def METHOD_NAME(path, echo_to_stderr = 1):
    # Begin a new error listing. If path is None, no file
    # is opened, the error counter is just reset.
    global listing_file, num_errors, echo_file
    if path is not None:
        listing_file = open_new_file(path)
    else:
        listing_file = None
    if echo_to_stderr:
        echo_file = sys.stderr
    else:
        echo_file = None
    num_errors = 0