; docformat = 'rst'
;
; NAME:
;    FILE_EXIST
; PURPOSE:
;    This function tests for the presence of a file.
;
;+
; :Description:
;    This function tests for the presence of a file.
;
; :Categories:
;    Disk I/O
;    
; :Params:
;    FILE:  in, required, type=string
;        String holding the name of the file you want to test
;        the existence of. 
;
; :Returns: This function returns 1 if the specified file exists or
;    0 if the specified file does NOT exist.
;
; :Examples:
;    To check the existence of the file /etc/services::
;      IDL > if (file_exist("/etc/services")) then begin
;      IDL >    print,'/etc/services exists'
;      IDL > endif
;
; :Author:
;    Joern Wilms
; :History:
;     Change History::
;        Written in October 1997, Joern Wilms
;        2013-Nov.: B.Carry (IMCCE) - IdlDoc Header
;-
function file_exist, FILE
  openr,unit,file,/get_lun,error=err
  IF (err EQ 0) THEN free_lun,unit
  return,(err EQ 0)
END