3.2 Linking a BASIC Program
On OpenVMS systems, the OpenVMS Linker (linker) sim-
plifies the job of each language compiler because the logic
needed to resolve symbolic references need not be duplicated.
The main advantage to a system that has a linker, however,
is that individual program modules can be separately written
and compiled, and then linked together. This includes object
modules produced by different language compilers.
The linker performs the following functions:
When using the LINK command on development systems,
you may want to use the /DEBUG qualifier when you link
your program module. The /DEBUG qualifier appends to the
image all the symbol and line number information appended
to the object modules plus information about global symbols,
and forces the image to run under debugger control when it
is executed.
The LINK command produces an executable image by de-
fault. However, you can also use the LINK command to ob-
tain shareable images and system images. The /SHAREABLE
qualifier directs the linker to produce a shareable image; the
/SYSTEM qualifier directs the linker to produce a system im-
age. See Section 3.2.2 for a complete description of these and
other LINK command qualifiers.
For a complete discussion of the OpenVMS Linker, see the
OpenVMS Linker Utility Manual .