Working with Variables in Load Plans FAQS

1. What are Load Plan Variables?
• Load Plan Variables are copies of Project and Global Variables used within a Load Plan. They are automatically available in all Load Plan steps and can be passed as startup parameters when the Load Plan is executed.
2. Can I modify Load Plan Variables?
• Yes, you can overwrite the value of a Load Plan variable at the step level. This will affect the current step and its child steps, allowing you to customize the behavior for specific steps within the Load Plan.
3. Do changes to Project or Global Variables automatically update Load Plan Variables?
• No, changes to the original Project or Global Variables will not automatically propagate to the Load Plan variables. However, you can manually refresh a Load Plan variable using the Refresh Variable Definition option to update it with the current value from the corresponding Project or Global variable.
4. What happens if I don’t refresh a Load Plan Variable after changing the original variable?
• If you don’t refresh the Load Plan variable, the Load Plan will continue using the stale copy of the variable from its creation and will not reflect any updates made to the original Project or Global Variables.
5. When are variable values passed to a Load Plan?
• The values of Load Plan variables are passed as startup parameters when the Load Plan is executed. You can also set or refresh their values during the Load Plan execution, specifically at the step level.
6. What happens if I don’t specify a value for a Load Plan Variable?
• If you do not specify a value for a Load Plan variable at startup, the Load Plan will use the value set within the Load Plan itself or it will take the value defined in the Load Plan at runtime.
7. How can I use variables in Load Plan steps?
• Run Scenario Steps: You can pass Load Plan variables as startup parameters to the scenario.
• Case/When/Else Steps: Variables can be used for conditional branching to decide which steps should execute based on certain conditions.
8. Can I use the default values of Project or Global Variables in Load Plans?
• No, Load Plans do not take into account the default values of Project or Global variables during startup. Instead, you must either set the values at runtime or use the values already specified in the Load Plan.
9. How can I manage variables across multiple Load Plans?
• Variables are specific to the Load Plan where they are declared. However, to ensure consistency, you can manually update or refresh them when needed across multiple Load Plans by using the Refresh Variable Definition option.