xdr_complex(3N) 														   xdr_complex(3N)

NAME

       xdr_complex, xdr_array, xdr_bytes, xdr_opaque, xdr_pointer, xdr_reference, xdr_string, xdr_union, xdr_vector, xdr_wrapstring - library rou-
       tines for external data representation

SYNOPSIS

       #include <rpc/xdr.h>

DESCRIPTION

       XDR library routines allow C programmers to describe complex data structures in a machine-independent fashion.  Protocols  such	as  remote
       procedure  calls (RPC) use these routines to describe the format of the data.  These routines are the XDR library routines for complex data
       structures.  They require the creation of XDR stream (see xdr_create(3N)).

   Routines
       See rpc(3N) for the definition of the data structure.  Note that any buffers passed to the XDR routines must be	properly  aligned.  It	is
       suggested that be used to allocate these buffers or that the programmer insure that the buffer address is divisible evenly by four.

       translates between variable-length arrays
	      and their corresponding external representations.  The parameter arrp is the address of the pointer to the array, while sizep is the
	      address of the element count of the array; this element count cannot exceed maxsize.  The parameter elsize is the size  of  each	of
	      the array's elements, and elproc is an XDR routine that translates between the array elements' C form and their external representa-
	      tion.  If is null when decoding, allocates memory and points to it.  This routine returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

       translates between counted byte
	      strings and their external representations.  The parameter sp is the address of the string pointer.  The length  of  the	string	is
	      located at address sizep; strings cannot be longer than maxsize.	If is null when decoding, allocates memory and points to it.  This
	      routine returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

       translates between fixed size opaque data
	      and its external representation.	The parameter cp is the address of the opaque object, and cnt is its size in bytes.  This  routine
	      returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

       Like   except that it serializes pointers, whereas does not.  Thus, can represent recursive data structures, such as binary trees or linked
	      lists.  If is null when decoding, allocates memory and points to it.

       provides pointer chasing within structures.
	      The parameter pp is the address of the pointer; size is the the structure that *pp points to; and proc  is  an  XDR  procedure  that
	      translates  the structure between its C form and its external representation.  If is null when decoding, allocates memory and points
	      to it.  This routine returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

	      Warning: this routine does not understand pointers.  Use instead.

       translates between C strings and their
	      corresponding external representations.  Strings cannot be longer than maxsize.  Note: sp is the address of  the	string's  pointer.
	      If  is null when decoding, allocates memory and points to it.  This routine returns if it succeeds, otherwise.  Note: can be used to
	      send an empty string (""), but not a NULL string.

       translates between a discriminated C
	      and its corresponding external representation.  It first translates the discriminant of the union located at dscmp.  This  discrimi-
	      nant  is always an Next the union located at unp is translated.  The parameter choices is a pointer to an array of structures.  Each
	      structure contains an ordered pair of [value,proc].  If the union's discriminant is equal to the associated value, then the proc	is
	      called  to translate the union.  The end of the structure array is denoted by a routine of value If the discriminant is not found in
	      the choices array, then the defaultarm procedure is called (if it is not Returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

       translates between fixed-length
	      arrays and their corresponding external representations.	The parameter arrp is the address of the pointer to the array, while  size
	      is  the  element	count  of  the array.  The parameter elsize is the each of the array's elements, and elproc is an XDR routine that
	      translates between the array elements' C form and their external representation.	This routine returns if it succeeds, otherwise.

       A routine that calls
	      where maxuint is the maximum value of an unsigned integer.

	      Many routines, such as and take a function pointer of type which takes two arguments.  one of the  most  frequently  used  routines,
	      requires	three  arguments, while only requires two.  For these routines, is desirable.  This routine returns if it succeeds, other-
	      wise.

MULTITHREAD USAGE

       Thread Safe:	     Yes
       Cancel Safe:	     Yes
       Fork Safe:	     No
       Async-cancel Safe:    No
       Async-signal Safe:    No

       These functions can be called safely in a multithreaded environment.  They may be cancellation points in that they call functions that  are
       cancel points.

       In a multithreaded environment, these functions are not safe to be called by a child process after and before These functions should not be
       called by a multithreaded application that support asynchronous cancellation or asynchronous signals.

SEE ALSO

       rpc(3N), xdr_admin(3N), xdr_create(3N), xdr_simple(3N).

																   xdr_complex(3N)