1.3.5.1. Global Variables

The Configuration Items → Global Variables page can be reached by clicking the  menu item.

This page permits the user to create/import/manage global variables (and attributes) that can be used as input values for multiple workflows’ parameters configuration (in all fields that have Insert Global Variable option) and/or workflow activities (in all input parameters with the Quick Binding option).

The global variables are kept under folders.

A folder can be defined by clicking the Add root folder button from the Actions drop-down list or by clicking the Add SubFolder button from a folder's context menu. The Add new folder window will open:

• insert a name for the new folder
• insert a description for the new folder (optional)
• click Save changes in order to finish creating the new folder

A global variable can be defined after selecting a folder, by clicking the Add Global Variable option from the context menu or by clicking on the Add Global Variable button from the Actions drop-down list. The Add new global variable window will open:

• insert a name for the variable
• select the variable’s type from the drop-down list: text, password ,binary,integer or double. If password is selected, the value will be displayed as encrypted. If binary is selected, then the selected file’s content will be stored as encrypted in database
• insert a value for the variable
• insert a description for the variable (optional)
• click Save changes in order to finish adding the new variable

A global variable can be edited from Details for global variable panel:

• Insert a new name for the global variable
• Edit the global variable’s type: text, password, binary, integer or double. If password is selected, the value will be displayed as encrypted. If binary is selected, then the selected file’s content will be stored as encrypted in database.
• Insert a new value for the global variable
• Insert a new description for the global variable
• Check the Save in a new profile checkbox if the global variable is used in workflows' parameter configuration and the Name property is edited
• Click Save changes in order to finish editing the global variable 

If the global variable is in use in workflows' parameter configuration or in workflows' source file and the user edits the name of the global variable, the new name will be automatically replaced in the workflows' files and configuration of the parameters, but not in previously saved profiles.

A global variable can be deleted by selecting the Delete selected option from the Actions drop-down list or right-click on the global variable and selecting the Remove option from the context menu.  

If the global variable is in use in workflows' parameter configuration or in workflows' source file and the user wants to delete the global variable, a warning message will open displaying a list will all workflow in which the global variable or its attributes is in use preventing the global variable from being deleted:

Assign admin groups

After defining a folder, permissions can be set for other administrators from the Assigned admin groups panel.

In order to assign rights for a Folder, select it and click the Edit rights button. A list with all security groups of type admin will be available for selection:

The selected security group(s) will be automatically applied to all the global variables existing in the folder.

CAUTION: assigning permissions for a single global variable is not permitted, global variables will inherit the permissions assigned to the parent folder. 

NOTE: Users members in SuperAdmins security group have automatically rights to use/modify the Global Variables list/properties/permissions.

Attributes

After defining a global variable, an attribute can be added by clicking the Add option from the Actions drop-down list. The Add a new attribute window will open:

• Insert a name for the new attribute
• Select the attribute’s type: text, password, binary, integer or double. If password is selected, the value will be displayed as encrypted. If binary is selected, then the selected file’s content will be stored as encrypted in database.
• Insert a value for the new attribute
• Insert a description for the new attribute (optional)

An attribute can be edited by selecting the attribute in the Attributes list and by clicking the Edit option from the Actions drop-down list. The Edit attribute window will open:

• Insert a new name for the attribute
• Select the attribute’s type: text, password, binary, integer or double. If password is selected, the value will be displayed as encrypted. If binary is selected, then the selected file’s content will be stored as encrypted in database.
• Insert a new value for the attribute
• Insert a new description for the attribute
• Check the Save in a new profile checkbox if the attribute is used in workflows' parameter configuration and the Name property is edited
• Click Save changes in order to finish editing the attribute

If the attribute is in use in workflows' parameter configuration or in workflows' source and the user edits the name of the attribute, the new name will be automatically replaced in the workflows' files and configuration of the parameters, but not in previously saved profiles.

An attribute can be deleted by selecting the attribute from the Attributes list and by clicking the Delete option from the Actions drop-down list. 

If the attribute is in use in workflows' parameter configuration or in workflows' source and the user wants to delete the attribute, a warning message will open displaying a list will all workflow in which the attribute is in use preventing the attribute from being deleted:

NOTE: if a global variable is duplicated, attributes will also be duplicated.

NOTE: Click on Compute All/Compute options to check the existence of the global variables/attributes in workflows' sources and workflows' parameter configuration and to create mappings between objects to prevent deletion of a global variable/attribute in use and to automatically rename global variables/attributes if the Name property was edited. 

Export/Import 

The Export All and Import All buttons are visible only for super admins. When an export is finished, all data is exported in a .dat file except the rights.

After clicking Import All and selecting the .dat file, the Global Variables import window should open:

The Import window displays the exported global variables structure with distinct icons for folders, global variables and attributes. It also allows the user to overwrite the existing global variables and/or attributes. If you select to overwrite an existing global variable, it will be overwritten in the current parent folder, not the folder displayed in the Import window:

If the global variable exists and you choose not to overwrite it will be created with a string at the end. ( ex username_c071255482). If the global variable does not exist, the overwrite option will be disabled. 

NOTE: Global Variables/Attributes of type password will be imported empty-valued. 

A single global variable can be exported by right clicking on it and choosing the Export Variable option. It can then be imported in a folder by right clicking on it and then choosing the Import option.

A single global variables folder can be exported by right clicking on it and choosing the Export Folder option. It can then be imported in a folder by right clicking on it and then choosing the Import option.