This question is the outgrowth from my writing UNIX programs which are designed to be run from a UNIX shell prompt in HLASM. The first "outgrowth" was LE enabling all my UNIX HLASM code. The main reason was to be able to easily use some selected C language routines, especially sprintf(). Normally, in HLASM, if we want to dynamically invoke a subroutine, we do with with a LOAD/BALR or LINK function. However, that does not work well for UNIX programs because, as best as I can tell, you cannot LOAD or LINK to a program which resides in a UNIX file. You must put the subroutine in a PDS or PDSE which is accessable to the UNIX process. Which normally means the LINKLIST or via a dataset referenced in the STEPLIB environment variable. I am a bit of a "purist". When I'm wrting a UNIX command, I want everything to be accessable via normal UNIX facilities.
I have written a "do nothing" dll in HLASM just to try to learn how to write a DLL in HLASM. I have something that appears to work. Now, I need to write some HLASM which attempts to actually use that code. Has anybody else done anything with DLLs in HLASM? If so, what did you think of it? Another use for DLLs that I find interesting is to have data fields in them be EXPORTed and referenced from other programs. What is interesting, to me, is that all references to a DLL in an LE enclave refer to the same copy. So any data which is EXPORTed is, in effect, "global" to the LE enclave. This seems a reason way to share data. What say ye? -- John McKown Systems Engineer IV IT Administrative Services Group HealthMarkets(r) 9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010 (817) 255-3225 phone * [email protected] * www.HealthMarkets.com Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. HealthMarkets(r) is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc. -The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company(r), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of TennesseeSM and The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.SM
