Global Variables

Global Variables define the data schema for your application in the Variable Center. They determine what types of information can be collected and stored across group sessions.

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Overview

Global Variables are the foundation of your Variable Center configuration. They define:

• What data can be collected
• What type each piece of data should be
• Whether the data is required or optional
• Whether users can edit the data

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Adding Global Variables

1. Navigate to Variable Center → Settings
2. Select your application
3. Click the "Add Variables" button
4. Configure each variable's properties
5. Click Save to apply changes

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Variable Properties

Property	Description	Required
Field	Unique identifier for the variable (no spaces, use camelCase)	Yes
Type	Data type of the variable	Yes
Values	Allowed options (for enum type only)	Conditional
Editable	Whether users can modify the value at runtime	No
Mandatory	Whether the field must have a value for every user	No
Selected	Whether the field is active/included in sessions	No

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Variable Types

Text

Free-form text input. Use for names, descriptions, comments, etc.

Type: text
Example values: "John Doe", "This is a comment", "ABC-123"

Number

Numeric values (integers or decimals). Use for quantities, scores, measurements.

Type: number
Example values: 42, 3.14, -10, 0

Boolean

True/False values. Displayed as "Yes" or "No" in the interface.

Type: boolean
Example values: true, false

Datetime

Date and time values. Use for timestamps, deadlines, scheduled events.

Type: datetime
Example values: "2024-01-15T14:30:00Z"

Enum

Predefined list of allowed values. Use for status fields, categories, selections.

Type: enum
Values: ["Option A", "Option B", "Option C"]

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Common Variable Examples

User Information

Field: firstName    Type: text      Mandatory: true
Field: lastName     Type: text      Mandatory: true
Field: email        Type: text      Mandatory: true

Status Tracking

Field: completionStatus    Type: enum    Values: ["Not Started", "In Progress", "Completed"]
Field: isApproved          Type: boolean
Field: submittedAt         Type: datetime

Data Collection

Field: score               Type: number   Editable: true
Field: comments            Type: text     Editable: true
Field: agreedToTerms       Type: boolean  Mandatory: true

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Mandatory vs Optional Variables

Mandatory Variables

• First Name, Last Name, and Email are typically mandatory
• These are automatically included in all group sessions
• Cannot be skipped when adding users

Optional Variables

• Custom variables you define for your specific use case
• Can be included or excluded from individual sessions
• May or may not have values for each user

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Editing Variables

Modify Existing Variables

1. Click on a variable row to select it
2. Update the properties as needed
3. Click Save

Warning: Changing a variable's type may affect existing data. Consider creating a new variable instead.

Remove Variables

1. Select the variable to remove
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm the deletion

Note: Removing a variable does not delete data already collected. However, removed variables will not appear in new sessions.

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Connecting Variables to Elements

Global Variables can be connected to elements in your application builder:

1. In the builder, select an element
2. Go to Connect Tab
3. Under "Connect to Variable Center", select the variable
4. The element's value will sync with the variable

This allows form inputs to automatically save to Variable Center and pre-populate from existing data.

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Best Practices

1. Use clear field names - firstName is better than fn or field1

2. Choose appropriate types - Use number for values you'll calculate with, text for free-form input

3. Set sensible defaults - Use mandatory only for truly required fields

4. Plan for growth - Consider what data you might need in the future

5. Document your schema - Keep a record of what each variable represents

6. Test before production - Verify variables work correctly in a test session

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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:

Settings Overview - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/settings/index Group Session - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/settings/group-session/index Connect Tab - https://help.acenji.com/#/./create-web-application/website-builder/floating-design-panel/element-section/connect-tab/index

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