> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.agent.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Set Variable Create or update variables during workflow execution - store values, build counters, calculate totals, or save results for later actions. Set Variable Pn **Common uses:** * Create counters in loops * Store calculated values * Build text from multiple sources * Save API responses * Track totals across iterations * Set default values **Action type:** `set_variable` *** ## What This Does (The Simple Version) Think of this like creating a sticky note during your workflow. You can write down a value and give it a name - then use that name in later actions. It's useful for calculations, counters, or storing data you'll need again. **Real-world example:** You're looping through 50 deals and want to count how many are high-value. Create a counter variable set to `0`, then inside the loop, increase it by 1 each time you find a high-value deal. After the loop, you know exactly how many there are. *** ## How It Works The Set Variable action creates or updates a variable. You specify: 1. **Variable name** - What to call it 2. **Value** - What to store (text, number, or data from other variables) **If the variable exists:** It updates it **If it doesn't exist:** It creates it The variable persists through the rest of the workflow and can be referenced in any later action. *** ## Setting It Up ### Step 1: Add Set Variable Action Add the **Set Variable** action to your workflow. ### Step 2: Name Your Variable In the **"Variable Name"** field, type a name for your variable. **Good names:** * `deal_count` * `total_amount` * `high_priority_deals` * `enrichment_result` * `calculated_score` **Naming rules:** * Use lowercase letters, numbers, underscores * No spaces or special characters * Make it descriptive ### Step 3: Set the Value In the **"Value"** field, enter what you want to store. **Three ways to set values:** **Option 1: Type directly** * Type text or numbers directly * Example: `0` (for a counter) * Example: `High Priority` (for a status) **Option 2: Insert variables** * Hover to see `{}` button * Click to select variable from previous action * Example: Click `{}` → `deal_record` → `properties` → `amount` **Option 3: Combine text and variables** * Mix typed text with variables * Example: Type "Total: \$" then click `{}` → select `total_amount` * Result: "Total: \$50000" *** ## Common Patterns ### Create a Counter **Goal:** Count items in a loop **Setup:** 1. **Before loop** - Set Variable * Variable Name: `counter` * Value: `0` 2. **Inside loop** - Set Variable * Variable Name: `counter` * Value: Click `{}` → `counter`, then type ` + 1` (AI evaluates math) **Result:** After loop, `counter` contains total count ### Calculate a Total **Goal:** Add up deal amounts **Setup:** 1. **Before loop** - Set Variable * Variable Name: `total_amount` * Value: `0` 2. **Inside loop** - Set Variable * Variable Name: `total_amount` * Value: \{\{total\_amount}} + \{\{current\_deal.properties.amount}} **Result:** After loop, `total_amount` is the sum ### Store a Calculation **Goal:** Calculate a percentage **Setup:** * **Set Variable** * Variable Name: `win_rate` * Value: \{\{won\_deals}} / \{\{total\_deals}} \* 100 **Result:** `win_rate` contains the percentage ### Build Text from Multiple Parts **Goal:** Create a summary message **Setup:** * **Set Variable** * Variable Name: `summary` * Value: Type "Deal " then click `{}` → `deal_name`, type " worth \$" then click `{}` → `deal_amount`, type " closed on " then click `{}` → `close_date` **Result:** `summary` = "Deal Acme Corp worth \$50000 closed on 2025-01-15" ### Set a Default Value **Goal:** Provide fallback if data is missing **Setup:** * **Set Variable** * Variable Name: `contact_name` * Value: \{\{contact.properties.firstname}} \{\{contact.properties.lastname}} or if empty `Unknown Contact` **Result:** `contact_name` has name or "Unknown Contact" *** ## Common Workflows ### Count High-Value Deals **Goal:** Count how many deals exceed threshold 1. **Set Variable** (before loop) * Variable Name: `high_value_count` * Value: `0` 2. **Search HubSpot (V2)** * Find all deals * Output Variable: `all_deals` 3. **For Loop** * Loop through: `all_deals` * Current item: `current_deal` 4. **If Condition** (inside loop) * Condition: \{\{current\_deal.properties.amount}} > 50000 5. **Set Variable** (inside if block) * Variable Name: `high_value_count` * Value: \{\{high\_value\_count}} + 1 6. **End Condition** 7. **End Loop** **Result:** `high_value_count` contains the total ### Build a Report Summary **Goal:** Create text summary from multiple sources 1. **Search HubSpot (V2)** * Find deals * Output Variable: `deals` 2. **Get Timeline Events** * Get activity * Output Variable: `events` 3. **Set Variable** * Variable Name: `report` * Value: "Found \{\{deals}} deals with \{\{events}} total activities" 4. **Send Email** * Body: Click `{}` → select `report` ### Track Running Total **Goal:** Sum deal amounts across multiple stages 1. **Set Variable** * Variable Name: `total_pipeline` * Value: `0` 2. **For Loop** through deals 3. **Set Variable** (inside loop) * Variable Name: `total_pipeline` * Value: \{\{total\_pipeline}} + \{\{current\_deal.properties.amount}} 4. **End Loop** 5. **Update HubSpot Object** * Update custom property with `total_pipeline` *** ## Real Examples ### Deal Stage Counter **Scenario:** Count deals in each stage **Before loop:** * Set `proposal_count` = `0` * Set `negotiation_count` = `0` * Set `closed_won_count` = `0` **Inside loop:** * If stage = "proposal" → Increment `proposal_count` * If stage = "negotiation" → Increment `negotiation_count` * If stage = "closedwon" → Increment `closed_won_count` **After loop:** Use counts in report or dashboard update ### Enrichment Scoring **Scenario:** Build a lead score from multiple factors **Setup:** * Set `score` = `0` * If company exists → Set `score` = \{\{score}} + 10 * If job title contains "VP" → Set `score` = \{\{score}} + 15 * If email domain is corporate → Set `score` = \{\{score}} + 5 * If LinkedIn profile found → Set `score` = \{\{score}} + 10 **Result:** `score` contains total lead score *** ## Troubleshooting ### Variable Not Updating **Value stays the same despite Set Variable** **Possible causes:** 1. Set Variable action not running (inside skipped if block) 2. Variable name misspelled 3. Value formula incorrect **How to fix:** 1. Check execution log - did action run? 2. Verify exact variable name (case-sensitive) 3. Test formula with simple values first 4. Check if variable exists before trying to update ### Math Not Working **Calculation returns wrong value** **Possible causes:** 1. Variables are text, not numbers 2. Formula syntax incorrect 3. Empty/null values in calculation **How to fix:** 1. AI evaluates math - write it naturally: `5 + 3` or \{\{count}} + 1 2. Check execution log for actual values 3. Handle empty values: use If Condition to check first 4. Convert text to numbers if needed ### Variable Not Available Later **Can't select variable in later action** **Possible causes:** 1. Variable created inside loop (only exists inside loop) 2. Variable created inside if block (only exists in that block) 3. Set Variable action failed **How to fix:** 1. Create variable BEFORE loop/if block if you need it after 2. Check execution log - did Set Variable succeed? 3. Variables created inside loops/if blocks have limited scope ### Wrong Variable Used **Selected wrong variable from picker** **Possible causes:** 1. Similar variable names 2. Variable from different loop iteration **How to fix:** 1. Use descriptive names: `deal_count` not `count` 2. Check variable picker shows correct source 3. Review execution log to verify values *** ## Tips & Best Practices **✅ Do:** * Use descriptive variable names (`high_value_count` not `x`) * Initialize counters to `0` before loops * Initialize totals to `0` before calculations * Use Set Variable for values you'll reference multiple times * Create variables outside loops if you need them after * Check execution log to verify values **❌ Don't:** * Use variable names that are too similar (`count1`, `count2`) * Forget to initialize counters (leads to errors) * Try to use variables before creating them * Assume variables from loops persist after loop * Overcomplicate formulas (break into multiple Set Variable actions) **Performance tips:** * Set Variable is instant (less than 0.1 seconds) * No limit on number of variables * Variables are lightweight (don't impact performance) **Naming conventions:** * **Counters:** `item_count`, `total_deals`, `high_priority_count` * **Totals:** `total_amount`, `sum_value`, `pipeline_total` * **Calculations:** `win_rate`, `average_score`, `conversion_rate` * **Text:** `summary`, `message`, `report_text` * **Status:** `processing_status`, `result_code` *** **Last Updated:** 2025-10-01