1.3.2 Calling X-Functions in Origin C

Origin comes with many X-Functions for handling a variety of tasks. X-Functions can be called from both LabTalk and Origin C. This Section will show you how to call X-Functions from Origin C using Origin C's XFBase class. This mechanism also can be used in calling one X-Function in another X-Function.

The XFBase class is declared in the XFBase.h header file located in the <Origin exe folder>\OriginC\system\ folder. The XFBase.h header file is not included in the Origin.h header file and must be included separately in any Origin C file that uses the XFBase class.

#include <XFBase.h>

Calling the impFile X-Function From Origin C

The following Origin C code defines a general function for importing files into Origin. The function takes two arguments: a data file name and an import filter file name. The function first creates an instance of the XFBase class, constructed with the name of the X-Function to be called. In this case, the X-Function name is impFile. It then sets the X-Function arguments using the SetArg method, and finally calls the X-Function using the Evaluate method.

bool call_impFile_XF(LPCSTR lpcszDataFile, LPCSTR lpcszFilterFile)
{
    string strDataFile = lpcszDataFile;
    string strFilterFile = lpcszFilterFile;

    // Create an instance of XFBase using the X-Function name.
    XFBase xf("impFile");
    if (!xf)
        return false;

    // Set the 'fname' argument.
    if (!xf.SetArg("fname", strDataFile))
        return false;

    // Set the 'filtername' argument.
    if (!xf.SetArg("filtername", strFilterFile))
        return false;

    // Call XFBase's 'Evaluate' method to execute the X-Function
    if (!xf.Evaluate())
        return false;

    return true;
}

The following Origin C code shows how to call our call_impFile_XF function defined above. We will call it to import an image file.

// Lets import the Car bitmap located in Origin's Samples folder.
string strImageFile = GetAppPath(TRUE) +
    "Samples\\Image Processing and Analysis\\Car.bmp";

// Lets import the bitmap using the Image import filter.
string strFilterFile = GetAppPath(TRUE) + "Filters\\Image.oif";

// Let's call our general function that will call the impFile X-Function.
call_impFile_XF(strImageFile, strFilterFile);


Related Link

Calling X-Functions from Script