Variables assume values that you define for them. As a designer, you use them during design-time in your business rules and macros. If you set the variable usage type to runtime prompt, at runtime, users are prompted to supply a value or values for the variable.
Variables are local (apply to one business rule) or global (can be applied to multiple business rules and macros). Business Rules provides three types of variables that you can use in your business rules:
Use by Value – At design time, you can use this variable type to design your business rule so that when a use by value variable is inserted into the business rule, the variable is substituted with a value.
For example, if you have a business rule that contains a variable named [CurrMonth], with a type of Use by Value and a value of May, when you insert the variable into the rule, the value May displays in the rule.
Saved Selection – At design time, this type of variable inserts the name of the variable into the rule. Then at runtime, the value specified for the variable is used. This lets you use the same variable in a rule while allowing you to change the variable value without prompting.
For example, if you have a business rule that contains a variable named [CurrMonth], with a type of Saved Selection and a value of May, when you insert the variable into the rule, [CurrMonth] appears, but when you run the rule, May is used.
Runtime Prompt – At runtime, the user is asked to supply one member, multiple members, string, number, or dimension for the variable. Runtime prompts enable you to enter variables in a business rule that resolve when a user launches the rule.
When you create runtime prompt text, you can enter unlimited text. However, when you display the runtime prompt in an application, the text is truncated. The display limit varies, depending on the application that displays the runtime prompt.
For example, if you have a business rule that contains a variable named [CurrMonth], and the user supplies a variable with a value of July, at runtime, July is substituted for [CurrMonth].