The databaseRecords attribute contains the records with the item and format specifications that define the public interface for the part.

The debugInformation attribute shows which window handles are involved in the connection used by the part. If the receiver is not connected, only one window handle is shown.

The lastConnectError attribute is the last error that occurred when attempting to connect to the server. If an attempt to exchange data is made prior to a connect action, the lastConnectError attribute indicates a connection error.

The lastLinkError attribute is a string that describes the last error that occurred when the server ends the link. Typical link errors include the server not supporting the item or format requested by the client, or the server has stopped running.

The lastTransferError attribute represents a string that describes the last error that occurred when attempting to transfer data to or from the server.

Transfer errors occur when the client cannot interpret the data from the server. Typical transfer errors include when the Smalltalk object that is received has a class which is not defined in the receiving image.

For more information on the self attribute, refer to Using the self attribute.

The serverName attribute specifies the server that the DDE Client part communicates with. The server name is usually, but not always, the actual name of the server application.

After a DDE client application is connected to a server, a new server cannot be selected without disconnecting and then connecting to the new server.

The startProgramInput attribute specifies a command line parameter you want to send to the application that the client part is trying to start.

The startProgramName attribute specifies the name of the program, including the path and any file extension, that you want to start.

The startProgramTimeOut specifies the maximum amount of time in milliseconds that the DDE client application waits before assuming that the DDE server application cannot be started.

The startServerExecuteString attribute specifies a command you want to send to the server before a connection is attempted. Use the startServerExecuteString attribute to make topics available on the server.

The startServerTestCount attribute specifies the number of attempts the client part makes to see if the server application started during the time-out interval specified on the startProgramTimeOut attribute.

It is recommended that this number be less than 20.

The timeOut attribute specifies the maximum amount of time in milliseconds that any request is allowed to take. The default value is 1000 milliseconds (one second).

If a request does not receive a response in the specified time-out period, the request is canceled. Whenever a new request is started with the server, the current time-out value is used for that request.

The topic attribute represents the value of items provided by the server for a particular item with the format specified. Use the Settings window for the DDE Client part to create these attributes.