About Variables

Report package variables may be created using either Narrative Reporting on the web, or the Narrative Reporting extension for Oracle Smart View for Office. However, you can only define reference variable values in Smart View.

Once created, use Smart View to insert the variables into a doclet (in headers, tables, cells, or paragraphs).

Two types of variables are available:

  • Static variables use static input that is defined by the user, such as date labels or a set value, which can be used throughout the report package. These static variables can be easily updated, and all doclet instances of the variable value reflect the change. The static variables help to centrally maintain common dates, numbers and text across the Report Package document content.

    In the list of variables in the Smart View Panel, this icon, The static variable icon represents static variables.

  • Reference variables are created by referencing another doclet or reference file within the report package as the source, and selecting the value for the variable, such as text in a Word paragraph or an Excel cell value. Reference variables cannot be sourced from any PowerPoint content. If the source document is subsequently updated, those changes are automatically updated in the inserted instances of the variable in the report package. Reference variables can be used to insert Excel cell values into a Word or PowerPoint paragraph, or to create Excel formulas to implement cross-footing rules for increased data accuracy, or to create directional words for the report narrative, such as "an increase" or "a decrease".

    In the list of variables in the Smart View Panel, this icon, The reference variable icon represents reference variables.

Variables can be created by any report package owner or doclet author.

To view a list of all variables defined for a report package, first, open a report package. From the Report Package panel, change the drop-down from Report Center to Variables:


Shows the options available in drop-down list in the Report Package panel. Options are Report Center and Variables

The list of available variables appears. You can view details such as variable type, the number of times the variable is used in the report package (the blue circle containing a number), and the source for reference variables, as shown in Figure 23-34.

From the Variables panel, you can:

  • Create a variable

  • Edit a variable

  • Select a variable to insert into a doclet

  • Filter to view only static or reference variables

  • Filter to view only those variables already in use in the report package

For report packages containing more than 50 variables, use these controls at the top of the panel to locate variables:

  • Use the left and right arrows to navigate through the pages

  • Use the page number drop-down list to jump to a specific page

Figure 23-34 List of Variables Defined for a Report Package


List of variables available in a report package. Shows the variable name and variable type: (x) for static variables, (#) for reference variables. A blue circle containing a number shows the number of times the variable is used in the report package. Value shows either the value defined for static variables, or the value of the reference variable and its source. When more than 50 variables are present, there are left and right arrows near the top of the panel to navigate through the pages, or a page drop-down list to jump to a specific page.

After the variable has been created, the variable is managed as follows:

  • The report package owner can delete and edit all variables in the report package.

  • A doclet author can only delete and edit variables that they created.

  • For reference variables, any user with Write access to the source location of the variable value can update that variable value.

  • Author users have Read access to variables that they did not create, so they can see a list of all variables and insert them into doclets to which they have Author access.