(VB.NET) Demonstrates Manual Tool Function Calls

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Note: This example requires Chilkat v11.4.0 or greater.

For more information, see https://www.chilkatsoft.com/ai_tool_function_caling_briefly_explained.asp

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Dim success As Boolean = False

' Create the following JSON to define tool functions available for the AI to use.
' Note: You'll use the following JSON format regardless of the AI provider, whether
' it be ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, etc.  Chilkat automatically converts to the required
' format needed for a given AI provider.

' In this example, the application is providing two functions the AI may choose to call.

' {
'   "tools": [
'     {
'       "name": "get_horoscope",
'       "description": "Get today's horoscope for an astrological sign.",
'       "parameters": {
'         "properties": {
'           "sign": {
'             "type": "string",
'             "description": "An astrological sign like Taurus or Aquarius"
'           }
'         }
'       }
'     },
'     {
'       "name": "get_compatibility",
'       "description": "Returns compatibility analysis between two zodiac signs, including a score and explanation.",
'       "parameters": {
'         "properties": {
'           "sign1": {
'             "type": "string",
'             "description": "The first zodiac sign (e.g., Aries, Taurus, Gemini)."
'           },
'           "sign2": {
'             "type": "string",
'             "description": "The second zodiac sign (e.g., Aries, Taurus, Gemini)."
'           },
'           "relationship_type": {
'             "type": "string",
'             "description": "Type of compatibility to evaluate. (e.g., romantic, friendship, professional, general)"
'           },
'           "detail_level": {
'             "type": "string",
'             "description": "Level of detail in the response. (e.g., short, medium, detailed)"
'           }
'         }
'       }
'     }
'   ]
' }

Dim jsonTools As New Chilkat.JsonObject

Dim toolIdx As Integer = 0

jsonTools.I = toolIdx
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].name","get_horoscope")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].description","Get today's horoscope for an astrological sign.")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign.type","string")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign.description","An astrological sign like Taurus or Aquarius")

toolIdx = toolIdx + 1
jsonTools.I = toolIdx
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].name","get_compatibility")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].description","Returns compatibility analysis between two zodiac signs, including a score and explanation.")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign1.type","string")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign1.description","The first zodiac sign (e.g., Aries, Taurus, Gemini).")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign2.type","string")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.sign2.description","The second zodiac sign (e.g., Aries, Taurus, Gemini).")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.relationship_type.type","string")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.relationship_type.description","Type of compatibility to evaluate. (e.g., romantic, friendship, professional, general)")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.detail_level.type","string")
jsonTools.UpdateString("tools[i].parameters.properties.detail_level.description","Level of detail in the response. (e.g., short, medium, detailed)")

' More tools can be added as desired..

jsonTools.EmitCompact = False
Debug.WriteLine(jsonTools.Emit())

Dim ai As New Chilkat.Ai

' Register the tools that will be made available to the AI.
ai.RegisterManualTools(jsonTools)

' The provider can be "openai", "google", "claude", "grok", "mistral", "custom", etc.
ai.Provider = "openai"
' Use your provider's API key.
ai.ApiKey = "MY_API_KEY"
' Choose a model.
ai.Model = "gpt-5-mini"

' Tool function calling must always occur within a conversation.
Dim conversation_name As String = "convo_astrology"
Dim sysMessage As String = "You are a helpful astrologer"
Dim devMessage As String = "Respond only with a horoscope generated by a tool. Use the tool output as the final answer."
ai.NewConvo(conversation_name,sysMessage,devMessage)

' Provide inputs
ai.InputAddText("What is my horoscope? I am an Aquarius.")

' Send inputs, tool functions, etc. and ask for a "text" response.
success = ai.Ask("text")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(ai.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


' Did the AI respond with requests for tool function calls?
If (ai.HasFunctionCalls = True) Then

    Dim jsonFn As New Chilkat.JsonObject
    jsonFn.EmitCompact = False

    ai.GetFunctionCalls(jsonFn)
    Debug.WriteLine(jsonFn.Emit())

    ' Note: Chilkat will convert responses from all AI providers to this format:

    ' {
    '   "function_call": [
    '     {
    '       "name": "get_horoscope",
    '       "call_id": "call_RYmeysYQFocFc7Z2ofkv61dW",
    '       "arguments": "{\"sign\":\"Aquarius\"}",
    '       "args": {
    '         "sign": "Aquarius"
    '       }
    '     }
    '   ]
    ' }

    Dim numFnCalls As Integer = jsonFn.SizeOfArray("function_call")
    Dim fn_idx As Integer = 0
    While (fn_idx < numFnCalls)
        jsonFn.I = fn_idx

        Dim sbFnName As New Chilkat.StringBuilder
        jsonFn.StringOfSb("function_call[i].name",sbFnName)
        Dim callId As String = jsonFn.StringOf("function_call[i].call_id")

        If (sbFnName.ContentsEqual("get_horoscope",True) = True) Then

            ' The get_horoscope function (as defined above) has one argument named "sign".
            Dim zodiac_sign As String = jsonFn.StringOf("function_call[i].args.sign")
            Debug.WriteLine("zodiac_sign = " & zodiac_sign)

            ' Insert application code here to call your app's get_horoscope function, passing the zodiac_sign to it..

            ' For this example, we'll pretend the app's get_horoscope function returned the following:
            Dim applicationFnCallResult As String = "Aquarius: Next Tuesday you will befriend a baby otter."

            ' Provide the tool call result as an input for the followup Ask.
            ai.InputAddFnResult(callId,applicationFnCallResult)
        End If

        ' Your application would add code to check for and handle each possible function call.


        fn_idx = fn_idx + 1
    End While

    ' After making the requested tool function calls, send the results back to the AI.
    success = ai.Ask("text")
    If (success = False) Then
        Debug.WriteLine(ai.LastErrorText)
        Exit Sub
    End If

End If


' Get the final AI response.
Dim sbResponse As New Chilkat.StringBuilder
ai.GetOutputTextSb(sbResponse)
Debug.WriteLine(sbResponse.GetAsString())