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Accessing the ``ast.h'' Header File  

Before compiling software which uses AST facilities, you may like to ``log in'' for AST software development with the following command:

ast_dev

This will create links in your current directory which refer to the AST include files (for both Fortran and C). You may then refer to the ``ast.h'' header file without having to know where it actually resides, for example:

#include "ast.h"

This file defines the external interface to the AST library, including all constants, function prototypes, macros, etc. The links created by ``ast_dev'' will persist, but may be removed at any time, either explicitly or with the command:

ast_dev remove

If you do not log in in this way, then the ``ast.h'' header file should be located using the usual compiler options for finding C include files, for instance:

cc prog.c -I/star/include -o prog

This is preferable to specifying the file's absolute name within your software.



next up previous
Next: Linking with AST Facilities
Up: Compiling and Linking Software that Uses AST
Previous: Compiling and Linking Software that Uses AST

AST A Library for Handling World Coordinate Systems in Astronomy
Starlink User Note 211
R.F. Warren-Smith & D.S. Berry
30th April 2003
E-mail:ussc@star.rl.ac.uk

Copyright (C) 2003 Central Laboratory of the Research Councils