## Link Operation

### Use

Object files are linked to form a software component in the tmp directory.

VMAKE uses different tools for linking the different object files that can occur during the translation operation. VMAKE uses the file extension of the description file to decide which tool to use to link the respective object file. The tool takes the object files and the relevant options to be used from the link description.

VMAKE stores the software components created during linking in a predefined or in a target directory specified by the link description and deletes them afterwards in the tmp directory.

Software Component to be Created | Tool Used | Target Directory
Program | linklnk | $DBROOT/pgm
Program that facilitates shared memory access | linkshm | $DBROOT/pgm
Static library | archive | $WRK/fast/obj or $WRK/slow/obj
Dynamic library | linkdll | $DBROOT/lib (32 bit) $DBROOT/lib/lib64 (64 bit)
Program that can be linked to other programs | linkrel | $WRK/fast/obj or $WRK/slow/obj
Program that can be linked to other programs and facilitates shared memory access | linkshr | $WRK/fast/obj or $WRK/slow/obj