library

Scilab data type
Last update : 13/07/2005

library - library datatype description

### Calling Sequence

### Description

A library is a data type with type number 14. It contains a path-name and a set of names. It allows automatic loading of variables using the following algorithm:

Suppose the Scilab user references the variable named `foo` . Scilab first looks if `foo` is the name of a primitive or of an already defined variable. If not, it looks for `foo` sequentially (the newest first) in all defined library .

Suppose `foo` belongs to the set of names of the library `xlib` then Scilab tries to load the file <xlib-path-name>/foo.bin. <xlib-path-name>/foo.bin must have been created using the `save` function

Library are often used for collection of functions, but they can also be used for any collection of scilab variables

If a function is defined in more than one library, the default search algorithm loads thode contained in the newest. It possible to force the use of a specific library using dot notation:

`xlib.foo` loads the variable `foo` contained in `xlib` . if `foo` is a function and `xlib.foo(args)` executes the functions

### Examples

    // elemlib is a predefined library
    elemlib //displays the contents of the library
    A=rand(3,3);
    cosm(A) //loads cosm and executes it

    whos -name cosm // now cosm is a variable

    elemlib.sinm //loads sinm from the library

    elemlib.cosm(A) //reloads cosm and executes it

### See Also

`lib` , `string` , `load` , `save` ,