Details of IDL

Module statement

We define the module's name.

Module module_name;
        

module_name is the identifier of the module. You should define the module name first in IDL file.

Define statement

We define an interface of a function which called from the remote program.

Define function_name (parameter1,parameter2,...) 
"...description..."
interface_body
        

Function name is "function_name." We describe this parameter as follows.

 mode  type_specifier  parameter_name
        

Mode specifies whether an argument is input or output. If the argument is input, you write "mode_in" or "IN." If the argument is output, you should write "mode_out" or "OUT." And, if you want to allocate temporary data, you can specify "work." the "type_specifier" supports the names of the fundamental data type in C language, "string," which stands for string, "filename which stands for file specifyed filename and "filepointer" which stands for filepointer.

You can specify arguments of an array in C language.

 mode  type_specifier  parameter_name[size]...
        

Arguments of a multi-dimensional array are enclosed in brackets ([...]) for each dimension, as in C language.

You can describe the upper limit, bottom limit and stride of a transferred array area.

 mode  type_specifier  parameter_name[size:low,high,stride]...
        

Between the body information about the function is described in a string.

In the body, you need to conform to C language.

Define function_name (...) { in manner of C language }
        

In the description of a function of C , arguments are accessed as a parameter variable.

And, if you call a function which is linked, you write the function call after the Call directive.

Define function_name (...) Calls foo(...);
        

Globals statement

You can describe in programs written in C language the functions and data which are to be used in an entire module. For example, you can describe a necessary function definition when you define the definition of the function in C language. And, you can describe variables which are shared in functions and multiple functions.

Globals { ... any programs }
        

Fortranformat statement

This specifies the rule of function mangling when function link to FORTRAN program.