Setup Global Variables

Before creating time-based gates, you need to set up Global Variables that store the date/time values your gates will reference. This page explains how to configure variables for use with Gate Controller.

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Overview

Time Lock conditions in Gate Controller reference datetime variables to determine when gates open. These variables are typically set at the group session level and used to calculate gate timing.

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Accessing Variable Setup

1. Go to Variable Center → Gate Controller
2. Select your Application
3. Click the "Variables" button
4. The Variables modal opens for editing

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Adding a Datetime Variable

Step 1: Open Variables Editor

Click the "Variables" button in the Gate Controller interface.

Step 2: Add New Variable

1. Click "Add Variable" or the "+" button
2. A new row appears in the variable list

Step 3: Configure Variable Properties

Property	Description	Example
Field	Unique identifier (no spaces, use camelCase)	GC-Start-Cycle-Time
Type	Must be datetime for time locks	datetime
Editable	Whether value can be changed	true
Mandatory	Must be false for gate variables	false

Step 4: Save

Click Save to apply your changes.

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Variable Requirements for Gates

Time Lock Variables

For variables used in Time Lock conditions:

Requirement	Reason
Type must be datetime	Gates calculate time offsets from this value
Must be non-mandatory	Mandatory fields cannot be used in gate expressions
Should be editable	Allows setting different start times per session

Variable Lock Variables

For variables used in Variable Lock conditions:

Requirement	Reason
Any type allowed	Boolean, number, or string
Must be non-mandatory	Mandatory fields cannot be used in locks
Should match expected type	Boolean for true/false checks, number for comparisons

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Common Variable Examples

Session Timing Variables

Field: GC-Start-Cycle-Time
Type: datetime
Purpose: Main reference point for all time-based gates

Field: GC-End-Cycle-Time
Type: datetime
Purpose: When the entire session/cycle closes

User Role Variables

Field: is-focus-person
Type: boolean
Purpose: Identify users with special access

Field: user-role
Type: string
Purpose: Role-based access control (admin, facilitator, participant)

Progress Variables

Field: completed-modules
Type: number
Purpose: Track how many modules user has finished

Field: certification-status
Type: enum
Values: ["not-started", "in-progress", "completed"]
Purpose: Track certification progress

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Setting Variable Values

Once variables are defined, values are set in User Data:

1. Go to Variable Center → User Data
2. Select your application and group session
3. Find the datetime column in the data grid
4. Click to edit and set the value using the date/time picker

Per-User Values

Each user in a session can have different variable values:

• Different start times for staggered access
• Different roles for personalized content
• Different completion statuses

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Mandatory Fields

Some fields are automatically included and cannot be removed:

Field	Type	Purpose
firstName	text	User's first name
lastName	text	User's last name
email	text	User's email address

These mandatory fields cannot be used in gate conditions.

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Best Practices

1. Use descriptive names - GC-Start-Cycle-Time is clearer than start

2. Prefix gate variables - Use GC- prefix to identify gate-related variables

3. Document purpose - Keep notes on what each variable controls

4. Test with short intervals - During development, use minutes instead of days

5. Plan variable structure - Define all needed variables before creating gates

6. Keep it simple - Only create variables you actually need

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Troubleshooting

Variable Not Appearing in Gate Editor

• Verify the variable type is datetime for time locks
• Confirm the variable is not marked as mandatory
• Refresh the page and try again

Gate Not Responding to Variable

• Check that a value has been set for the variable in User Data
• Verify the datetime format is correct
• Ensure the user record has the variable populated

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Questions?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Alternatively, you can submit an issue on this platform.

Useful Links:

Gate Controller - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/gate-controller/index Global Variables - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/settings/global-variables/index User Data - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/user-data/index

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