What Capable Variables is

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Capable Variables lets you define a value once, such as a version number, a release date or a product owner, and show it inline on any Confluence page. You create the variable in a catalogue, place it in a sentence with the Variable (Capable) macro or from the page byline, and readers see the value as ordinary text. When the value changes, you edit it in one place and every page that shows it displays the new value the next time it loads.

#At a glance

Macro

Variable (Capable)

Types

Text, Number, User, Date

Scopes

Space variables (one space) and Global variables (any page in any space)

Managed from

Capable, Variables page: catalogue, details sidebar, restrictions and version history

Sold as

A capability inside the Capable Suite, on the Advanced edition

Works with

Capable Search, PDF and Word export, Capable Sites

#What it is good for

  • A product version, price or release date that appears on dozens of pages and changes every release.

  • A named owner or contact, shown as a person, that should stay current when people change roles.

  • A support phone number, SLA figure or policy limit quoted across a whole space.

#A few things worth knowing

  • Values are not private. Anyone who can view the space that holds a variable can read its value, find it in search and see its past values. Never store secrets.

  • Editing a variable changes the text of every page that shows it, including pages you cannot edit. Those pages get no new version and watchers are not notified.

  • Pages that already show a variable keep showing it on any edition. Creating and choosing variables needs the Advanced edition.

The short version.