7.4

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. For more information see Manipulate Global Variables.
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. For more information
see Manipulate Local Variables.
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 boolean) in PlanetPress Suite Work-
flow Tools.
Job Info Variables
Job Infos have two main uses. First, they contain information on any job file that comes out of the initial input task or any sec-
ondary input tasks. The number of job infos as well as their definition can be seen in the Other tab of any input task. Sec-
ondly, they are transmitted, unless otherwise configured, directly to any PlanetPress Design document used within your
process and can be directly accessed by that document, so they can be used to transfer complementary information to your
document that is not contained within your data file.
You can also access global and local variables from your document using the ExpandString()function in the Plan-
etPress Talk language. For more information, please see the PlanetPress Design User Guide and the PlanetPress Talk
Reference Guide.
There are only 9 Job Infos available numbered from 1 to 9. They can be accessed directly anywhere that accepts variable
properties by using the number of the variable preceded by a percent sign (For example, %2 or %9).
You can set the value of a job info within your process in two ways:
l Use the Set Job Info and Variable action task. See Set Job Infos and Variables.
l You can use Scripts. See the chapter Using Scripts.
Considerations on Job Infos:
l While the initial job infos are created by the input task, they can be overwritten by the Set Job Info and Variables Action
Task, by a Script, or by any secondary input task in the process. Whenever you use a job info in your process, make
Working With Variables