function animatesww2d_alt(sww_filename,movie_filename,range)

nc2mat(sww_filename,'swwtemp.mat'); %convert .sww to .mat

load('swwtemp.mat'); % load the data from the temporary .mat file

figure(1); % Create a new figure

if nargin > 1
    % If we're making an animation then set the figure location and prepare
    % the avi file
    figure(1);set(gcf,'Position',[200 400 800 300]);
    mov=avifile(movie_filename,'FPS',5)
end

i=find(V_y==0); % Find all the points which lie along the x-axis
                % This could be made more general, or done in a way that is
                % safer against rounding-off errors.
                %
                % 'i' becomes a vector containing the indices of those points
                % which are on the x-axis.

if nargin < 3
    % If we don't specify the range to plot on the axes, then set it
    % here. X-axis covers the range in V_x, and the y-axis is 1 metre
    % outside the range of values in V_stage.
    range=[min(V_x) max(V_x) min(min(V_stage))-1 max(max(V_stage))+1];
end

m=V_stage(1,i); % m is the vector containing the maximum stage values found
                % so far among the points selected with 'i'.

for t=1:length(V_time)
    
    m=max(m,V_stage(t,i)); % update the vector of maximum values
    
    plot(V_x(i),V_stage(t,i),V_x(i),V_elevation(i),V_x(i),m,'.');
    % Plot the stage of the points that are selected using the vector 'i'
    
    axis(range)
    % set the range of the axes

    title(num2str(V_time(t)));drawnow;
    % label with the time
    
    if nargin>1
        % If we're making an animation then add a new frame
        F=getframe(gcf);
        mov=addframe(mov,F);   
    end
   
end

if nargin > 1
    % Close the animation file if necessary
    mov=close(mov);
end