The interface is typically used in the following way (example: Call a Natural subprogram):

1. Determine the location of the Natural binaries.

2. Load the Natural Native Interface library.

3. Call nni_get_interface to retrieve an interface instance.

4. Call nni_initialize to initialize a Natural session.

5. Call nni_logon to logon to a specific Natural library.

6. Call nni_create_parm or a related function to create a set of parameters.

7. For each parameter

   • Call one of the nni_init_parm functions to initialize the parameter to the correct type.

   • Call one of the nni_put_parm functions to assign a value to the parameter.

   • Call nni_get_parm_info to create the parameter_description structure.

8. Call nni_callnat to call the subprogram.

9. For each modifiable parameter.

   • Call one of the nni_get_parm functions to retrieve the parameter value.

10. Call nni_delete_parm to to free the parameter structures.

11. Call nni_uninitialize to uninitialize the Natural session.

12. Call nni_logoff to return to the previous library.

13. Call nni_free_interface to free the interface instance.

An example C program nnisample.c that shows the usage of the interface is contained in $NATDIR/$NATVERS/samples/sysexnni.