The syntax of a reply activity that returns a fault in a synchronous interaction is shown in the following example:

<reply partnerlinke="partner-link-name"
       portType="port-type-name"
       operation="operation-name"
       variable="variable-name" (optional)
       faultName="fault-name">
</reply>

Always returning a fault in response to a synchronous request is not very useful. It is better to make the activity part of a conditional branch, in which the first branch is executed if the data requested is available. If the requested data is not available, then the BPEL process service component returns a fault with this information.

For more information, see the following chapters:

• Invoking a Synchronous Web Service from a BPEL Process for synchronous interactions

• Using Conditional Branching in a BPEL Process for setting up the conditional structure