Using and setting variables in your packages

Using and setting variables in your package

You can use variables in most components and fields of a package. You cannot use, for example, variables in the limit component or in alias fields.

Variable values are expressions so you can use functions and operators to assign dynamic values to your variables.

Variable values are evaluated only at runtime (when a package is ran), so you must replace these variables with actual values for Integrate.io ETL components (like the Schema step) to work in the package designer.

You can use three types of variables:

  • User variables that you define. You also set the default value.
  • System variables for which you can change the default value. See list here.
  • Variables predefined by Integrate.io ETL, whose values are set by the system when the job is run. See list here.

Using variables in a variable or a field:

In the required field, type $ followed by the variable name. For example, if the variable name is country, type $country. Note that variables are simply substituted with their values. Therefore if you use a variable where a string value is expected, you should enclose it in single quotes, as in this example: SUBSTRING('$country',3,5)

Setting variable values in your package

Set user and system variable default values in the package designer. If required, you can override these default values when you run a job through the UI (see Running jobs), the scheduler or the API.

To modify a system variable default value in the package:

  1. Click ...(Set variables)
  2. Click system variables.
  3. Type a new default value in the relevant text box.

You can also use the following in system variable values:

  • Predefined variables
  • Another system variable that is listed before the system variable whose value you're editing.


To define a user variable and set its value:

  1. Click ...(Set variables)
  2. On the user variables tab, type a name and a default value in the relevant text boxes.
  3. Add additional variables as required.

You can also use the following in user variable values:

  • Predefined variables
  • System variables
  • Another user variable that is listed before the user variable whose value you're editing.