def getTempFile(dir=None, shared=False, suffix=""):
    '''get a temporary file.

    The file is created and the caller needs to close and delete
    the temporary file once it is not used any more.

    Arguments
    ---------
    dir : string
        Directory of the temporary file and if not given is set to the
        default temporary location in the global configuration dictionary.
    shared : bool
        If set, the tempory file will be in a shared temporary
        location (given by the global configuration directory).
    suffix : string
        Filename suffix

    Returns
    -------
    file : File
        A file object of the temporary file.
    '''

    return tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(dir=dir, delete=False, prefix="ctmp",
                                       suffix=suffix)
get a temporary file.

    The file is created and the caller needs to close and delete
    the temporary file once it is not used any more.

    Arguments
    ---------
    dir : string
        Directory of the temporary file and if not given is set to the
        default temporary location in the global configuration dictionary.
    shared : bool
        If set, the tempory file will be in a shared temporary
        location (given by the global configuration directory).
    suffix : string
        Filename suffix

    Returns
    -------
    file : File
        A file object of the temporary file.