Using the Compiler and Linker from the Command Line

The DF command is used to compile and link your programs. In most cases, you will use a single DF command to invoke the compiler and linker. The DF command invokes a driver program that is the actual user interface to the compiler and linker. It accepts a list of command options and file names and directs processing for each file.

If you will be using the DF command from the command line, you can use:

The supplied Fortran Command Prompt window in the Compaq Visual Fortran program folder, in which the appropriate environment variables in DFVARS.BAT are preset.
Your own terminal window, in which you have set the appropriate environment variables by executing the DFVARS.BAT file. This file sets the environment variables (such as PATH, INCLUDE, and LIB) and allows use of IMSL and CXML libraries. By default, DFVARS.BAT is installed in \Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Df98\BIN.

The driver program does the following:

Calls the Visual Fortran compiler to process Fortran files.
Passes the linker options to the linker.
Passes object files created by the compiler to the linker.
Passes libraries to the linker.
Calls the linker or librarian to create the .EXE or library file.

The DF command automatically references the appropriate Visual Fortran Run-Time Libraries when it invokes the linker. Therefore, to link one or more object files created by the Visual Fortran compiler, you should use the DF command instead of the LINK command.

Because the DF driver calls other software components, error messages may be returned by these other components. For instance, the linker may return a message if it cannot resolve a global reference. Using the /watch:cmd option on the DF command line can help clarify which component is generating the error.

This section contains the following information: