Variables

Variables display data based on context. They can make your action flows dynamic to the record and make it easier to add merge syntax in places like Text components and component headers. Variables can be inserted in any field that accepts Merge syntax. Use variables to store and manipulate data in your pages, such as a user email address, the page name, or the current site URL. You can use variables as many times as you need throughout your page.

For example, you could insert a variable to display a user's email address. The email address can be retrieved from a model that is using a Nintex Data table; when the action flow runs, the email address can then be sent to a Nintex Workflow. By using a variable, you avoid having to specify the email address in your page design or manually type merge syntax, making your page much more flexible and powerful.

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Access the Insert variables panel

Open the Insert variables panel to view a list of the variables that you can use in your page.

  • In a field that accepts variables, click the plus sign ()

The Insert variables panel is displayed.

The following variables and expressions are displayed.

Variable Type Description
Model

These variables include all the models on your page, their values, and information about the models, like their labels and how many rows they have.

Note: If you select Row in context, it will display data based on the row in context for the particular component or action where you insert the variable. Nintex Apps does not check to ensure context was provided.
Global merge variables These variables include Network, Page, Platform, Site, and User variables. For more information, see Global Merge Variables / Functions .

The following expressions are displayed.

Expression Type Description
True expression

This is a conditional expression. It will show a value if a boolean field is true or if a non-boolean field has a value. You can create a true expression based on the value of any of the available variables.

After a variable for a conditional expression is added, the if-true value is highlighted in the merge syntax. Type a value to replace the highlighted text.

For more information, see Conditional merge expressions .

False expression

This is a conditional expression. It will show a value if a boolean field is false or if a non-boolean field is empty (null). You can create a false expression based on the value of any of the available variables.

After a variable for a conditional expression is added, the if-false value is highlighted in the merge syntax. Type a value to replace the highlighted text.

For more information, see Conditional merge expressions .

Use variables in your pages

In the Insert variables panel, you can insert a variable into a field that accepts variables.

  1. Open the Insert variables panel. For more information, see Access the Insert variables panel.

  2. Click the type of variable or expression that you want to insert.

  3. Select the variable that you want to insert. Click Next or Insert, if necessary. When inserted, an "Added" message appears and the merge syntax for the variable is automatically added to the field or model.

  4. If you inserted a variable in a field, click Done or select an element that doesn't have variables enabled to close the Insert variables panel. You can also select a new field that has variables enabled to keep the Insert variables panel open and insert additional variables.

You can add custom variables by creating UI-only fields and models. For more information, see UI-only fields and models .

To edit a variable that you have already inserted into a field, you can manually modify the merge syntax string that was automatically created when the variable was inserted. You can also delete the string, open the Insert variables panel again, and add a different variable.

The value of some variables cannot be edited, like the running user’s email address. If a variable comes from a model field, you can update the value of the field using the update model action.

To remove a variable that you have already inserted into a field, you must manually delete the merge syntax string that was automatically created when the variable was inserted.

Limitations

There are some advanced variables that can only be accessed via manually typing the merge syntax. These include: