Testing and Debugging on PC

An external function executable should be tested and debugged using two methods before you call it from within the Altair product.

Stand-alone: This method runs the program with no external communication, testing only the code that you have written.
Driver program and vector file: This method runs the program by invoking it from another program (the driver utility), testing the IPC communication facilities of the code that you have written.

To use the standalone debugging method, complete the steps below.

Compile and link MyExtern.exe and run it from the command line, specifying no additional arguments.
For example:
```
MyExtern.exe
```
Input for the filter is taken from stdin and output goes to stdout. The input you provide should be in the same format as the vector file in Driver program and vector file section.
If you already have a vector file you can type:
```
MyExtern.exe < vector_file
```
to redirect stdin so it is taken from the vector_file.