Chapter 4 HP Link Editor/XL

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HP Link Editor/XL is a software tool that prepares compiled programs for execution on Series 900 HP 3000 computers and allows you to create and maintain libraries containing subprograms that you frequently use.

Most MPE/iX compilers let you compile, link, and execute a program, all in one step, or just compile and link in one step. In these cases, you do not directly execute HP Link Editor/XL to perform the linking function; it is executed automatically.

This chapter describes the basic function of HP Link Editor/XL. For detailed information on how to use HP Link Editor/XL, refer to Link Editor/XL Reference Manual (32650-90030).

HP Link Editor/XL uses one or more relocatable object modules produced by one or more native compilers to create one of the following files:

Relocatable library (RL), which is a collection of relocatable object modules that can be used by many programs at link time.
Executable library (XL), which is a collection of executable modules that can be shared by many programs at run time.
Executable program file, which is the result of merging all relocatable object modules associated with one program.

It can also operate on an existing RL or XL to update it. Figure 4-1 “:LINK and HP Link Editor/XL on MPE/iX” shows the role of :LINK and HP Link Editor/XL on the MPE/iX operating system.

Figure 4-1 :LINK and HP Link Editor/XL on MPE/iX

You automatically enter HP Link Editor/XL for the purpose of manipulating relocatable object modules into an executable program file by using the MPE/iX command :LINK. This command is especially useful in program development, when you must link a large program that calls many separately compiled routines or when you want to use values different from standard HP Link Editor/XL defaults for this process. For a :LINK overview, refer to the "Linking a Program" subsection of Chapter 3. For detailed information on linking, refer to Link Editor/XL Reference Manual (32650-90030).

You can enter HP Link Editor/XL to:

Create an executable program file (the executable form of a program), which includes several different modules that have been compiled separately.
Change one or more of the default parameters associated with the program. For example, you may need to change the execution stack size.
Use one or more library routines in your program. HP Link Editor/XL creates and maintains two kinds of libraries: relocatable libraries and executable libraries. Routines in relocatable libraries are in their compiled format. Routines in executable libraries are in executable form. Libraries minimize duplication of programming effort, promote consistency and standardization in a programming organization, and help to produce easily maintained programs.

Chapter 4 HP Link Editor/XL

Technical documentation

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