new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ls-utils.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 2003 John W. Eaton
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave 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 2, or (at your option) any
+later version.
+
+Octave 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 Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the Free
+Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+
+*/
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include "data-conv.h"
+
+#include "ls-utils.h"
+
+// MAX_VAL and MIN_VAL are assumed to have integral values even though
+// they are stored in doubles.
+
+save_type
+get_save_type (double max_val, double min_val)
+{
+  save_type st = LS_DOUBLE;
+
+  // Matlab doesn't seem to load the UINT32 type correctly, so let's
+  // avoid it (and the other unsigned types, even though they may not
+  // have the same problem.  And apparently, there are problems with
+  // other smaller types as well.  If we avoid them all, then maybe we
+  // will avoid problems.  Unfortunately, we won't be able to save
+  // space...
+
+  //  if (max_val < 256 && min_val > -1)
+  //    st = LS_U_CHAR;
+  //  else if (max_val < 65536 && min_val > -1)
+  //    st = LS_U_SHORT;
+  //  else if (max_val < 4294967295UL && min_val > -1)
+  //    st = LS_U_INT;
+  //  else if (max_val < 128 && min_val >= -128)
+  //    st = LS_CHAR;
+  //  else if (max_val < 32768 && min_val >= -32768)
+  //    st = LS_SHORT;
+  //  else if (max_val <= 2147483647L && min_val >= -2147483647L)
+  //    st = LS_INT;
+
+  return st;
+}
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/