function values = nc_getlast(ncfile, var, num_datums)
% NC_GETLAST:  Retrieves records at the end of an unlimited netCDF file
%
% DATA = NC_GETLAST(NCFILE,VARNAME,NUM_DATUMS) retrieves NUM_DATUMS 
% datums from the netCDF variable VARNAME in the netCDF file NCFILE.
% If NUM_DATUMS is not supplied, the default value is 1.


if ~ischar(ncfile) 
	error('snctools:getlast:badInput', 'The netCDF file argument must be char.');
end

if ~ischar(var) 
	error('snctools:getlast:badInput', 'The netCDF variable argument must be char.');
end

if ( nargin == 2 )
	num_datums = 1;
else
	if ~isnumeric(num_datums) 
	    error('snctools:getlast:badInput', ...
            'The num_datums argument must be numeric.' );
	end
	if num_datums <= 0
	    error('snctools:getlast:badInput', ...
            'The num_datums argument must be positive.' );
	end

end

varlist = { var };
nb = nc_getbuffer(ncfile,varlist,-1,num_datums);

values = nb.(var);

return