How to Use User Exits

There are two program forms where you can use User Exits: an Open C API program or a GRIP program. See the GRIP Programming manual for details on using GRIP. The procedure for using exits is similar for both. One of the major differences is the use of the asterisk (*) in the environment variable definition. The asterisk specifies that the variable points to a GRIP program.
 
The procedure for writing an Open C API program that makes use of a User Exit is as follows:
 
1. Write an Open C API Program that performs the task you desire. You can write your program in C or Fortran. All user exits are internal Open C API programs and require UF_initialize() and UF_terminate() just like ufusr when using other Open C API routines.
 
2. Define the pointer to the Open C API program. The file pointer is a file specification to your Open C API program.
 
3. If a User Exit uses a return value please initialize it to a valid value. See the return codes  in function prototypes declarations .
 
In the following documents , we describe how to define these file pointers: environment variables for different operating systems. A description of how to specify the file specification to your Open C API program is also included.
 
The specifications depend on the operating system that you use and the filing system. For each User Exit, you must define an environment variable from your operating system. When NX encounters a User Exit, the system checks for the presence of a particular environment variable that points to your Open C API program. When the system finds your program it automatically executes the Open C API program, then returns to NX.