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| manual:Variables [2023/09/29 08:44] – peternlewis | manual:Variables [2025/03/02 03:08] (current) – [Variable Arrays] peternlewis |
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| | **Global**, permanent variables | • Accessible basically everywhere, including Scripts.\\ • Permanently stored on your Mac drive. \\ • Available for read/write in any Macro or Action, not just the Macro where the Variable was created. \\ * Persist between logins and restarts of your Mac. \\ • You can also see and edit variables in the Preferences.\\ • You can see global variables in the [[Windows#Value_Inspector_Window |Value Inspector]]. | | | **Global**, permanent variables | • Accessible basically everywhere, including Scripts.\\ • Permanently stored on your Mac drive. \\ • Available for read/write in any Macro or Action, not just the Macro where the Variable was created. \\ * Persist between logins and restarts of your Mac. \\ • You can also see and edit variables in the Preferences.\\ • You can see global variables in the [[Windows#Value_Inspector_Window |Value Inspector]]. | |
| | **Password**, semi-permanent variables | • Name must begin or end with “PW” or “password” (case insensitive).\\ • Stored only in memory. \\ • Available to macros but not displayed.\\ • Not directly accessible via AppleScript. \\ • Concealed in password fields in Prompt For User Input actions.\\ • Not saved to disk. | | | **Password**, semi-permanent variables | • Name must begin or end with “PW” or “password” (case insensitive).\\ • Stored only in memory. \\ • Available to macros but not displayed.\\ • Not directly accessible via AppleScript. \\ • Concealed in password fields in Prompt For User Input actions.\\ • Not saved to disk. | |
| | **[[#Instance_Variables|Instance Variables]]**, local to a specific macro execution instance | • Name must begin with “instance” (case insensitive).\\ • Restricted to a specific execution sequence.\\ • Available to the Macro where it was created and Sub-Macros of that Macro, for a given execution instance of the main macro.\\ • These variables are private to each execution of the same Macro, even when running simultaneously.\\ • Accessible by [[action:Prompt_for_User_Input|Prompt For User Input]]\\ • Accessible by scripts (when used in an Execute Script Action).\\ • Accessible by [[action:Custom_HTML_Prompt|Custom HTML Prompt]].\\ • Accessible by AppleScript with the `instance` specifier. | | | **Instance Variables**, local to a specific macro execution instance | • Name must begin with “instance” (case insensitive).\\ • Restricted to a specific execution sequence.\\ • Available to the Macro where it was created and Sub-Macros of that Macro, for a given execution instance of the main macro.\\ • These variables are private to each execution of the same Macro, even when running simultaneously.\\ • Accessible by [[action:Prompt_for_User_Input|Prompt For User Input]]\\ • Accessible by scripts (when used in an Execute Script Action).\\ • Accessible by [[action:Custom_HTML_Prompt|Custom HTML Prompt]].\\ • Accessible by AppleScript with the `instance` specifier. | |
| | **[[#Local_Variables|Local Variables ]]**, local to a specific macro | • Name must begin with "local" (case insensitive)\\ • Restricted to the specific Macro it is in.\\ • //Not// available to any of its Sub-Macros\\ • Same accessibility as Instance Variables. | | | **Local Variables**, local to a specific macro | • Name must begin with "local" (case insensitive)\\ • Restricted to the specific Macro it is in.\\ • //Not// available to any of its Sub-Macros\\ • Same accessibility as Instance Variables. | |
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| Macros can create or read existing variables, which persist and are permanently stored (except Local and Instance variables which are transient, and Password variables which are never saved to disk). | Macros can create or read existing variables, which persist and are permanently stored (except Local and Instance variables which are transient, and Password variables which are never saved to disk). |
| * By default the comma `,` is the delimiter (see below for setting a custom delimiter). | * By default the comma `,` is the delimiter (see below for setting a custom delimiter). |
| * "`<IndexNumber>`" is an integer indicating the index (starting with 1) of the array value within the Variable Array. | * "`<IndexNumber>`" is an integer indicating the index (starting with 1) of the array value within the Variable Array. |
| | * Negative indices start from the end of the array. |
| | * Zero index returns the count. |
| * This index can be determined using any [[manual:Calculations|Calculation]], including simply a Variable Name, like `i`. | * This index can be determined using any [[manual:Calculations|Calculation]], including simply a Variable Name, like `i`. |
| * Examples: | * Examples: |
| * For Example: `%Variable%myList1[i]:%`, where the colon `:` is the delimiter used in the Variable Array. | * For Example: `%Variable%myList1[i]:%`, where the colon `:` is the delimiter used in the Variable Array. |
| * Of course, the Variable Array, //myList1// in this case, //must// use the same custom delimiter. | * Of course, the Variable Array, //myList1// in this case, //must// use the same custom delimiter. |
| | * The delimiter can be any sequence of characters excluding the percent (%) character, eg `%Variable%myList1[i]---%` or `%Variable%myList1[i]-KMSPLIT-%` or `%Variable%myList1[i]\n%` as long as the array variable uses the same delimiter. |
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| **Simple Example of Variable Array** | **Simple Example of Variable Array** |
