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 language type of 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 and is made available as a tear-off attribute of the Proc Dialog part. Then, other parts can set or retrieve the values contained in the records.

The Parameter word size selections specify the word size used for system dependent data types:

The Available list box shows all of the record formats, or data types, that were specified using the File name field and the Parse option.

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" statements should compose the list of the records to be passed.