A dynamic link library (DLL) is an executable module containing functions that Windows applications such as ATEasy can call to perform useful tasks. Dynamic-link libraries exist primarily to provide services to application modules. These libraries play an important role in Windows, which uses them to make its functions and resources available to Windows applications.
Dynamic-link libraries are similar to run-time libraries, such as the C run-time libraries. The main difference is that dynamic-link libraries are linked with the application at run time, not when you link the application files by using the linker. Linking a library with an application at run time is called dynamic linking; linking the library with an application by using the linker is called static linking.
DLLs for Automated Test Equipment applications are usually provided to you by a hardware manufacturer with accompanying documentation that describes the functions that are exported. For example, Marvin Test Solutions's programmable discrete output board, the GT7864, comes with the GTPDO32.DLL driver, which contains 18 exportable functions. If you wanted to use ATEasy to program the GT7864 board, you would add GTPDO32.DLL to your application. Before declaring and calling one of the GTPDO32.DLL functions, you would learn about its syntax and parameters in the GT7864 documentation.
To use a DLL in an ATEasy application, follow these steps:
Define DLL Procedure Parameters
Use Commands with DLL Procedures