VB.NET

Demonstrates Manual Tool Function Calls

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Demonstrates how to do manual tool function calling using Chilkat. This is where your application manually checks for function calls in the AI's response, makes the function calls, and returns the function call results to the AI. VB.NET

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())