nidl(1ncs) nidl(1ncs)
Name
nidl - Network Interface Definition Language Compiler
Syntax
nidl filename [options]
Description
The compiler is for the Network Interface Definition Language (NIDL).
The filename argument is the pathname of an interface definition file, written in the C syntax of NIDL.
The compiler generates a header file, a client stub file, a server stub file, and a client switch file, all in C source code. The compiler
derives the names of these output files from filename by replacing the suffix (the rightmost period and all subsequent characters) with
extensions for the client stub, server stub, and client switch.
Options
-confirm Display the options chosen but do not compile anything. In displaying information about -idir, the compiler constructs
the list of all directories it would use to resolve relative pathnames of imported files, not just the ones explicitly
supplied. (If the list is empty, the compiler uses only the current directory.) This option is useful for viewing the
`idir list' and for viewing the default values for other options.
-cpp pathname Run the specified program instead of the default C preprocessor. You can use the -confirm option to view the default
pathname.
-def def1 [def2 ...]
Pass the specified definitions to the C preprocessor. A definition can take either of two forms: symbol or sym-
bol=value.
-exts cstub-ext,sstub-ext,cswtch-ext
Set the extensions that the compiler uses to name the stub and switch files it generates. The text strings cstub-ext,
sstub-ext, and cswtch-ext must be separated by commas, with no spaces; they are used as extensions for the client stub,
the server stub, and the client switch, respectively. You can use the -confirm option to view the defaults.
-f77c Generate client switch code that is compatible with the ULTRIX compiler. The NIDL compiler appends an underscore (_)
character to the name of each client switch routine, so that the routines can be called from FORTRAN programs generated
by the compiler.
-f77s Generate server stub code that is compatible with the ULTRIX compiler. The NIDL compiler appends an underscore (_)
character to the name of each manager routine that the stub calls, so that the stub can call routines generated by the
compiler.
-idir directory1 [directory2 ...]
Use the specified directories as paths from which to resolve relative pathnames of imported files. The compiler gener-
ates an ordered list of these directories. By default, it prepends to this list your current working directory and
appends the system directory. You can suppress this default by supplying the -no_def_idir option.
-m Support multiple versions and multiple managers within a single server. This option allows a server to export more
than one version of an interface (`multiple versions') and to implement an interface for more than one type (`multiple
managers').
The compiler appends the version number to the interface name when it generates identifiers in the stub and header
files. For example, the interface specifier for version 3 of the foobar interface would be foobar_v3$if_spec.
The server for an interface compiled with -m must use to register its managers. The server supplies the name of a man-
ager EPV to the manager code defines this EPV. If the server supports objects of several types, it must use to regis-
ter each object. These registrations enable the RPC runtime library at the server host to dispatch incoming requests
to the correct manager.
If you do not specify either -m or its counterpart, -s, the compiler assumes -s and issues a warning. However, this
default may be removed or changed in future NIDL compilers. Even if your server exports only one version of its inter-
face and contains only one manager, use the -m option, so that it will be easy for you to incorporate multiple versions
and multiple managers later.
-no_cpp Do not run the C preprocessor on the input file. If you specify this option, the NIDL compiler does not interpret any
C preprocessor statements (such as statements) in the interface definition.
-no_def_idir Do not prepend the current working directory or append the system directory to the list of directories constructed from
-idir arguments. If you specify -no_def_idir without -idir, the compiler resolves pathnames of imported files only
relative to the current working directory.
-no_stubs Do not generate any stub or switch files. The NIDL compiler generates only header files and insert files.
-no_warn Suppress warning messages.
-out directory Place the generated files in directory. The default is the current working directory.
-s Allow a server to export only a single version of an interface and to implement an interface for only a single type.
This option requests the behavior of NIDL compilers before Version 1.5, which added support for multiple versions and
multiple interfaces. (See the -m option.)
The server for an interface compiled with -s must use to register its interfaces.
If you do not specify either -s or its counterpart, -m, the compiler assumes -s and issues a warning. However, this
default may be removed or changed in future NIDL compilers. Even if your server exports only one version of its inter-
face and contains only one manager, use the -m option, so that it will be easy for you to incorporate multiple versions
and multiple managers later.
-space_opt Reduce the size of generated stub code, possibly at the expense of slower data marshalling.
-version Display the version number of the NIDL compiler but do not compile anything or generate any output files.
See Also
uuid_gen(3ncs)
DECrpc Programming Guide
nidl(1ncs)