function resu = df_mapper2(func, df, varargin)
  %# resu = df_mapper2(func, df)
  %# small interface to iterate some vector func over the elements of a
  %# dataframe. This one is specifically adapted to all functions where
  %# the first argument, if numeric, is 'dim'.

  %% Copyright (C) 2009-2012 Pascal Dupuis <Pascal.Dupuis@uclouvain.be>
  %%
  %% 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, 51 Franklin Street -
  %% Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
  
  %#
  %# $Id$
  %#

  dim = 1; resu = []; vout = varargin;
  
  %# take care of constructs as min(x, [], dim)  
  if (~isempty(varargin))
    indk = 1; while (indk <= length (varargin))
      if (isnumeric (varargin{indk}))
        if (isempty (varargin{indk}))
          indk = indk + 1; continue;
        endif
        dim = varargin{indk}; 
        %# the "third" dim is the second on stored data
        if (3 == dim) vout(indk) = 2; endif
      endif
      break;
    endwhile
  endif

  switch (dim)
    case {1}
      resu = df_colmeta (df);
      for indi = (1:df._cnt(2))
        resu._data{indi} = feval (func, df._data{indi}(:, df._rep{indi}), \
                                  vout{:});
        resu._rep{indi} = 1:size (resu._data{indi}, 2);
      endfor
      resu._cnt(1) = max (cellfun ('size', resu._data, 1));
      if (resu._cnt(1) == df._cnt(1))
        %# the func was not contracting
        resu._ridx = df._ridx;
        resu._name{1} = resu._name{1}; resu._over{1} = resu._over{1};
      endif
    case {2}
      error ('Operation not implemented');
    case {3}
      resu = df_allmeta(df); 
      for indi = (1:df._cnt(2))
        resu._data{indi} = feval (func, df._data{indi}(:, df._rep{indi}), \
                                  vout{:});
        resu._rep{indi} = 1:size (resu._data{indi}, 2);
      endfor
    otherwise
      error ("Invalid dimension %d", dim); 
  endswitch

  resu = df_thirddim (resu);

endfunction