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Q27929: Cannot Create Dynamic Link Libraries from BC 6.00 Modules

Article: Q27929
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 6.00 6.00b 7.00
Operating System(s): OS/2
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 31-JAN-1990

Under MS OS/2 protected mode, you cannot create dynamic link libraries
(DLLs) out of BASIC modules created with Microsoft BASIC Compiler
Version 6.00 or 6.00b or Microsoft BASIC Professional Development
System (PDS) Version 7.00.

The following are a number of fundamental reasons why you cannot
create dynamic link libraries out of compiled BASIC programs:

1. Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b and Microsoft
   BASIC PDS Version 7.00 code is not reentrant.

2. These compilers assume that the data (DS) and stack (SS) segments
   are the same, which is not allowed in a .DLL.

3. Compiled BASIC routines cannot be called directly from an EXE
   written in another language, since a BASIC EXE must be the
   initiating program. This is not compatible with a dynamic link
   library.

However, you can add your own BASIC routines to the BASIC run-time
module with the BUILDRTM utility provided with BASIC compiler Versions
6.00 and 6.00b and Microsoft BASIC PDS 7.00. The BASIC run-time module
is a dynamic link library.

BASIC compiler routines can also call routines contained in dynamic
link libraries other than the BASIC run-time library.

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