Forms-Based Application Development Tools User Guide > Part 3: Applications-By-Forms > F. ABF Architecture > Linking with Libraries
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Linking with Libraries
ABF uses a fixed set of libraries to link all applications. If your procedures require special libraries, add more libraries. ABF has a facility that allows you to designate a linker option file, which is included in the link.
You can do this in either of the following ways:
• Enter the name of the link options file in the Applications Default window
• Set the ING_ABFOPT1 logical/environment variable to the name of your link options file
If you set both values, the file name in the Applications Default window takes precedence.
Windows:
For example, if your procedure requires a library called userlib, you can create a file called myabf.opt as your own ABF linker option file. This file contains the full pathname for userlib:
c:\lib\userlib
Set the environment variable ING_ABFOPT1 to this pathname, as follows:
set ING_ABFOPT1=c:\lib\myabf.opt
When you image your application, ABF links in the library userlib.
Alternatively, you can specify c:\lib\myabf.opt as the link options filename in the Application Defaults window.
To add another library, for example c:\lib\newlib, you can modify myabf.opt. The file format for myabf.opt requires a single library or object module per line, as follows:
c:\lib\userlib
c:\lib\newlib
Because it is still set to myabf.opt, it is not necessary to change the link options file name in the Application Defaults window or redefine ING_ABFOPT1. Your application is now linked with both userlib and newlib.
Linux:
For example, if your procedure requires a library called userlib, you can create a file called myabf.opt as your own ABF linker option file. This file contains the full pathname for userlib:
/usr/local/lib/userlib
Set the environment variable ING_ABFOPT1 to this pathname, as follows:
$ ING_ABFOPT1 = /usr/local/lib/myabf.opt
$ export ING_ABFOPT1
When you image your application, ABF links in the library userlib.
Alternatively, you can specify "/usr/local/lib/myabf.opt" as the link options filename in the Application Defaults window.
To add another library, for example, "/usr/local/lib/newlib," you can modify myabf.opt. The file format for myabf.opt requires a single library or object module per line, as follows:
/usr/local/lib/userlib
/usr/local/lib/newlib
Because it is still set to myabf.opt, it is not necessary to change the link options file name in the Application Defaults window or redefine ING_ABFOPT1. Your application is now linked with both userlib and newlib.
For more discussion of linking with libraries, see Creating an Image of the Application.
Last modified date: 11/09/2022