You can call a VAX MACRO routine from DEC C or vice versa. However, like all interlanguage calls, it is necessary to make sure that the actual arguments correspond to the expected formal parameter types. Also, it is necessary to remember that C strings are null-terminated and to take special action in either the MACRO routine or the C routine to allow for this.

Example 3-8 shows a MACRO routine that calls a C routine with three arguments, passing one by value, one by reference, and one by descriptor. It is followed by the source for the called C routine.

Example 3-8 VAX MACRO Program Calling a DEC C Function

;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; Beginning of MACRO program ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- .extrn dbroutine ; The C routine ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; Local Data ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- .psect data rd,nowrt,noexe ft$$t_part_num: .ascii /WidgitGadget/ ft$$t_query_mode: .ascii /I/ ft$$s_query_mode = <. - ft$$t_query_mode> ft$$l_protocol_buff: .blkl 1 ft$$kd_part_num_dsc: .word 12 .word 0 .address ft$$t_part_num ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; Entry Point ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- .psect ft_code rd,nowrt,exe .entry dbtest ^m<r2,r3,r4,r5,r6,r7,r8> ;+ ; call C routine for data base lookup ;- movl #1,r3 pushal ft$$kd_part_num_dsc ; Descriptor for part number pushal ft$$t_query_mode ; Mode to call pushl #1 ; Status calls #3, dbroutine ; Check the data base 99$: ret .end dbtest ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; End of MACRO program ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- /* * Beginning of DEC C code for dbroutine: */ #include <stdio.h> #include <descrip.h> /* Structure pn_desc is the format of the descriptor passed by the macro routine. */ extern struct mydescript { short pn_len; short pn_zero; char *pn_addr; }; int dbroutine (int status, /* Passed by value */ char *action, /* Passed by reference */ struct mydescript *name_dsc) /* Passed by descriptor */ { char *part_name; /* Allocate space to put the null-padded name string. */ part_name = malloc(name_dsc->pn_len + 1); memcpy( part_name,name_dsc -> pn_addr ,name_dsc -> pn_len); /* Remember that C array bounds start at 0 */ part_name[name_dsc -> pn_len] = '\0'; printf (" Status is %d\n", status); printf (" Length is %d\n",name_dsc -> pn_len); printf (" Part_name is %s\n",part_name); printf (" Request is %c\n",*action); status = 1; return(status); } /* End of DEC C code for dbroutine */

Example 3-8 produces the following output:

Status is 1 Length is 12 Part_name is WidgitGadget Request is I

Example 3-9 shows a DEC C program that calls a VAX MACRO program.

Example 3-9 DEC C Program Calling a VAX MACRO Program

/* Beginning of DEC C function */ #include <stdio.h> #include <descrip.h> int zapit( int status, int *action, struct dsc$descriptor_s *descript); main(void) { int status=255, argh = 99; int *action = &argh; $DESCRIPTOR(name_dsc,"SuperEconomySize"); printf(" Before calling ZAPIT: \n"); printf(" Status was %d \n",status); printf(" Action contained %d and *action contained %d \n" ,action, *action); printf(" And the thing described by the descriptor was %s\n", name_dsc.dsc$a_pointer); if (zapit(status,action,&name_dsc) && 1) { printf(" Ack, the world has been zapped! \n"); printf(" Status is %d \n",status); printf(" Action contains %d and *action contains %d \n" ,action, *action); printf(" And the address of the thing described by the descriptor is %d\n", name_dsc.dsc$a_pointer); } } /* End of DEC C function ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; Beginning of VAX MACRO source code for zapit ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; Entry Point ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- .psect ft_code rd,nowrt,exe .entry zapit ^m<r2,r3,r4,r5,r6,r7,r8> ;+ ; Maliciously change parameters passed by the C routine. ; ; The first parameter is passed by value, the second by ; reference, and the third by descriptor. ;- movl 4(ap), @8(ap) ;Change the by-reference parameter ;to the first parameter's value. movl 12(ap), r2 movl #0,4(r2) ;Zap address of string in descriptor. ; Return -1 to signal successful destruction. movl #-1,r0 ret .end ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ; End of VAX MACRO source code for zapit ;-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 3-9 produces the following output:

Before calling ZAPIT: Status was 255 Action contained 2146269556 and *action contained 99 And the thing described by the descriptor was SuperEconomySize Ack, the world has been zapped! Status is 255 Action contains 2146269556 and *action contains 255 And the address of the thing described by the descriptor is 0

3.3.3 Calling VAX BASIC

Calling routines written in VAX BASIC from DEC C programs or vice versa is straightforward. By default, VAX BASIC passes arguments by reference, except for arrays and strings, which are passed by descriptor. In some cases, these defaults may be overridden by explicitly specifying the desired parameter-passing mechanisms in the VAX BASIC program. However, if an argument is a constant or an expression, the actual argument passed refers to a local copy of the specified argument's value.

Strings in VAX BASIC are not terminated by a null character, which is done by DEC C. As a result, passing strings between VAX BASIC and DEC C routines requires you to do additional work. You may choose to add an explicit null character to a VAX BASIC string before passing it to a DEC C routine, or you may prefer to code the DEC C routine to obtain the string's length from its descriptor.

Example 3-10 shows a DEC C program that calls a VAX BASIC function with a variety of argument data types.

Example 3-10 DEC C Function Calling a VAX BASIC Function

/* * Beginning of DEC C function: */ #include <stdio.h> #include <descrip.h> extern int basfunc (); main(void) { int i = 508; float f = 649.0; double d = 91.50; struct { short s; float f; } s = { -2, -3.14 }; $DESCRIPTOR (string1, "A C string"); printf ("BASIC returned %d\n", basfunc (&i, &f, &d, &s, &string1, "bye")); } /* End of DEC C function */ REM Beginning of the VAX BASIC program FUNCTION INTEGER basfunc (INTEGER i, REAL f, DOUBLE d, x s, & STRING string1, & STRING string2 = 3 BY REF) RECORD x WORD s REAL f END RECORD x PRINT 'i = '; i PRINT 'f = '; f PRINT 'd = '; d PRINT 's::s = '; s::s PRINT 's::f = '; s::f PRINT 'string1 = '; string1 PRINT 'string2 = '; string2 END FUNCTION -15 REM End of the VAX BASIC program

Example 3-10 produces the following output:

i = 508 f = 649 d = 91.5 s::s = -2 s::f = -3.14 string1 = A C string string2 = bye BASIC returned -15

Example 3-11 shows a VAX BASIC program that calls a DEC C function.

Example 3-11 VAX BASIC Program Calling a DEC C Function

REM Beginning of the VAX BASIC program: PROGRAM example EXTERNAL STRING FUNCTION cfunc (INTEGER BY VALUE, & INTEGER BY VALUE, & STRING BY DESC) s$ = cfunc (5, 3, "abcdefghi") PRINT "substring is "; s$ END PROGRAM REM End of the VAX BASIC program /* * Beginning of DEC C function: */ #include <descrip.h> /* * This routine simulates a VAX BASIC function whose return * value is a STRING. It returns the substring that is `length' * characters long, starting from the offset `offset' (0-based) * in the input string described by the descriptor pointed to * by `in_str'. */ void cfunc (struct dsc$descriptor_s *out_str, int offset, int length, struct dsc$descriptor_s *in_str) { /* Declare a string descriptor for the substring. */ struct dsc$descriptor temp; /* Check that the desired substring is wholly within the input string. */ if (offset + length > in_str -> dsc$w_length) return; /* Fill in the substring descriptor. */ temp.dsc$w_length = length; temp.dsc$a_pointer = in_str -> dsc$a_pointer + offset; temp.dsc$b_dtype = DSC$K_DTYPE_T; temp.dsc$b_class = DSC$K_CLASS_S; /* Copy the substring to the return string. */ str$copy_dx (out_str, & temp); } /* End of DEC C function */

