Re: Using C functions in Oracle

Hi Roger,

Basically, there are 3-4 ways of doing it:

1. Pack your C functions into a shared object (on Windows a DLL) and access them via the ORA_FFI (Foreign Function Interface) Forms builtins. Use eg. the FFIGEN utility to assist with the declaration of the pl/sql interface.
2. Call them through the HOST() Forms builtin (like calling a program from the command line).
3. Use the DMBS_PIPE plsql package to interface between Forms and a C program deamon (listening on a pipe).
4. As a last resort, implement a Forms userexit. This is the most complex solution, both with respect to maintainability and scope. It however provides very close integration between your C functions and the internal Forms environment (direct access to text items and more). Check out the Forms Advanced Techniques manual.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers,
Bo

Roger Jongen wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I have two functions written in ANSI C, how can i use them in Oracle
> Forms 4.5 ?
> Can somebody tell me how to do it ?? Accessing the C functions in
> Oracle
> Forms ??
>
> Thanks

MSc. Bo Stern                         Office: Phone +45 44 80 84 12
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