User's Guide


What is the IBM Smalltalk format?

Whenever filing out or filing in code, you need to consider the code's format.

If filed-out code is in the IBM Smalltalk format, then you can easily file it into a VisualAge system. Both the IBM Smalltalk format and the generic format chunk component definitions and source code. However, the IBM Smalltalk format also adds chunks that describe the components' structure. Because of this added information, components filed out in the IBM Smalltalk format, once filed in, more closely resemble the original components than do components filed out in the generic format.

For both formats, one exclamation point (!) marks the end of a chunk. An exclamation point, a space, then another exclamation point (! !) mark the end of a file. During file-ins, your system executes the text between each exclamation point.

By default, a VisualAge system files out components in the IBM Smalltalk format. You can ensure that it does by evaluating the following expression before filing out components:

System genericFormat: false

When you file out components in the generic format and then file them back in, you might find that the structure of your components changes. For example, private methods become public methods. To reset your system so it files out in the generic format, evaluate the following:

System genericFormat: true

The following example illustrates the IBM Smalltalk format.


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