Argument Processing

Simple command line argument processing is provided. Note that more sophisticated and extensive argument processing can be provided by other existing packages around the lab. Nevertheless, command line argument lists can be scanned in command line order as follows:

public  void  initialize_argument_processing(
    int     argc,
    char    *argv[] )

called once to let the argument processor know what the command line arguments are. Initializes the current argument to the first argument, in preparation for sequential processing of the command line arguments.

public  BOOLEAN  get_int_argument(
    int   default_value,
    int   *value )
public  BOOLEAN  get_real_argument(
    Real  default_value,
    Real  *value )
public  BOOLEAN  get_string_argument(
    char   default_value[],
    char   *value[] )

checks if there is a current argument and that it is of the desired type. If so, then it assigns the appropriate value, advances to the next argument, and returns TRUE. Otherwise, the default value is assigned to the value and the current argument is not advanced.

public  BOOLEAN  get_prefix_argument(
    char  prefix[] )

checks if the next argument starts with the given prefix and if so, advances to the point in the argument just after the end of the prefix, or to the next argument if there are no characters after the prefix. Returns TRUE if the command line argument starts with the prefix.