--- /dev/null
+#ifndef OPTIONPARSER_H
+#define OPTIONPARSER_H
+
+/*
+ * optionparser.h
+ * Mothur
+ *
+ * Created by Sarah Westcott on 6/8/09.
+ * Copyright 2009 Schloss Lab UMASS Amherst. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ */
+
+
+
+#include "mothur.h"
+
+
+/***********************************************************************/
+
+class OptionParser {
+ public:
+ OptionParser() {}
+ ~OptionParser() {}
+ void parse(string, map<string, string>&); //pass it an option string and a container
+ //fills the container key=parameter name, value=parameter value
+};
+
+/***********************************************************************/
+
+#endif