DS11 - Introduction to Variables

You can use variables in different places in your automations, whether in the process of Unix jobs or in pre- and post-conditions. This allows you to make your solutions reusable and control their behavior via parameters. Joel shows you how this works without any programming knowledge in this course.
ℹ️ This Automic course is part of the Designer learning path on PEM and was published on October 7, 2025. 📋 Content: 2 lessons, 1 final test 🕒 Duration: Approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on your Automic experience and knowledge. Variables in Automic – the key to dynamic and reusable automations! Variables are the secret weapon for flexible automation in Automic. They function as placeholders that make your workflows intelligent and adaptable – and best of all, you don't need any programming knowledge! In this course, you will learn: What variables are and why they are indispensable for efficient automation The different types of variables in Automic – from script variables to object variables to predefined variables How to name variables correctly and where you can use them How variable inheritance works and how to use it You will learn about the most important types of variables and understand their differences: script variables for programmatic logic, object variables for versatile applications, predefined variables for system values, prompt set variables for user input, and individual attributes for additional metadata. With practical examples, we show you how to use variables in pre- and post-conditions, in object attributes, and wherever the variable picker is available. Particularly exciting: You will learn how to use object variables to make your workflows parameterizable and how variables are inherited from parent to child executions. This allows you to pass defined values through entire workflow hierarchies without having to constantly redefine them. The best practice of naming variables with the # sign at the end will help you write clean and maintainable code. You will also learn about the variable picker—your best friend when it comes to using predefined system variables quickly and without errors. By the end of the course, you will be confident in using variables and will be able to use them specifically to make your automations more flexible, maintainable, and reusable. Practical exercises will consolidate your knowledge, and the final test with certificate will confirm your new skills! This course is perfect for all designers who want to take their Automic automations to the next level—without any scripting knowledge!

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