What is the MathLink template file?

The MathLink template file specifies the correspondence of function names and argument types between your external functions and their Mathematica forms. A template file matches specific Mathematica patterns with the external functions and arguments that should be used in evaluating expressions that fit those patterns. The template file should end with the extension .tm.

To build an installable external program, you should process the template file into a C module that takes care of the MathLink details, then compile this module an link it with your C functions and the MathLink library.

A program called mprep takes the template file as input and produces a C file that gives the MathLink interface between your external functions and Mathematica. It is then a simple matter to compile the external program, following the usual procedure for your compiler.

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