pro create_family, str, fam, title, commands

new = 0

; check that str has been defined.  If not, define it.
if (size(str))(2) ne 8 then new = 1 else $
   if tag_names(str, /structure_name) ne 'FAMILY_INFO' then new = 1

if new then str = {family_info, fam:'', title:'', commands:strarr(60)} 

com60 = [commands, strarr(60-n_elements(commands))]
new_fam = {family_info, fam, title, com60}

if new then str = new_fam else str = [str, new_fam]

return & end