# Return Data From API when not using an API

**URL:** <https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029>\
**Category:** APIs\
**Created:** [February 15, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029 "2023-02-15T03:43:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dave19](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/dave19/32/160208_2.png) [@dave19](https://forum.bubble.io/u/dave19)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029/1 "2023-02-15T03:43:10Z")

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I see [this answer](http://forum.bubble.io/t/how-to-use-api-return-data-from-api/187125), but I don’t think it answers my question.

I am trying to reuse the same piece of dynamic text for multiple processes. So, I created a backend workflow:

 ![Screen Shot 2023-02-14 at 10.35.14 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/original/3X/b/7/b743a1683d76f8228663a271fceb74522a6bcca2.png)

When I call it, however, I’m getting some sort of ID and I don’t know how to get at teh text.

 ![Screen Shot 2023-02-14 at 10.40.41 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/original/3X/e/c/ec45d1ec1ce878ea7ac88c9d6a5b3e5b7c481205.png)

 ![Screen Shot 2023-02-14 at 10.41.55 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/original/3X/a/7/a7a0704d64ebe5664f2227c59182be61da04686f.png)

The state yields a number: 11860

How do I get at the text being generated by the backend workflow?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![basel.3adel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/basel.3adel/32/147498_2.png) [@basel.3adel](https://forum.bubble.io/u/basel.3adel)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 4:01am UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029/2 "2023-02-15T04:01:14Z")

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When you use schedule an api workflow, the result from the action is a schedule\_id  
This is why you’re getting the number

Anyways for your use-case, why not try to save the dynamic text in a group of type text or as a custom state?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dave19](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/dave19/32/160208_2.png) [@dave19](https://forum.bubble.io/u/dave19)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029/3 "2023-02-15T14:02:41Z")

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Thank you. I think that’s what I’m trying to do.

Do you mean for the backend workflow? Am I able to save something to a state from the backend workflow? If so, how will I be able to resue the workflow for other pages, states…etc?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![basel.3adel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/basel.3adel/32/147498_2.png) [@basel.3adel](https://forum.bubble.io/u/basel.3adel)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/return-data-from-api-when-not-using-an-api/247029/4 "2023-02-15T16:21:36Z")

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no need to backend workflow at all, you can just set create custom state same as the parameters you’ve already in the backend workflow and you pass the values to the custom state the same way you are passing it now to the backend workflow.

It’s the same process but you can just do it on the client side quickly with custom states or custom groups to hold the dynamic text