Creating a new variable

To create a new variable in the AME, first click the <new variable> entry at the end of the Variable list box. The AME creates a new variable and assigns to it some initial characteristics that you should modify to fit your needs. The initial values are:
  1. An initial name (such as $a1$).
  2. An initial type (string).
  3. An initial value, which depends on the type (see Table 1).
Note: If you create a string variable, you must enclose the initial value in single quotes. Otherwise you will see a message stating that the initial value is an invalid expression.
Now you should set the values that you want for the new variable. For example, if you are creating an integer variable that is for counting screens and that should have an initial value of 1, then you might set the initial values as follows:
  1. In the Name input field, type the name $intScreenCount$.
  2. In the Type list box, select the integer data type.
  3. In the Initial Value field, type 1.

Besides the Variables tab, the AME provides access, in several convenient locations, to a popup window for creating new variables. For example, in the Variable update action, the Name list box contains not only all the names of variables that you have already created but also a <New Variable> entry. Click this entry to bring up the popup window for creating a new variable. Variables created using this popup window are equivalent to variables created in the Variables tab.

For information about creating a variable in the Source view, see Creating a variable.