7.67.52015-05-06

Local, Global, and System Variables

There are three categories of variables in PlanetPress Talk: system, global, and local.

  1. System Variables

    System variables are variables that the system defines. There are two types of system variables: system variables with a global scope and system variables with a local scope.

    System variables with a global scope System variables with a global scope are available anywhere you can insert a PlanetPress Talk expression in PlanetPress. You can use the value of a system variable with a global scope but you cannot, except in one or two cases, modify it.

    System variables with a local scope System variables with a local scope are available only within a well-defined context. There are currently two system variables with a local scope: &height and &width. Both are local to a specific object, group, or page. The system initializes &height and &width to, respectively, the values of the Height and Width properties of the object, group, or page, as they appear in the Basic Attributes of that object, group, or page.

    See System Variables with Global Scope for a complete list of the system variables available in PlanetPress Talk.

  2. Global Variables

    Global variables are variables that you define using the Global Variable Properties dialog box in PlanetPress. Global variables appear in TreeView in PlanetPress. Global variables have a global scope; you can reference global variables anywhere you can insert a PlanetPress Talk expression in PlanetPress.

    You cannot define a global variable with the same name as a system variable.

  3. Local Variables

    Local variables are variables that you define using the PlanetPress Talkdefine command. Local variables have a local scope; you can reference them only within the area of the object in which you create them. You can create local variables within the PlanetPress Talk properties of an object or group, within the Text property of a text/box object, and within the PlanetPress Talk Code property of a PlanetPress Talk object.

    You should never define a local variable with the same name as a system variable.