How to Work with Processes > Working with the Variable Processes Group

Process Purpose

If required, a variable can store raw content (unprocessed data/data with unknown format). This raw data can come from an external source or you can convert the content of a data file into raw data when you use the "Load File to Variable" process (see Load File To Variable).

The "Save Var to File" is, specifically, used to save the raw content of a variable into a data file.

When you add a process, you are required to define its settings. This occurs in the process's properties window which is displayed automatically after having added the "Save Variable to File" process.

If any subsequent edition is required, double-click the process to open its properties window and enter the necessary modifications.

Fill in the following options:

Source
Variable	Click to select the variable with the content to be saved into a data file. See Variable Usage.
Save to File
Name	Select the target data file for the selected variable's content from the drop-down. If necessary, click to edit the selected data file or create a new one. See Editing a Data File.
Conversion Type	Select the desired conversion type from the drop-down OR click and select a variable with that value.
Mode	Check one of the available modes: "Overwrite" - the content of the source variable will replace the content of the target data file. "Append" - the content of the source variable will be appended to the end of the target data file's content. There will be NO data replacement.
If Error
Go to	Select a target location, in case an "error" occurs, from the drop-down or list. See Detail of a window below. When defining a screen as a target destination (ex: via a “Go to” process), you CANNOT use variables to specify the name of that target screen. You must select the intended screen from the available drop-down/list.

Detail of a window:

"S:Menu" is a screen included in the same program as the process.

"R:Routine_1" is a routine included in the same program as the process.

If required, use the icons on the upper right corner of the properties window:

Click this icon to create a new data file. Go to Creating a Data File to see how to fill in the several options available.

Use the icon to attach any relevant notes to this process. Click it and enter your notes in the resulting text box. These notes will be displayed in the corresponding "Actions" tab or "Process" window (in the "Notes" field) and in the "Developer Report".

After filling in the required options, click to conclude or to abort the operation.

The added process is displayed in the corresponding "Actions" tab or "Process" window.

If you want to use a label as a target destination, you can use the "Auto-Label" mechanism. This alternative to the "Set Label" process allows you to create a label in the properties window of a process - specifically, in the fields used to define target destinations (ex: the "If Error..." type fields). See To Automatically Create a Label.

Use the right-click in MCL-Designer's input boxes to access some related options as well as the general "Cut", "Copy"; "Paste"; "Search" actions (active/inactive according to the current context).

Ex: If you right-click the "Variable" input box (included in a "Conversion's" properties window), you are provided with general editing/search actions and other more specific options such as "Variable Select" (see "Variable Select"); "Variable Insert" (see "Variable Insert"); "Insert Special Character" (see To Insert Special Characters into a Control's Text Input Field) and "Localization Select" (see Localization List).

If you right-click another input box, it may provide other possibilities.