Global Variables: Variable & Constant
The same "Variable" type can hold a value that changes as the form runs, or act as a fixed constant you set once.
The Variable type in Global Variables can be used two ways, depending on whether you plan to change its value while the form runs:
- As a variable — a value that updates as people interact with the form (for example, a running total, a status flag, or something a node sets during the workflow).
- As a constant — a value you set once and never change again, used purely to avoid repeating the same text, number, or date in multiple places.
Both use the exact same Variable type — there's no separate "constant" option to pick. The difference is simply whether you leave a Default value as the value's only source of truth, or let other parts of the form update it later.
Setting one up
- In Form Studio, open Variables → + Add Variable, and choose Type: Variable.
- Give it a name.
- Pick a Value type — Text, Number, Yes/No, Date, Date & time, Money, or Linked record — matching the kind of value you want to store.
- Enter a Default value. This is what the variable holds from the moment the form loads.
The At run time panel on the right confirms exactly what will happen — for example, "Starts as: High" — so you can see the effect before saving.
- Click Save.
Using it as a constant
If you don't reference this variable anywhere that changes it (no workflow node writes to it, no field lets someone edit it directly), it behaves like a constant: the Default value you set is the value it keeps everywhere it's used, for the life of the form. This is the simplest way to define something like a company name, a fixed tax rate, or standard wording that shows up in several labels — set it once here, and update it in one place if it ever needs to change.
Using it as a live variable
If you do want the value to change — for example, a workflow node calculates a total and stores it here, or a field lets the user edit it — just leave the variable unlocked as normal. Any node or field with access to the form can read the current value or write a new one, and everywhere else that references the variable will reflect the latest value.
Related
- Global Variables — the overview of all three variable types and where to find the Variables menu.
- Global Variables: Select Options — for when you need a whole list of choices instead of a single value.
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