Example 3-11 produces the following output:

substring is fgh

3.3.4 Calling VAX Pascal

Like VAX FORTRAN and VAX BASIC, there are certain considerations that you must take into account when calling VAX Pascal from DEC C and vice versa. When calling VAX Pascal from DEC C, VAX Pascal expects all parameters to be passed by reference. In VAX Pascal, there are two different types of semantics: value and variable. The value semantics in VAX Pascal are different from passing by value in DEC C. Because they are different, you must specify the address of the C parameter.

VAX Pascal also expects all strings to be passed by descriptor. If you use the CLASS_S descriptor, the string is passed by using VAX Pascal semantics. If the content of the string is changed, it is not reflected back to the caller.

Example 3-12 is an example of how to call a VAX Pascal routine from DEC C.

Example 3-12 DEC C Function Calling a VAX Pascal Routine

/* * Beginning of DEC C function: */ #include <descrip.h> /* This program demonstrates how to call a Pascal routine from a C function. */ /* A Pascal routine called by a C function. */ extern void Pascal_Routine (); main() { struct dsc$descriptor_s to_Pascal_by_desc; char *Message = "The_Max_Num"; int to_Pascal_by_value = 100, to_Pascal_by_ref = 50; /* Construct the descriptor. */ to_Pascal_by_desc.dsc$a_pointer = Message; to_Pascal_by_desc.dsc$w_length = strlen (Message); to_Pascal_by_desc.dsc$b_class = DSC$K_CLASS_S; to_Pascal_by_desc.dsc$b_dtype = DSC$K_DTYPE_T; /* Pascal expects a calling routine to pass parameters by reference. */ Pascal_Routine(&to_Pascal_by_value, &to_Pascal_by_ref, &to_Pascal_by_desc); printf ("\nWhen returned from Pascal:\nto_Pascal_by_value is still \ %d\nBut to_Pascal_by_ref is %d\nand Message is still %s\n", to_Pascal_by_value, to_Pascal_by_ref, to_Pascal_by_desc.dsc$a_pointer); } /* End of DEC C function */ { Beginning of VAX Pascal routine } MODULE C_PASCAL(OUTPUT); { This Pascal routine calls the Pascal MAX function to determine the maximum value between 'from_c_by_value` and 'from_c_by_ref`, and then assigns the result back to 'from_c_by_ref`. It also tries to demonstrate the results of passing a by-descriptor mechanism. It is called from a C main function. } [GLOBAL]PROCEDURE Pascal_Routine ( from_c_by_value :INTEGER; VAR from_c_by_ref :INTEGER; from_c_by_desc :[ CLASS_S ] PACKED ARRAY [l1..u1:INTEGER] OF CHAR ); VAR today_is : PACKED ARRAY [1..11] OF CHAR; BEGIN { Display the contents of formal parameters. } WRITELN; WRITELN ('Parameters passed from C function: '); WRITELN ('from_c_by_value: ', from_c_by_value:4); WRITELN ('from_c_by_ref: ', from_c_by_ref:4); WRITELN ('from_c_by_desc: ', from_c_by_desc); { Assign the maximum value into 'from_c_by_ref` } from_c_by_ref := MAX (from_c_by_value, from_c_by_ref); { Change the content of 'from_Pascal_by_value` -- to show that the value did not get reflected back to the caller. } from_c_by_value := 20; { Put the results of DATE into 'from_c_by_desc` to show that the CLASS_S is only valid with comformant strings passed by value. } DATE (today_is); from_c_by_desc := today_is; WRITELN ('***********************'); WRITELN ('from_c_by_desc is changed to today''s date: "', from_c_by_desc, '"'); WRITELN ('BUT, this will not reflect back to the caller.'); END; END. { End of VAX Pascal routine }

