function strstat,strname, quiet=quiet 
;
;
; store !quiet in temporary (no global side effects)
quiet_temp=!quiet
!quiet= keyword_set(quiet)
;
;try to form a structure using input name
;
test='test={' + strname + '}'
test=execute(test)
;
; execute statement status is 0 if error (structure did not exist)
; since an error is 'good' from the standpoint of make_str, print
; a message which indicates success to negate error message
if not test then $ 
   message,/inform, 'structure name: ' + strname + ' ok to use' else $
   message,/inform, 'structure name: ' + strname + ' already allocated'
;
;
!quiet=quiet_temp       ; restore system variable

return,test
end