User`s guide

332 VEE User’s Guide
9 Using Agilent VEE Functions Chapter
Using Functions
Like many programming languages, VEE uses functions to
create subprograms that perform specific tasks. The lab
exercises in this chapter describe how to create, call, and edit
VEE user- defined functions. You will also learn how to create
libraries of functions, which can be merged into programs in the
development phase or imported at runtime.
Defining an Agilent VEE Function
There are three types of user- defined functions in VEE. The
overview of each type of function is as follows:
1 UserFunctions
• To create a UserFunction, you select Device ⇒
UserFunction, or click Edit
⇒ Create UserFunction with
several objects selected.
• To call a UserFunction from different places in a program,
you use the Call myFunction (Device
⇒ Call) object or use an
expression within an object (from Formula, for example).
You can also generate call objects in the Main program
from the UserFunction, using the UserFunction object
menu and selecting choices such as Generate
⇒ Call.
• To edit a UserFunction, you click on Edit ⇒ Edit
UserFunction... and select the appropriate UserFunction
from the list box presented.
• To transfer UserFunctions from one program to another,
you merge the UserFunctions during program
development or import them at runtime (Device
⇒ Import
Library).
2 Compiled Functions
• To create a compiled function, you work outside of VEE
using a compiled language. You then put the functions into
a library, such as a DLL.
• To link a compiled function to a program, you use the
Import Library object, which links the library to VEE at
run time. (For a more detailed discussion, refer to
Chapter 12, “Optimizing Agilent VEE Programs).