public void setMatrixOutput(String varName, MatrixBlock outputData, UpdateType flag)
      throws DMLRuntimeException {
    if (flag.isInPlace()) {
      // modify metadata to carry update status
      MatrixObject mo = getMatrixObject(varName);
      mo.setUpdateType(flag);
    }

    // default case
    setMatrixOutput(varName, outputData);
  }