---
alias: user-guide-automation-task-mes-recipelistreply
tags:
- automation tasks
description: "Action task that replies to a pending recipe list request from the MES with the recipes available at the equipment"
---

# Send Recipe List Reply

This **action** task sends the reply back to a recipe list request received from the MES, completing the request/reply exchange started by the [Recipe List Request](task_recipelistrequested.md) task.

It belongs to the `System / MES` category, under `Actions`.

![Send Recipe List Reply - Data Flow Task](./images/send_recipe_list_reply_task.png)

## Details

| Fields            | Details                                                                            |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Scope             | Connect IoT <br> Data Platform <br> Enterprise Integration <br> Factory Automation |
| Workflow          | Data flow                                                                          |
| `IsProtocol` flag | :material-close:{style="color:#EF5350"}                                       |

## Behavior

When activated, this task sends the recipe list back to the request that the [Recipe List Request](task_recipelistrequested.md) task is waiting on, which unblocks the MES. The `recipeList` input is expected to carry an array with the names of the recipes available at the equipment.

This task must run in the same workflow branch (`zone`) as the request it answers. If there is no pending request to answer, the task emits `Error` instead.

## Inputs

| Name       | Data Type | Description                                                              |
| ---------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| recipeList | `Object`  | The list of recipes to send to the MES, an array with the recipe names.  |
| Activate   | `Any`     | Activates the task, sending the reply.                                   |

Table: Send Recipe List Reply task inputs

## Outputs

| Name    | Data Type | Description                                                                        |
| ------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Success | `Boolean` | Triggered when the reply is sent successfully.                                     |
| Error   | `Error`   | Triggered when sending fails, or no pending request exists in the current context. |

Table: Send Recipe List Reply task outputs

## Settings

On the `General` tab, you have the usual settings and the following settings:

| Name          | Data Type | Values | Default | Description                                                                                              |
| ------------- | --------- | ------ | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Default Reply | `Object`  |        | `{}`    | Optional default message to reply with when the task is activated and no reply is provided on the input. |

Table: Send Recipe List Reply task settings

![Settings Wizard for Send Recipe List Reply Task](./images/send_recipe_list_reply_task_settings.png)

## Remarks

This task pairs with the [Recipe List Request](task_recipelistrequested.md) task, which listens for the request that this task replies to. It must be executed within the `zone` created by that task.

MES reads each item of the list as a recipe name, or as an object with a non-empty `Name`, and fails the request for an item without a name. Link an array: a text is sent as one item without a name. See [[tutorials-connectiot-mes-interop-scenarios#what-mes-sends-and-expects]].

This task uses a specific structure of context-based data called `zone`. More information on this topic can be read in the [Zones](../zones.md) page.