;+
;
; @file_comments
; Fastest than type loadct, file = 'palette.tbl'
;
; @categories
; Graphics, Color
;
; @param numpal {in}{optional}
; number of the color palette we want to select in the file palette.tbl
;
; @keyword LIGHTNESS
; a scalar used to change the Lightness of the color
; palette to be able to adjust according to the printer we use,
; the media (paper or slide)...
;               lightness < 1 to get lighter colors
;                         > 1 to get darker colors
;
; @keyword FILE {default='palette.tbl'}
; The file containing the color palette. It can be in any directory of the !path
;
; @keyword GET_NAME
; Set this keyword to a named variable in which the names of the color tables
; are returned as a string array. No changes are made to the color table.
;
; @keyword _EXTRA
; Used to pass keywords to <proidl>LOADCT</proidl>
;
; @history
; Sebastien Masson (smasson\@lodyc.jussieu.fr)
; 30/3/1999: add extra
; 6/7/1999: mac/windows compatibility
;
; @version
; $Id$
;
;-
;
PRO lct, numpal, FILE = file, GET_NAME = get_name, LIGHTNESS = Lightness, _EXTRA = ex
;
  compile_opt idl2, strictarrsubs
;
; definition of the name of the file containing colors palettes.
  if keyword_set(file) then nametbl = file ELSE nametbl = 'palette.tbl'
; look for nametbl file
  nametbl = (find(nametbl, /firstfound, /nopro))[0]
  if nametbl NE 'NOT FOUND' then BEGIN
    if n_elements(ex) NE 0 then $
       if (where(tag_names(ex) EQ 'FILE'))[0] NE -1 then ex.FILE = nametbl
; if we are in POSTSCRIPT mode, we have to pass in X mode in order to change the color palette
    oldname = !d.name
    if !d.name EQ 'PS' OR !d.name EQ 'Z' then BEGIN
      thisOS = !VERSION.OS_FAMILY
      thisOS = STRMID(thisOS, 0, 3)
      thisOS = STRUPCASE(thisOS)
      CASE thisOS of
        'MAC': SET_PLOT, thisOS
        'WIN': SET_PLOT, thisOS
        ELSE: SET_PLOT, 'X'
      ENDCASE
      !p.BACKGROUND = (!d.n_colors-1) < 255
      !p.color = 0
      if !d.n_colors gt 256 then !p.background = 'ffffff'x
    ENDIF
;
    if arg_present(get_name) then begin
      if n_elements(numpal) EQ 0 then $
         loadct, file = nametbl, GET_NAME = get_name, _EXTRA = ex $
      ELSE loadct, numpal, file = nametbl, /silent, GET_NAME = get_name, _EXTRA = ex
    ENDIF ELSE BEGIN
      if n_elements(numpal) EQ 0 then loadct, file = nametbl, _EXTRA = ex $
      ELSE loadct, numpal, file = nametbl, /silent, _EXTRA = ex
    ENDELSE
;
    if oldname EQ 'PS' AND keyword_set(lightness) then palit, lightness
;
    set_plot, oldname
    IF oldname EQ 'X' OR oldname EQ 'MAC' OR oldname EQ 'WIN' then BEGIN
      !p.BACKGROUND = (!d.n_colors-1) < 255
      !p.color = 0
      if !d.n_colors gt 256 then !p.background = 'ffffff'x
    ENDIF

  ENDIF ELSE ras = report('The file containing the color palettes doesn''t exist...')

  return
end