The data that is to be sent as one message can reside in one contiguous storage area or in multiple, discrete storage areas. If in discrete storage areas, the message can be organized as a queue of elements or as a table of elements. An element can contain the text of the message or pointer to locate the message text. IXCMSGOX keywords allow you to describe how the message data is organized so that XCF can access the data to be sent to the target member.

Note that there is no requirement for messages to be sent and received using the same number of buffers or the same buffer format. However, XCF members that communicate with each other must know the format in which they are to receive message data so they can interpret the message correctly.