# link

dynamic linker

## Calling Sequence

    x = link(files [, sub-names,flag]);
                link(x , sub-names [, flag]);
                lstID = link("show")
                lst = link()

## Arguments

files

  a character string or a vector of character strings, the files names used to define the new entry point (compiled routines, user libraries, system libraries,..)

sub-names

  a character string or a vector of character strings . Name of the entry points in `files` to be linked.

x

  an integer which gives the id of a shared library linked into Scilab with a previous call to `link`.

flag

  character string `'f'` or `'c'` for Fortran (default) or C code.

listID

  returns the current linked ID routines.

list

  returns names of functions linked.

## Description

`link` is a incremental/dynamic link facility: this command allows to add new compiled Fortran or C routines to Scilab executable code. Linked routines can be called interactively by the function `call`. Linked routines can also be used as "external" for e.g. non linear problem solvers (`ode`, `optim`, `intg`, `dassl`...).

`link()` returns a string matrix with linked functions.

a call to `link` returns an integer which gives the id of the shared library which is loaded into Scilab. This number can then be used as the first argument of the link function in order to link additional function from the linked shared library. The shared library is removed with the ulink command.

A routine can be unlinked with ulink. If the linked function has been modified between two links, it is required to ulink the previous instance before the new link.

`link('show')` returns the current linked routines.

To be able to link routines in a system independent way, it is convenient to use the `ilib_for_link` utility function instead of `link`.

(Experienced) users may also `link` a new Scilab interface routine to add a set of new functions. See ilib_build and addinter functions.

Number of 'link' in a scilab session can be limited by the operating system. On Windows, you cannot load more than 80 dynamic libraries at the same time.

## Examples

    //Example of the use of ilib_for_link with  a simple C code
    cd TMPDIR
    f1=['#include <math.h>'
        'void fooc(double c[],double a[],double *b,int *m,int *n)'
        '{'
        '   int i;'
        '   for ( i =0 ; i < (*m)*(*n) ; i++) '
        '     c[i] = sin(a[i]) + *b; '
        '}'];

    mputl(f1,'fooc.c');

    //creating the shared library: a Makefile and a loader are
    //generated, the code is compiled and a shared library built.
    ilib_for_link('fooc','fooc.c',[],"c")

    // display the loader.sce file which calls link
    mprintf('%s\n',mgetl('loader.sce'))
    // load the shared library
    exec loader.sce;

    link('show')
    // call the new linked entry point
    a=linspace(0,%pi,10);b=5;
    y1=call('fooc',a,2,'d',b,3,'d',size(a,1),4,'i',size(a,2),5,'i','out',size(a),1,'d')
    // check
    y1-(sin(a)+b)
    exec cleaner.sce;

## See Also

- ulink
- call
- external
- c_link
- addinter
- ilib_for_link
- ilib_build
- api_scilab