The user directives file is an ASCII text file, which defines a set of directives to pass to the Compiler altogether at the same time. You use either the DIRECTIVES or USE directive to pass this user directives file to the Compiler.
For example, to migrate some programs from a different dialect, put the directives you need to get compatibility with this dialect into a directives file, which you could call myDialectDirectives.dir. To use this file when compiling, use the USE or DIRECTIVES directive either in the project's properties in the IDE or in a $SET statement in your program. For example
USE"myDialectDirectives.dir"
The Compiler processes the directives in the file as if they replace the USE or DIRECTIVES directive. Consequently, the restrictions applying to a directive at that time also apply to the directives read from the file at that time. Also any directives set later override the directives in your directives file
You can specify another directives file within the original directives file. The Compiler switches to the new directives file for processing and then returns to the original directives file. When the Compiler finishes processing the directives file, it then processes subsequent directives on the command line or in $SET statements.