Has anyone written datetick()?

I just had a user ask me if the matlab function datetick

    > exists in MPL. I don't believe that it does so I was
    > wondering if anyone had written their own implementation of
    > it?

    > Here's the help text from the matlab web site:
    > Date formatted tick labels - MATLAB datetick

As far as I know, it does not exist and would be useful. The
tick locators and formatters are cumbersome for many users, and if a
simple function encapsulated their function that would be helpful.

Fire when ready.

JDH