Contents

• Building the PIL library
  • Necessary tools
  • Unpacking distribution file and setting up directories structure
  • Autoconfiguring Makefiles
  • Compilation of library and demo programs
  • Installation of library
  • Sample programs
  
  
• IRAF parameter files
• How parameter files are named and where are they looked for ?
• PIL extensions to IRAF parameter files format
  • Parameter file line length
  • Expansion of environment variables
  • Vector support
  
  
• How parameters are evaluated
  • Positional parameters
  • Named parameters
  
  
• PIL C/C++ Language API
  • Introduction
  • PIL C/C++ include files
  • C/C++ API functions
  
  
• Calling PIL library functions from C/C++
• PIL F90 Language API
  • Introduction
  • PIL Fortran 90 module files
  • Fortran 90 API functions
  
  
• Calling PIL library functions from Fortran 90
• PIL Error Codes

Abstract:

The Parameter Interface Library (PIL) is an ANSI C/C++ and Fortran 90 callable library which manages access to IRAF/XPI compatible parameter files. In general each program (executable) written for ISDC will have its parameter file. PIL gives standard set of functions (API) which can be called by applications wanting to access parameter files. PIL functions allow for : reading/writing individual parameters from parameter file, automatic selection of server mode, (re)opening/closing of parameter file, querying information about parameter file. C/C++ bindings have (almost) one to one corresponding Fortran bindings. Minor differences are result of different calling conventions in C/C++ and Fortran 90.

Version 1.6.x of PIL adds support for enumerated values, fixed and variable length vectors of values, and expansion of environment variables specified in parameters.

This document describes version 1.8.5 of PIL

Getting started

This chapter explains how to build and install the PIL library from its source code distribution. It also provides some initial help on programming with PIL by reviewing the sample programs that come with the PIL distribution.