FUNCTION scmp, str, FORMAT = form

; Description: This function converts the input variable "str" to a string type variable, 
;              removing any white space that may be present. If the keyword FORMAT is set, 
;              then the input variable "str" is formatted accordingly. The input variable
;              "str" may be a scalar, vector or array. The function returns the converted 
;              (and optionally formatted) input variable "str".
;
; Input Parameters:
;
;   str - ANY SCALAR/VECTOR/ARRAY - The input parameter to be converted to a string type 
;                                   variable.
;
; Keywords:
;
;   FORMAT - STRING - Set the value of this keyword to the format code required by the
;                     IDL function "string" when converting numbers to strings. The value
;                     of this keyword should be given exactly as though it was being given
;                     to the IDL function "string".
;
; Return Value:
;
;   The function returns the input parameter "str" as a STRING type variable with no white
;   space. If the FORMAT keyword was set, then the return value will be formatted 
;   appropriately. If the input variable "str" is a scalar, then the return value will be 
;   a scalar, and if the input variable "str" is a vector or an array, then the return 
;   value will be a vector or an array, respectively.
;
; Author: Dan Bramich (dmb@ing.iac.es)
;
; History:
;
;   07/05/2008 - Module created (dmb)

;If the keyword FORMAT is set, then convert the input variable "str" to a string with the
;requested format and no white space

;If the keyword FORMAT is not set, then convert the input variable "str" to a string with
;no white space 

;Return the converted input variable