Documentation
Variables

Variables

Variables in AutoCRUD

Variables in AutoCRUD allow you to define and manage global values that can be used across your workspace. They provide a central place to store important values that may be used in multiple flows or settings.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to create and manage global variables
  • Ways to use variables in flows and automations
  • Best practices for variable management
  • Security considerations for sensitive variables

Accessing Variables

To access the Variables section:

  1. Navigate to your workspace
  2. Click on the Variables item in the left sidebar

Understanding Variables

Variables in AutoCRUD consist of two main components:

  • Key: A unique identifier for the variable
  • Value: The data stored in the variable

Variables are global to your workspace, meaning they can be accessed from any flow or automation within that workspace.

Creating Variables

To create a new variable:

  1. Navigate to the Variables section
  2. Click the Add Variable button in the top-right corner
  3. In the dialog that appears:
    • Enter a unique Key for your variable
    • Enter the Value for your variable
    • Optionally enable encryption for sensitive values
  4. Click Create Variable to save

Variable Keys

When creating variable keys:

  • Use descriptive names that clearly indicate the variable’s purpose
  • Avoid spaces and special characters
  • Consider using a consistent naming convention
  • Remember that keys are case-sensitive

Examples of good variable keys:

  • api_base_url
  • defaultTaxRate
  • companyName
  • email_template_id

Variable Values

Variable values can be:

  • Text strings
  • Numbers
  • JSON data (stored as a string)
  • API keys or credentials (preferably encrypted)

Encrypting Sensitive Variables

For sensitive information such as API keys or passwords:

  1. When creating or editing a variable, check the Encrypt this variable option
  2. The value will be stored securely and displayed as asterisks (***) in the interface
  3. The variable can still be used in flows, but its actual value will not be visible in the UI

Managing Variables

Searching for Variables

If you have many variables, you can use the search function:

  1. Enter your search term in the Search variables… box
  2. The list will filter to show only variables that match your search

Editing Variables

To modify an existing variable:

  1. Find the variable in the list
  2. Click the Edit button in the Actions column
  3. Update the value as needed
  4. Click Save to apply your changes

Deleting Variables

To remove a variable you no longer need:

  1. Find the variable in the list
  2. Click the Delete button in the Actions column
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted

Warning: Deleting a variable may break flows that use it. Be sure to update any references to the variable before deletion.

Using Variables in Flows

Variables can be referenced in various parts of your flows:

In Flow Steps

You can use variables in flow steps using the following syntax:

{{variables.YOUR_VARIABLE_KEY}}

For example, to use a variable named api_key in an HTTP request:

Authorization: Bearer {{variables.api_key}}

In Conditions

Variables can be used in conditional logic:

{{variables.threshold}} > 100

In Data Transformations

Variables can be part of data transformations:

{{data.price * variables.taxRate}}

Best Practices

Organization

  • Use a consistent naming convention
  • Group related variables with common prefixes
  • Document the purpose of each variable
  • Regularly review and clean up unused variables

Security

  • Always encrypt sensitive values like API keys and passwords
  • Limit who can access and edit variables
  • Rotate sensitive variables periodically
  • Don’t store extremely sensitive information like private keys

Performance

  • Keep the number of variables manageable
  • Use meaningful names to make variables easy to find
  • Consider using structured data (JSON) for related values

Troubleshooting

Issue: Variable not appearing in flows Solution: Verify the variable name and check for case sensitivity

Issue: Encrypted variable showing asterisks when you need to see the value Solution: You cannot view the original value of encrypted variables; you’ll need to reset it if you’ve lost the original value

Issue: Variable changes not affecting flows Solution: Some flows may cache variable values; try restarting the flow

Next Steps

Now that you understand variables, learn about: