error number `err' from function "name".
+#
+# Messages correspond to the following subroutine versions:
+#
+#   npsol : 4.0
+#   qpsol : 3.2
+
+  if (nargin != 2)
+    error ("usage: perror (name, err)");
+  endif
+
+  if (! isstr (name))
+    error ("perror: first argument must be a string");
+  endif
+
+  if (! is_scalar (err))
+    error ("perror: second argument must be a scalar");
+  endif
+
+  if (strcmp (name, "fsolve"))
+
+    if (info == -1)
+      printf ("input error\n");
+    elseif (info == 1)
+      printf ("solution converged to requested tolerance\n");
+    elseif (info == 4)
+      printf ("iteration limit exceeded\n");
+    elseif (info == 3)
+      printf ("iteration is not making good progress\n");
+    else
+      error ("perror: unrecognized error code for fsolve");
+    endif
+
+  elseif (strcmp (name, "npsol"))
+
+    if (err == 0)
+      printf ("optimal solution found\n");
+    elseif (err == 1)
+      printf ("weak local solution found\n");
+    elseif (err == 2)
+      printf ("no feasible point for linear constraints and bounds\n");
+    elseif (err == 3)
+      printf ("no feasible point found for nonlinear constraints\n");
+    elseif (err == 4)
+      printf ("iteration limit reached\n");
+    elseif (err == 6)
+      printf ("current point cannot be improved upon\n");
+    elseif (err == 7)
+      printf ("user-supplied derivatives appear to be incorrect\n");
+    elseif (err == 9)
+      printf ("internal error: invalid input parameter\n");
+    else
+      error ("perror: unrecognized error code for npsol");
+    endif
+
+  elseif (strcmp (name, "qpsol"))
+
+    if (err == 0)
+      printf ("optimal solution found\n");
+    elseif (err == 1)
+      printf ("weak local solution found\n");
+    elseif (err == 2)
+      printf ("solution appears to be unbounded\n");
+    elseif (err == 3)
+      printf ("solution appears optimal, but optimality can't be verified\n");
+    elseif (err == 4)
+      printf ("iterates of the QP phase appear to be cycling\n");
+    elseif (err == 5)
+      printf ("iteration limit reached during QP phase\n");
+    elseif (err == 6)
+      printf ("no feasible point found during LP phase\n");
+    elseif (err == 7)
+      printf ("iterates of the LP phase appear to be cycling\n");
+    elseif (err == 8)
+      printf ("iteration limit reached during LP phase\n");
+    elseif (err == 9)
+      printf ("internal error: invalid input parameter\n");
+    else
+      error ("perror: unrecognized error code for qpsol");
+    endif
+
+  else
+
+    error ("perror: unrecognized function name");
+
+  endif
+
+endfunction