Example 3-12 produces the following output:

from_c_by_value: 100 from_c_by_ref: 50 from_c_by_desc: The_Max_Num *********************** from_c_by_desc is changed to today's date "26-MAY-1992" BUT, this will not reflect back to the caller. When returned from Pascal: to_Pascal_by_value is still 100 to_Pascal_by_ref is 100 and Message is still The_Max_Num

There are also some considerations when calling DEC C from VAX Pascal. For example, you can use mechanism specifiers such as %IMMED, %REF, and %STDESCR in VAX Pascal. When you use the %IMMED mechanism specifier, the compiler passes a copy of a value rather than an address. When you use the %REF mechanism specifier, the address of the actual parameter is passed to the called routine, which is then allowed to change the value of the corresponding actual parameter. When you use the %STDESCR mechanism specifier, the compiler generates a fixed-length descriptor of a character-string variable and passes its address to the called routine. For more information on these mechanism specifiers and others, see the VAX Pascal documentation.

Another consideration is that VAX Pascal does not null-pad strings. Therefore, you must add a null character to make the string a C string. Also, when passing a string from VAX Pascal to DEC C, you can declare a structure declaration in DEC C that corresponds to the VAX Pascal VARYING TYPE declaration.

Example 3-13 shows an example of how to call DEC C from VAX Pascal.

Example 3-13 VAX Pascal Program Calling a DEC C Function

{ Beginning of VAX Pascal function: } PROGRAM PASCAL_C (OUTPUT); CONST STRING_LENGTH = 80; TYPE STRING = VARYING [STRING_LENGTH] OF CHAR; VAR by_value : INTEGER; by_ref : STRING; by_desc: PACKED ARRAY [1..10] OF CHAR; [EXTERNAL] PROCEDURE VAXC$CRTL_INIT; EXTERN; [EXTERNAL] PROCEDURE c_function ( %immed by_value : INTEGER; %ref by_ref : STRING ; %stdescr by_desc: PACKED ARRAY [l1..u1:INTEGER] OF CHAR ); EXTERN; BEGIN { Establish the appropriate DEC C RTL environment for calling the DEC C RTL from Pascal. } VAXC$CRTL_INIT; by_value := 1; { NOTE Pascal does not null pad a string. Therefore, the LENGTH built-in function counts the null pad character while the DEC C library function strlen does not include the terminating null character. } by_ref := 'TO_C_BY_REF'(0)''; by_desc := 'TERM'(0)''; { Call a C function by passing parameters using foreign semantics. } c_function (by_value, by_ref, by_desc); WRITELN; WRITELN; WRITELN ('*************************'); WRITELN ('After calling C_FUNCTION: '); WRITELN; WRITELN ('by_value is still ',by_value:3); WRITELN ('however, by_ref contains ',by_ref, ' (aka Your Terminal Type)'); WRITELN ('and, by_desc still contains ',by_desc); END. { End of VAX Pascal program } /* * Beginning of DEC C function: * * * A C function called from the Pascal routine. * The parameters are passed to a C function * by value, by reference, and by descriptor, * respectively. */ #include <descrip.h> /* A Pascal style of VARYING data type. */ struct Pascal_VARYING { unsigned short length; char string[80]; }; /* This C function calls the DEC C RTL function getenv() and puts * your terminal type in 'from_Pascal_by_ref`. * It is called from a Pascal program. */ void c_function (unsigned char from_Pascal_by_value, struct Pascal_VARYING *from_Pascal_by_ref, struct dsc$descriptor_s *from_Pascal_by_desc ) { char *term; /* Display the contents of formal parameters. */ printf ("\nParameters passed from Pascal:\n"); printf ("from_Pascal_by_value: %d\nfrom_Pascal_by_ref: %s\n\ from_Pascal_by_desc: %s\n", from_Pascal_by_value, from_Pascal_by_ref -> string, from_Pascal_by_desc -> dsc$a_pointer); if ((term = getenv(from_Pascal_by_desc -> dsc$a_pointer)) != 0) { /* Fill 'from_Pascal_by_ref` with new value. */ strcpy (from_Pascal_by_ref -> string, term); from_Pascal_by_ref -> length = strlen (term); /* Change the contents of 'from_Pascal_by_value` -- * to demonstrate that the value did not get * reflected back to the calling routine. */ from_Pascal_by_value = from_Pascal_by_desc -> dsc$w_length + from_Pascal_by_ref -> length; } else printf ("\ngetenv\(\"TERM\"\) is undefined."); } /* End of DEC C function */

