What Is User Exit?

Have you ever wanted to add your special touches to a program? A user exit is a point in a computer program at which a user can call a customized program to replace the default subroutine supplied by the program's vendor. The user exit allows you to make changes without modifying the original vendor-supplied code and gives you more flexibility than other customization methods. Depending on your computer programming language, user exits can be a function call or a macro call. User exits are often used to solve problems common across many users within an organization or provide additional functionality for a small group of users. User exits are often used to integrate software packages. In most cases, user exits are created by computer programmers or engineers. However, if your organization or company has standardized a computer language, then user exits can also be made by non-programmers. User exits are often used to integrate software packages. User exits are the best. When you're running a software package, there are some things you can't do. If your package is designed to run a certain way, it will not allow any deviations. What if you need something not already included in the box? User exits are routines that enable adding customized programs without affecting the standard program and its features. A program may invoke a subroutine when executing a software package for a predefined event. If a user exit is defined, the default subroutine can replace the default subroutine with one customized by the package client to add customized functionality. User exits are like the little black dresses of your software: they're always there and a staple in any wardrobe. User exits are essential because they facilitate site-specific customization without causing an impact on the already existing customized functionality. They also support software upgrades and follow-on releases.