Working with Variables

IPA Designer supports two kinds of variables: process variables and local variables. These two kinds of variables differ only in their scope.

A process variable holds values that you can use anywhere in your process. For example, if your process involves sending e-mail notifications, it might have one "Mailbox" variable to hold each e-mail address. The auto-generated “Process” prefix helps identify and categorize process-level variables for calculations and updates. IPA also stores process variables in its database after a process completes. A local variable holds values used only within a specific process task or state. Note, however, that an input and output mechanism for local variables can facilitate passing values to like variable types among states and processes. (See Variable Accessibility.) The auto-generated “Local.” Prefix helps to identify those task- and state-level variables for calculations and updates.

To work with the variables for a process, double-click the Variables container in the Processes list. IPA Designer displays the Variables workspace and the Variables Toolbox.

Related topics:

Variable Scope

Adding a Process Variable

Adding a Local Variable

Variable Accessibility

Pattern Matching with String Variables

Variable (Data) Types – Overview

Collections of Variables

Creating Variables for Work Items