Understanding Variable Design Recommendations

Variables provide centralized management of common text, dates, and numeric values across report packages.

Narrative Reporting supports the following variable types:

  • Static variables, which are maintained directly in the report package.
  • Reference variables, which retrieve values from Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel content in the report package.
  • Shared variables, which provide centralized storage for common static values used across multiple report packages.

Before adding additional doclets, reference doclets, Available Content objects, or variables, review the existing report package for redundant or unused objects. Reuse existing objects where appropriate and remove objects that are no longer needed.

To help maintain optimal performance, you can limit the total number of variables in a report package to approximately 500 and limit the number of variables inserted in a single doclet to approximately 250. Although higher numbers of variables are supported, refreshing and processing variables may require additional time.

Regularly review variable usage and follow these recommendations:

  • Remove unused variables.
  • Avoid creating duplicate variables for the same reporting content.
  • Review variable references and remove those that are unnecessary.
  • Review variables that are both sourced and consumed in the same doclet, and simplify the design where practical.

When using Microsoft Excel-based variables, you can:

  • Centralize variables on dedicated worksheets.
  • Use formulas to reference dynamic query results.
  • Keep variable management organized and maintainable.

Reference variable values must be defined in Oracle Smart View for Office. Shared variables and their values are created in Narrative Reporting web and cannot be edited in Smart View. A report package can be associated with up to five Shared Variable Lists.

Reference variables cannot be sourced from PowerPoint content, images, shapes, or other reference variables. Word-sourced reference variable values are limited to 2,000 characters, and Excel-sourced values are limited to 255 characters.