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Table Of Contents
4.12 Custom Variables
Can I use other variables to store and communicate information?
There are two ways to store and communicate variable information (strings) at runtime:
You can use available job info variables: Standard job information elements are typically stored in job
info variables 1 to 5, which leaves job info variables 6 to 9 for other variable information needs (note
that you may in fact use variables 1 to 5 as well to store any information, but that by doing so you may
be overwriting actual job information elements). Job info variables can be used in any task. They have
no default value.
You can use custom variables: You can have as many custom variables as required and you can give
them meaningful names. Note that if you decide to rename a variable that was already used in various
tasks, you will also have to edit the variable name in each one of those tasks. Custom variables are
stored in configuration files and can be can be local or global. Each local variable is associated with a
given process and can only be used in tasks included in that same process. Global variables on the other
hand are associated with the configuration as a whole and can therefore be used in any task. All custom
variables can be seen listed in the Configuration Components window. Each one can be given a default
value.
A) Local custom variable associated with the Startup process. B) Global custom variable.
You can set both job information or custom variables using Set Job Info action tasks. To do the same using
scripting methods, refer to Using Scripts (Page 0).
Both job info variables and custom variables may be used as variable properties in variable property boxes
(see Variable Properties (Page 0)).
A) Standard variables. B) The five basic job info variables, typically used to store and
communicate job information elements. C) Job information variables 6 to 9, typically used to
store and communicate any information. D) The Local variables and Global variables sub-menus,
which can be used to select custom variables.
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