Shared Library and DLL Support

A shared library is a file that contains a collection of compiled functions (routines) that can be accessed by applications. Such a file is called a shared object or shared library on UNIX and a dynamic link library (DLL) in Windows.

An application links to these routines at run time rather than at build time, and shares the code with other applications that link to them. Thus, shared libraries promote code reuse (because an application can reference third-party routines) and facilitate code upgrades (because any enhancement to a shared library becomes immediately available to your application, without rebuilding).

OpenEdge® lets you link and execute shared library routines from an ABL procedure. Using these routines, you can write OpenEdge applications that perform a wide range of third-party functions from graphics to advanced multi-media (sound and video) production. You can program how long shared libraries remain memory-resident during application execution.

For more information on shared library concepts and facilities, see the documentation for your operating system.