User Guide > Objects > Introduction > Variables in the AE

Variables in Automation Engine

The following table provides an overview of the types of variables available in AE and where they can be used.

Object, PromptSet and script variables are only available in executable objects.

Variable objects	Description	Usage
Static Variable objects (source: STATIC, XML) Dynamic Variable objects (source: EXEC, SQL, SQLI, MULTI and FILELIST)	Variable objects store values (static) or retrieve them from a particular data source (dynamic). The values are stored and supplied in table form with a particular data type, format and value area. Values are accessed either by a key or a result column and the columns are addressed via numbers (1 to n). Values retrieved by variable objects can also be used in attribute fields of executable objects by using following syntax: {VARA object name [, Key [, Column ] ] }	UC_* Variables e.g. UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS, UC_CLIENT_SETTINGS, etc. User defined variable objects In Process tabs by using script elements such as GET_VAR, :PUT_VAR, etc. As data source of Cockpit, Database event and PromptSet objects Attributes of executable objects Variables & Prompts tab Properties of Workflow and Schedule tasks
Script variables
Data types: string (default) unsigned signed float Syntax: &Variable name#	Script variables are specifically used for storing and using values in Process tabs. They can also be used in some attributes. You can use the script element :DEFINE in order to declare script variables with a particular data type or to declare a variable's array. To assign a value to a script variable, use the script elements :SET, :RSET or :PSET.	Process tabs. Attributes of executable objects Variables & Prompts tab Properties of Workflow and Schedule tasks
Predefined script variables
Predefined variables for system values Predefined variables for object values Syntax: &$Variable name#	Predefined variables are placeholders that refer to the values of the system or the object in which they are used. Their names and values are predefined and cannot be changed.	Process tabs. Attributes of executable objects Variables & Prompts tab Properties of Workflow and Schedule tasks
Object and PromptSet variables
Object variables PromptSet variables Syntax: &Variable name#	You can create Object variables in an executable object by either defining them the on the Variables & Prompts tab or using the script element :PSET in the Process tab. PromptSet variables are derived from PromptSet objects, which can be assigned to an executable object. The default values defined in a PromptSet object can be overwritten in the executable object itself, as well as in the task properties of a Workflow. Object and PromptSet variables can be used in various object locations. They can also be inherited by child objects.	Process tabs Attributes of executable objects Variables & Prompts tab Properties of Workflow and Schedule tasks