public IHttpActionResult GetAllSuppliers() { // declare and initialize error variable to accept the error from Repo string error = ""; // get the list from supplierRepo and will insert the error if there is one List <SupplierModel> sms = SupplierRepo.GetAllSuppliers(out error); // if the erorr is not blank or the supplier list is null if (error != "" || sms == null) { // if the error is 404 if (error == ConError.Status.NOTFOUND) { return(Content(HttpStatusCode.NotFound, "Suppliers Not Found")); } // if the error is other one return(Content(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, error)); } // if there is no error return(Ok(sms)); }