Maintain global variables

Global variables are intended to store common values used in different Business Processes (BPs) without hard-coding them in Bot Tasks. Global variables can be used to store the following information:

• URLs of services: OCR REST service, web app login pages
• Parameters: minimal DPI for document recognition, output file extension
• Modes: test or production
• Strings: names, messages, translations
• Timings: schedules, timeouts

To insert a global variable value, include a <var-global name="variable_name"/> plugin into your Bot Config.

By default, all global variables are stored in Data Stores. To access them, navigate to Advanced > Data Stores > Global Variables.

Variable names correspond to column headers, values are taken from the first row (if other rows exist, they are ignored). Read more about Data Stores.

You can use and create global variables right inside the BP Designer on the Workflow tab without manually creating Data Stores and adding columns to Field Schemes.

1. Insert a <var-global> plugin into your bot steps with a meaningful name attribute, for instance, as shown below:

   <export include-original-data="true">
            
          <single-column name="OCR">
              <var-global name="ocr_rest_url"/>
          </single-column>
       
          <single-column name="VDS">
              <var-global name="vds_params"/>
          </single-column>
       
          <single-column name="Timeouts">
              <var-global name="rpa_timeouts"/>
          </single-column>
            
   </export>

   To name a global variable, use only lowercase alphanumeric characters and underscores, for example, ocr_parameters.

2. Save the step and the BP. After that, you get a warning: "Global variables used in Step_Name Bot step are missing N values."

3. Click the warning message or go to Run > Advanced Options > Global Variables.

   

4. Click the Edit Values button. Data Stores > Global Variables are opened in the edit mode.

   

   note

   Global variables are a default configuration within Data Stores and cannot be deleted.

5. Set values for all variables that are missing values and click Save.

6. Return to the Global Variables tab and click the Refresh button.

7. Click OK and save the BP.

tip

If global variables are set in the Data Stores > Global Variables, you can use them in bot steps of other processes.