For a read notes request, an answer area must be provided. The answer area must be large enough for at least one note data record. Larger answer areas allow for more note data records to be stored. A note data record contains the metadata for one note. In general, you provide an answer area with enough space for the number of notes you want to process on each iteration of the read notes request. Thus the answer area must have space for the answer area header, one data locator, and as many note data records as you like. See Read notes for more information.

For a delete notes request, the answer area is optional. If provided, the answer area must be large enough for the answer area header. Although optional, an answer area is desirable given the potential need for the detailed diagnostic data. For example, if the specified selection criteria do not have valid content, diagnostic information stored in the answer identifies the specific problem.