--- a/include/utils.hpp	Fri Nov 27 19:16:12 2009 -0500
+++ b/include/utils.hpp	Sat Nov 28 01:56:46 2009 -0500
@@ -1,8 +1,22 @@
 #ifndef UTILS_HPP
 #define UTILS_HPP
 
+#include <iofwd>
+
 static const double pi = 3.14159265358979323846;
 
+/** Opens file for writing with fixed scientific precision. */
+void openWriteScientific(ofstream& out, const string& filename, const int& precision);
+
+void openWritePrecision(ofstream& out, const string& filename, const int& precision);
+
+/** Opens files and checks how it went. */
+bool openCheck(ifstream& f, const string& filename, const string& callingFunctionName);
+bool openCheck(ofstream& f, const string& filename, const string& callingFunctionName);
+
+
+// inline 
+
 inline double square(const int& a) { return a*a;}
 
 /** Implements key bindings, for example for cvWaitKey(). */