I wanted to solve some linear programming problems and I was trying to
use IMSL C libraries. But I couldn't get how to use it. I don't know
where to write the codes and how to execute them.
Do I need to install some other softwares for using it?
To use a third-party library you need a C compiler and either a version of
that library compatible with your cvompiler you are using, or source code to
the librasry written in portable ANSI C.
Though there is nothing difficult conceptually, in practise it is quite
difficult to set up a compiler to link, and you might want to ask for
technical support.
Basically the compiler has paths it searches for headers (.h files) and
these need to be set so that the headers that come with your library are on
the path. Then it has paths it searches for links. Most compilers do not,
however, link everything on their path by default. Usually you need to
invoke the compiler explicitly with a link flag to link your library.
Once you have done that, it is simply
#include <mylibrary.h>
int main(void)
{
library_function();
return 0;
}
If the library comes in source code, you have to compile it to a library
file. This only needs doing once and again uses special compiler switches.
Then you have to use the functions correctly, of course. They should be
documented.
