The creator of the note pad can provide 64 bytes of data that is to be associated with the note pad. A copy of the data is visible to other processes in the sysplex via queries that return information about the note pad. The content and interpretation of this data is determined by the creator of the note pad. The intended purpose is to provide an easy way for the creator of the note pad to make application specific control data available to the programs that use the note pad. For example, the data could be used to document application protocols that users of the note pad are to follow. Because the data is fixed when the note pad is first created, it is not suitable for state information that might need to be updated over the life of the note pad.