# Variable macro

**Variable (Capable)** is an inline macro: it sits inside a sentence rather than on its own line, and shows the current value of one variable.

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## Insert it

1. Edit the page and put the cursor where the value belongs.
2. Type **/variable**, or open the macro browser and search for **Variable**, then choose **Variable (Capable)**.
3. In **Choose a variable**, click a variable, or press Enter on a highlighted row. The choice saves straight away and a preview of the value appears at the top.
4. Publish the page.

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## The picker

| **Part**             | **What it does**                                                                                                                                               |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Space variables**  | Variables kept in this page's space.                                                                                                                           |
| **Global variables** | Variables any page can use.                                                                                                                                    |
| **Search variables** | Filters by name, description and value.                                                                                                                        |
| **Create**           | Creates a variable in the current section without leaving the page. An empty section offers **Create variable**, and the new variable is chosen automatically. |

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## Change which variable it shows

Edit the page, open the macro's settings and click a different row. The macro stays where it is in the sentence. Reopening the settings after a variable has been renamed also refreshes the name the macro keeps for authors.

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## A few things that catch people out

* The macro remembers the variable's ID, not its name, so renaming the variable never breaks the page.
* On the Standard edition the settings show **Variables are available on the Advanced edition** instead of the picker. Existing macros keep showing their values.
* The macro is not offered in Capable's own macro lists; insert it from the editor or the page byline.

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## Related

### [How a value appears on the page](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/how-a-value-appears-on-the-page.html)

What readers see.

### [Insert a variable from the byline](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/insert-a-variable-from-the-byline.html)

Add a variable without the editor.

### [Exports to PDF and Word](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/exports-to-pdf-and-word.html)

Values in PDF and Word.

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_One macro, every page._