Setup

STEP Tools® software applications, makefiles, and project files use several environment variables to find runtime data, link libraries, and header files.

On Windows, the installer sets environment values and registry keys. On MacOS and UNIX the rose_logicals.sh file sets environment variables using Bourne/Korn syntax, while rose_logicals.csh uses csh syntax. These files append $ROSE_BIN to your search path and may set $ROSE_LIB to the shared library path.

In the following example, replace /usr/steptools with your STEP Tools® software installation directory:

    $ . /usr/steptools/rose_logicals.sh          # Bourne/Korn users
     
    % source /usr/steptools/rose_logicals.csh    # CSH users

Variables

The full list of possible environment variables is shown below. The main variable is $ROSE, which points to the root of the installation.

STEP Tools® software may include versions of the libraries built for different compilers or link options. The ROSE_LIB and ROSE_CONFIG variables are used by the Makefiles included with the sample programs. These variables are set by the install script to the default library version, but you can change them later if you need to use alternate library versions.

ROSE
The STEP Tools® software install directory. On Windows this is also set in the registry under Software\STEP Tools, Inc.\ST-Developer.
ROSE_BIN
Directory containing executables. Usually a platform specific directory under $ROSE/bin. On Windows, this is added to your search path by the installer. On MacOS or UNIX, add this to your shell search path.
ROSE_INCLUDE
Directory containing the STEP Tools® software C and C++ header files. Usually $ROSE/include. Used by makefiles and Visual Studio project files.
ROSE_LIB
Directory containing STEP Tools® software C++ libraries. This variable points to one of the directories under $ROSE/lib with the copies of libraries built with a particular compiler or link options. Only used by makefiles. Visual Studio projects explicitly refer to the matching compiler version.
ROSE_DLLDIR
Windows only. Directory containing DLL versions of the STEP Tools® software libraries. Usually $ROSE/dlls. This directory is automatically added to your search path by the Windows installer.
ROSE_CONFIG
Some C++ compilers require flags or other special treatment. This is handled by makefile definitions in the $ROSE/config directory. Makefiles include one of these configuration files through the $ROSE_CONFIG environment variable. The config file is usually chosen in the STEP Tools® software installation script.
ROSE_RUNTIME
Optional, UNIX only. Location of the ST-Runtime support files. Applications built with the STEP and IFC programming libraries are self contained and do not need any of these. If not set, the ROSE library searches several alternate locations.
ROSE_LICENSE
Optional, UNIX only. Gives an alternate location for the STEP Tools® software license key file. If not set, tools look at $ROSE/license. On Windows, keys are found through the registry.

Early versions of STEP Tools® software used the $ROSE_DB variable to specify a list of directories to search for data files. The dirs were separated by colons (UNIX) or semicolons (Windows). This has been retired and API calls that read files should be given a full path.