pid = parstart(funcname_str, argin1, ..., arginn)
pid (int64) - the process ID code (-1 if the process could not be started)
funcname_str (string) - function name to be called
argin1 ... arginn (any type) - input arguments to the function
still_running_flag = running(pid)
still_running_flag (bool)
pid (int64) - the process ID returned from parstart
d = get_data(pid)
d (struct or []) - output parameters from the function
pid (int64) - the process ID returned from parstart