When invoking the IXCNOTE macro to issue a note request, your program can optionally provide an answer area. The answer area is the output area where XCF stores the metadata associated with the note. The metadata includes the note name, instance number, tag value, connection identifier, persistence attribute, and note size.

The metadata stored in the answer area always reflects the current state of the note. If the request is successful, the metadata contains data relevant to the state of the note upon completion of the operation in the note pad. If the request is rejected and the note exists, the metadata contains data relevant to the state of the note as it existed in the note pad just prior to the operation. For example, consider a replace note request that is to update a note named N. Call the current instance of the note N1. Call the new instance of the note N2. If the replace request is successful, the metadata provides information about the updated copy of the note (N2). If the request is rejected due to an instance number mismatch (for example), the metadata provides information about the current copy of the note (N1).

If an answer area is provided, it must be large enough to hold a note data record. Thus the answer area must have room for the answer area header, one data locator, and one note data record.