lib

Scilab Function
Last update : 12/01/2004

lib - library definition

### Calling Sequence

  `xlib = lib('lib-dir')`

### Parameters

- `lib-dir`: character string

### Description

`lib-dir` is a character string defining a directory that contains compiled Scilab function (`.bin`) files.

In addition to these files `lib-dir` must have a file called `names`, that contains the names of the functions defined in `lib-dir`. On success, all functions in `lib-dir` are available from within Scilab. They are loaded on demand when called for the first time.

Binary files can be created from within Scilab with the command `save`.

Scilab's standard libraries are defined using `lib` on the `SCIDIR/macros/*` subdirectories.

A library variable usually is saved for later loading, either on-line or from the user-specific startup file (see startup).

### Restrictions

Scilab tacitly assumes that each xxxx.bin file defines a variable named `xxxx`.

### Examples

    //define some variables
    function z = myplus(x, y), z = x + y,endfunction
    function z = yourplus(x, y), x = x - y,endfunction
    A=1:10;

    //create the *.bin files in libdir
    libdir=TMPDIR
    save(libdir + '/myplus.bin', myplus);
    save(libdir + '/yourplus.bin', yourplus);
    save(libdir + '/A.bin', A);

    //create the name file
    mputl(['myplus';'yourplus';'A'],TMPDIR+'/names');

    //build the library containing myplus and yourplus
    xlib = lib(libdir+'/')

    //erase the variables
    clear myplus yourplus A

    //Automatic loading and execution
    myplus(1,2)

    A

### See Also

`library`, `genlib`, `save`, `deff`, `getf`, `whereis`,