+-- also register functions above in the central string class for convenience
+string.escape = escape
+string.pcdata = pcdata
+string.striptags = striptags
+string.split = split
+string.trim = trim
+string.cmatch = cmatch
+string.parse_units = parse_units
+
+
+--- Appends numerically indexed tables or single objects to a given table.
+-- @param src Target table
+-- @param ... Objects to insert
+-- @return Target table
+function append(src, ...)
+ for i, a in ipairs({...}) do
+ if type(a) == "table" then
+ for j, v in ipairs(a) do
+ src[#src+1] = v
+ end
+ else
+ src[#src+1] = a
+ end
+ end
+ return src
+end
+
+--- Combines two or more numerically indexed tables and single objects into one table.