Example 3-13 produces the following output:

Parameters passed from Pascal: from_Pascal_by_value: 1 from_Pascal_by_ref: TO_C_BY_REF from_Pascal_by_desc: TERM ************************* After calling C_FUNCTION: by_value is still 1 however, by_ref contains vt200-80 (aka Your Terminal Type) and, by_desc still contains TERM

3.4 Sharing Global Data

The following sections describe the methods involved in sharing DEC C program sections with data declared in other OpenVMS languages.

3.4.1 Sharing Program Sections with FORTRAN Common Blocks

In a FORTRAN program, separately compiled procedures can share data in declared common blocks, which specify the names of one or more variables to be placed in them. Each named common block represents a separate program section. Each procedure that declares the common block with the same name can access the same variable.

Example 3-14 shows a DEC C extern variable that corresponds to a FORTRAN common block with the same name.

Example 3-14 Sharing Data with a FORTRAN Program in Named Program Sections

C FORTRAN program PRSTRING.FOR contains the following lines of code: SUBROUTINE PRSTRING CHARACTER*20 STRING COMMON /XYZ/ STRING TYPE 20, STRING 20 FORMAT (' ',A20) RETURN END C End of FORTRAN program /* DEC C program STRING.C contains the following lines of * * code: */ main(void) { #pragma extern_model common_block extern char xyz[20]; strncpy(xyz,"This is a string ", sizeof xyz); prstring(); }

In Example 3-14, the DEC C extern variable xyz corresponds to the FORTRAN common block named XYZ. The FORTRAN procedure displays the data in the block. When sharing program sections, both programs should declare corresponding variables to be of the same type.

Note the #pragma extern_model common_block preprocessor directive. This directive sets the model for external variables to the common_block model, which is the one used by VAX C. The default external model for DEC C is the relaxed_refdef model. For more information on the #pragma extern_model common_block preprocessor directive, see Section 5.4.4.

To share data in more than one variable in a program section with a FORTRAN program, the DEC C variables must be declared within a structure, as shown in Example 3-15.

Example 3-15 Sharing Data with a FORTRAN Program in a DEC C Structure

C FORTRAN program FNUM.FOR contains the following lines of code: SUBROUTINE FNUM INTEGER*4 INUM,JNUM,KNUM COMMON /NUMBERS/ INUM,JNUM,KNUM TYPE 10, (INUM,JNUM,KNUM) 10 FORMAT (318) RETURN END C End of FORTRAN program /* DEC C program NUMBERS.C contains the following lines of * * code: */ struct xs { int first; int second; int third; }; #pragma extern_model common_block main() { extern struct xs numbers; numbers.first = 1; numbers.second = 2; numbers.third = 3; fnum(); }

In Example 3-15, the int variables declared in the DEC C structure numbers correspond to the FORTRAN INTEGER*4 variables in the COMMON of the same name.

Also, note the #pragma extern_model common_block preprocessor directive. This directive sets the model for external variables to the common_block model, which is the one used by VAX C. The default external model for DEC C is the relaxed_refdef model. For more information on the #pragma extern_model common_block preprocessor directive, see Section 5.4.4.