macro
=====

Scilab procedure and Scilab object



Description
~~~~~~~~~~~

Macros are Scilab procedures ("macro", "function" and "procedure" have
the save meaning). Usually, they are defined in files with an editor
and loaded into Scilab by `exec` or through a library.

They can also be defined on-line (see `deff`). A file which contains a
macro must begin as follows:


::

    function [y1, ..., yn]=foo(x1, ...,xm)


The `yi` are output variables calculated as functions of input
variables and variables existing in Scilab when the macro is executed.
A macro can be compiled for faster execution. Collections of macros
can be collected in libraries. Macros which begin with `%` sign (e.g.
`%foo`) and whose arguments are lists are used to perform specific
operations: for example, `z=%rmr(x,y)` is equivalent to `z=x*y` when
`x` and `z` are rationals (i.e. `x=list('r',n,d,[])` with `n` and `d`
polynomials).



See Also
~~~~~~~~


+ `deff`_ on-line definition of function
+ `exec`_ script file execution
+ `comp`_ scilab function compilation
+ `lib`_ library definition


.. _exec: exec.html
.. _comp: comp.html
.. _lib: lib.html
.. _deff: deff.html