Use the Network Information tab to specify parameters that apply to the conversation:

In the Network Type field, type the type of network you are accessing the program through. Valid values are TCP and UPD.

In the Vendor field, type the name of the vendor providing the program.

In the Server Name list, select the name of the server where the transaction you want to run is located.

Use the Data Attributes tab to specify program initialization parameters and data handling options for a conversation:

In the Code page field, type the character code page used by the remote system. The default code page is whatever the current code page is for the system you are developing your application on.

In the Buffer length field, type the size of the memory buffer VA Smalltalk should allocate for the data sent to and received from the server. For a remote external function call, the buffer size must be at least as large as the total size of the record used by the function. The default value for this field is 1024.

Select Big endian to specify you want the partner to use the bigEndian format. If you do not select Big endian, the partner uses littleEndian format.

Use the Records tab to specify the record that will be passed to the function on the server. When VA Smalltalk calls the remote function, it can pass the program a record containing input and output fields. When the function completes, any output fields are filled in with the function's output values.

If the remote function does not require a record, you can leave this page blank.

Under Function language, select the type (C or COBOL) for the record to be passed.

In the File name field, type the name of the C header file or COBOL copybook file declaring the data types or records used by the external function. To list the available files, select Find. To view the contents of a file, select View. When you have specified the file you want to use, select Parse.

Select Parse to have VA Smalltalk read the C header file or COBOL copybook file and build a list of records. From the list, you can manually build the parameter list to use with the external function. The records (or potential parameters) appear in the Available list. The parameters you select appear on the external function part's public interface. Then, other parts can set or retrieve the values contained in the records.

Under Parameter word size, select the word size used for system dependent data types (16 bit or 32 bit). This setting is not available on UNIX systems.

The Available records list shows all of the record formats, or data types, defined in the file specified in the File to Parse field.

If you are working with a C External Function, for a C header file, these are all of the data types declared with typedef or struct. If you are working with a COBOL External Function, for a COBOL copybook file, these are the record formats declared by 01-level and 77-level declarations. The items specified in the PROCEDURE DIVISION USING statement or "ENTRY" statement should compose the list of the To be passed.

Under Alignment, change the selection from 1 if fields must be aligned on byte boundaries. Possible values are 1, 2, 4, and 8