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--- token:Variable [2016/03/20 12:43]
AlainLifchitz add forum link + forum Google search
+++ token:Variable [2023/07/10 02:36]
peternlewis
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{:token:variable-icon.png |}}
-====== Keyboard Maestro Variables ======
+The //%Variable%//`<VariableName>`% token allows you to include a [[manual:Variables|variable]] in a [[:Text Fields |token text field]], where `<VariableName>` is the name of the variable.
-Keyboard Maestro variables are used much like variables in any scripting or macro language.  They provide for the storage of data as determined by you, the Keyboard Maestro user.
-However, they have one key difference from most other languages:  The variable values are permanently stored on each Mac, and thus are available to all macros, and macros that run in the future.  You can view your current list of variables on the //Variables// tab of //Keyboard Maestro Editor Preferences//.
-Instead of software code, Keyboard Maestro variables are set by [[:Actions|Macro Actions]] (or by [[#Using_Variables_in_Scripts|scripts]]), and can then be used by other Macro Actions.
-It should be noted that **all Keyboard Maestro variables are text**.  However, you can use variables that contain numbers in calculations, by using the [[token:Calculate|Calculate Token]].
-===== Setting Variables =====
-The most common Action to set a variable is, well, [[action:Set_Variable_to_Text|Set Variable to Text]].
-{{ :token:km-wiki-set-variable-action.png?nolink |}}
-There are a number of other [[:Actions|Actions]] to set variables:
-  * [[action:Set_Variable_to_Calculation]]
-  * [[action:Set_Variable_to_Google_Chrome_Field]]
-  * [[action:Set_Variable_to_Keychain_Password]]
-  * [[action:Set_Variable_to_Safari_Field]]
-In addition to these, there are a number of more complex Actions that can also set a variable.  The [[action:For_Each|For Each]] Action is an example.
-When setting a variable, you will be using a text field in most cases. :!: Be aware that [[:Text_Fields|Text fields]] (that are not regular expression fields), process backslashed characters \a,\b,\e,\f,\t,\r,\n (bell,backspace,escape,form feed,tab,return,line feed).  For more information, see the [[:Text_Fields|Text fields]] Wiki article.
-===== Using Variables =====
-There are many Macro Actions that can use variables.  Some of these explicitly provide for entry of the variable name, but most provide for a more general entry of a Keyboard Maestro Token.
-==== Variable Tokens ====
-The //%Variable%//`<VariableName>`% token allows you to include a variable in a token text field,\\
- where `<VariableName>` is the name of the variable.
 For Example, using the [[action:Insert_Text|Insert Text]] Action:
 {{ :token:km-wiki-insert-text-action.png?nolink |}}
+You can (v7.2+) access a variable as if it is a comma separated array of text using the notation //%Variable%//`<VariableName>[3]`% where 3 can be any [[manual:Calculations|Calculation]].  You can use a different item separator by putting the text between the ] and % characters, eg //%Variable%//`<VariableName>[3]:`%.  Arrays are indexed starting from 1, and index 0 will give the count of the number of items, negative indices will index from the end of the array.
 You can also use a short form of just //%Variable Name%// to include variables as long as the variable exists and has a value and there is no corresponding text token, although generally it is better and clearer to use the longer form //%Variable%Variable Name%//.
-==== Variable Arrays ====
-Variables can contain an array of comma separated **numbers**, like the image size (123,456) or window frame (100,120,600,550). In a calculation field, you can refer to these using a normal (1-based) index notation, like Variable[2]. So you can use ClipboardImageSize[1] and ClipboardImageSize[2].
-**It is important to note that variable arrays can contain only numeric values**.  When you use the [[token:Calculate|%Calculate%]] function to reference a variable array element, it will convert the element to a number.  So, in effect, you can only use variable arrays to store/reference numbers.
-For example, suppose the variable `MyArray` has this value: `10,05,00,12`. In any Keyboard Maestro Action where you would like to use the array element `%Calculate%MyArray[2]%`, it will return "5" because it has evaluated it as number, not the actual string of the element "05".
-===== Using Variables in Scripts =====
-You can get and set Keyboard Maestro Variables in these types of scripts:
-  * [[:AppleScript|AppleScript]]
-  * [[:Using_Variables_in_JXA|JavaScript for Automation (JXA)]]
-  * [[action:Execute_a_Shell_Script|Execute a Shell Script]]
-Click on the above links for example scripts.
 ===== See Also =====
-----
+- [[:Text Fields]]
+- [[:Tokens]]
-----
+- [[manual:Variables]]
-==== Forum ====
-- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/how-do-i-get-km-variable-in-shell-script-from-other-apps/3165/3|? How Do I Get KM Variable in Shell Script from other Apps?]]
-- [[https://www.google.fr/search?q=site:forum.keyboardmaestro.com+Keyboard+Maestro+Variables|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Keyboard Maestro Variables]]

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