Use the BUFFER and BUFLEN keywords to provide a buffer area for the note request. In general, the buffer area provided for a single note request must be appropriate for the requested operation. The program must always indicate the length in bytes of the portion of the buffer area that XCF is to use. When reading a note from the note pad, the buffer length must be at least as big as the maximum size note supported by the note pad. If a buffer is provided when deleting a note, the request is processed as a "read and delete" and the buffer length must be at least as big as the maximum size note supported by the note pad. However, when the read operation stores the note content in the buffer area, no storage in the buffer beyond the actual size of the note will be updated. When creating, writing, or replacing a note in the note pad, the buffer length must equal a note size supported by the note pad. See Note pad related limits for more specific details on supported note sizes and the relationship to the buffer size required for a single note request.

The BUFLEN can be zero when creating, writing, or replacing a note. When creating a note, the new note will be a null note. When replacing an existing note, the note becomes a null note. A write request creates a null note if the note does note exist. If the note does exist, it becomes a null note. In particular, BUFLEN=0 deletes the content of an existing note. If you want the replace (or write) request to preserve the content of an existing note, use NOBUFFER.