7.1

Working With Variables
A Variable is basically a keyword that points to specific location in your computer's memory. This location contains data that
you decide to place in it, by assigning that data to the variable name. This chapter will help you learn about these variables and
how you can use them.
Types of Variables
There are 3 types of variables that can be used in the PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tools:
l Global Variables are available by all processes and tasks within the configuration, and any modification made to
them affects all tasks and configurations. Global variables are generally used to keep information that applies to mul-
tiple locations but need to be changed easily. For example, a lot of uses use them to set a server's IP, a printer name,
or folder location that is used by multiple processes. This is useful when moving the configuration file to another instal-
lation of the Workflow Tools where this information is different, or to quickly modify specific information if something
changes on the server. You can have as many global variable as you want in any given configuration.
l Local Variables are specific to an instance of a process. That is to say, when a process changes the information in a
local variable, it changes it only for that process and only for that specific instance of the process. When the process
ends, the local variable forgets whatever value was given to it by the process and goes back to its default value. Local
variables are generally used to keep information that is useful for the process itself but not to any other process or
instance of the process. For example, you could store the current order IDfor the process, a name or an email. You can
have as many local variables as you want in any given process.
l Job Infos are also specific to an instance of a process, however their use is different. Just after an initial or secondary
input task, Job Infos contain information about the job file itself. Job Infos are also, by default, accessible by Plan-
etPress Design documents used throughout your process. They are generally used to gather information from the input
task, or transfer information to your PlanetPress Design document.
All the variables in the PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tools are considered strings, even if the information itself can be a number.
There are no other types of variables (such as arrays, floating point numerical values or booleans) in PlanetPress Suite Work-
flow Tools.
Local and Global Variables
Global Variables
Global Variables are set at the level of the Configuration file and are shared between all processes and tasks. Global variables
can be used anywhere that accepts variables by using it's name preceded by "global."and surrounded by curly brackets (for
example:%{global.myGlobalVariable}).
To add a global variable, you can use one of two methods:
l Click on the Home tab of the PlanetPress Suite Ribbon, then click Global Variable in the Variables group.
l Right-click on the Global Variables folder in the Configuration Components area, then click on Insert Global
Variable.
To set the default value of a global variable, you can use one of two methods:
Working With Variables
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