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Calling Install[] from packages

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg39929] Calling Install[] from packages
• From: "Lawrence A. Walker Jr." <lwalker701 at earthlink.net>
• Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:28:35 -0500 (EST)
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi group:

Todd Gayley's Mathlink tutorial is very helpful.  Mr. Gayley has 
explained the advantages and disadvantages of either (1) package code 
de-embedded in external (Mathlink'd) programs, or (2) calling external 
programs from within the package (*.m).

I chose the latter in my present project.  I have encountered a 
situation when package A runs package B via the Need[] command. Package 
B then links to the external program C.  Since package B is ran 
automatically, a user could attempt to run package B again.  The context 
handling functions appears to work ok in this case. However, a duplicate 
link of the external program is setup.  In other words, Install[] is ran 
again.  I desire that package B test to see if a link to the external 
program is already set up.  If it is then don't install the external 
program.

Does anyone know of a way to handle the situation so that external 
programs are linked to as needed?

Thanks,
Lawrence

-- 
Lawrence A. Walker Jr.
http://www.kingshonor.com