[TRNSYS-users] ExtDLL problem

[Michaël Kummert]

Eduardo,

>  
> I've developed a natural ventilation program (COMIS-LIKE) that I would 
> like to translate into a extdll.dll module for TRNSYS. The software 
> (developed in Delphi) needs more than 300 fixed input data (description 
> of position and size of windows, etc) which should be entered by reading 
> an external file. The problem is when I compile the external DLL and 
> insert it into TRNSYS, a windows kernel error arises during the 
> simulation. I know it is due to the file reading procedure because when 
> I compile the DLL without it, the error disapears. I've then tried to 
> ASSIGN logical numbers to the INPUT FILE in the deck, but this time new 
> errors happened.  How can I fix that? What are the steps to read some 
> data from a external file from the DLL? (Like .CIF or .SET in Comis?). 
>  
After talking to our in-house Delphi expert, there seems to be some 
problems with opening files in Delphi DLL's with Windows 95,98 and ME 
(i.e. you can't do it as far as we know). If you are not using those 
versions of Windows, it "should" work.

I am not sure at all this applies to you, but we have experienced some 
issues when using files in external (Fortran, not Delphi) DLL's. The 
bottom line is that in order to share logical units and files between 
DLL's, you need to link ALL your projects to the DLL version of Fortran 
libraries (in your project settings, in Fortran/Libraries, choose 
"Single-threaded DLL" or "Debug Single threaded DLL").
Also, ALL projects must either use the Debug or the release mode (you 
cannot mix them). May be this will give you an idea even if it does not 
apply directly to your problems.

I hope this helps,

Michaël Kummert

-- 
_________________________________________________________

Michaël Kummert

Solar Energy Laboratory - University of Wisconsin-Madison
1303 Engr Res Bldg, 1500 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Tel: +1 (608) 263-1589
Fax: +1 (608) 262-8464
E-mail: kummert at engr.wisc.edu

SEL Web Site: http://sel.me.wisc.edu
TRNSYS Web Site: http://sel.me.wisc.edu/trnsys