Script Steps Reference

28 FileMaker Script Steps Reference
Set Variable
Format
Set Variable [<variable name> {[<repetition number>]};
Value:<value or formula>]
Options
Click Specify to set the variable options:
• Name is the name of the variable you want to create. Prefix the name with $ for a
local variable or $$ for a global variable. If no prefix is added, $ is automatically added
to the beginning of the name.
• Value is the value the variable is set to. You can enter text or specify a calculation.
• Repetition is the repetition (index) number of the variable you want to create. If no
repetition is specified, the default is 1.
Web compatibility
This script step is web-compatible.
Description
Sets a local or global variable to a specified value. If a variable doesn’t exist, this script
step will create one. A variable name has the same naming restrictions as a field name.
For more information, see FileMaker Pro Help.
Local and global variables can be created and used in calculations.
• A local variable can only be used in script steps in the currently executing script. The
value in a local variable is cleared when the script exits.
• A global variable can be used in a calculation or script anywhere in a file, for example,
other scripts or file paths
. The value of a global variable is not cleared until the file is
closed.
• Local and global variables (or even two local variables in different scripts) can have
the same name but they are treated as different variables and can store different
values.
Examples
The following example sets a local variable.
Set Variable [$commission; Value:.05]
The following example sets a global variable.
Set Variable [$$commission; Value:.1]
The following example sets a global variable at a specified repetition number.
Set Variable [$$bonus[2]; Value:3 * 4]