What is the VA Smalltalk Base format? Whenever filing out or filing in code, you need to consider the code's format. If filed-out code is in the VA Smalltalk Base format, then you can easily file it into a VA Smalltalk system. Both the VA Smalltalk Base format and the generic format chunk component definitions and source code. However, the VA Smalltalk Base format also adds chunks that describe the components' structure. Because of this added information, components filed out in the VA Smalltalk Base 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 VA Smalltalk system files out components in the VA Smalltalk Base 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 VA Smalltalk Base format.
