Variable Nodes

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create and add SET Variable Nodes to your Flow, as well as best practices for why and how to use Variables.

Kellie Lund
25 steps

Talespin

**WHAT IS A VARIABLE?** Variables enable you to track learner actions in the modules. You can create variables to track any information you desire that can be initialized using any of the (3) variable types offered: string, number, and Boolean. Variables can be named using any naming convention of your choosing. Variables can also be specified to work at the flow level (only enabled for specific flow), project level (enabled for all flows within a project), or \*org level (enabled for all projects within an organization's environment).

**ADD A SET VARIABLE NODE TO THE CANVAS:**\ \ Click the arrow and drag it to open the Node menu.\ Click to add a Set Variable Node.

**UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTIES MENU FOR A SET VARIABLE (the place to add a Variable expression):**\ \ Click on the Set Variable Node to open the right-side menu panel, and click on the Properties tab.

**ADD A VARIABLE (if previously created):**\ \ Open the toggle to Select a Variable. If you have already previously created a Variable, it will appear here to choose from.\ \ \*Note - In this image, we have many variables for various organizations appearing. If you have not created any variables yet, your menu will be empty.

**OPTIONAL - RENAME THE SET VARIABLE:**\ \ It is optional to rename all nodes, including Set Variable nodes, as it depends on each learning designer's individual practice and naming convention.

**UNDERSTAND PARAMETERS MENU PANEL (the place to Create a Variable):**\ \ Click the Parameters tab to open this menu. This is the place you will create Variables that you want to use in your Flow.

**CREATE A VARIABLE:**\ \ Click the + button on the Variables toggle to create a Variable.

**PICK YOUR VARIABLE TYPE:** There are 3 types of variables to choose from. \ **NUMBER VARIABLE:** The variable values are numbers, which allow you to perform basic mathematic functions in a "Set Variable" node. We use the Number Variable type most frequently because they allow you to track cumulative changes over time, and change the outcome of the conversation accordingly. \ **Example for Number Variable:**\\ - For example: We could use a numerical variable called "Trust" to keep track of the learner's relationship with a virtual human. The starting value could be 0. Every time the learner builds trust with the virtual human, "Trust" could get a +1. Once the user reaches a value of 5 on "Trust," they might be able to unlock an alternate ending. **...** **STRING VARIABLE:** The variable values are letters and words. We most commonly use this variable to describe different features of the conversation.\ \ **Examples for String Variable:**\\ - For example: We could use a string variable called "Why Bad Day" to describe different versions of why a virtual human is having a bad day. We could set the value to "Car Breakdown," "Sick Pet," or "Bathroom Flood," to describe different versions of the story of their day. At a key turning point, we could randomly select which version and use this variable with a conditional node to vary the virtual human's dialogue to improve replayability. **...** **BOOLEAN VARIABLE:** These variables only have two possible values: true or false. They are useful to test simple binaries-- has something happened? Or not?\ \ **- Examples for Boolean Variable:**\ For example: we could create a Boolean Variable called "Already Asked About Alibi" and set the initial value to "False." This could be used with a conditional to make sure that if a user asks a virtual human about their alibi only once, they react differently than if you are asking them about the same thing over again (which might annoy them).

**CREATING A STRING VARIABLE:**\ \ Okay, let's start with creating a String Variable!\ \ Click the + button on the Variables toggle and choose 'String' variable.\ \ Remember - a String Variable is best for the case where you want to track part of the conversation using text.

**NAMING A STRING VARIABLE AND SETTING A START VALUE:**\ \ Click to "Enter Text" for both a Variable name on the left and a Start Value on the right.\ \ For our example, let's write "Person Name" for the Variable name and "None" for the Start Value text.\ \ \*Tip: There really is no best practice for how to write a Variable name - it can be anything you want! It's just a way for you to identify the thing you want to track.

**CREATING A NUMBER VARIABLE:**\ \ Now let's add a Number variable!\ \ Click the + button on the Variables toggle and choose 'Number' variable.\ \ Remember - a Number Variable is best for the case where you want to track a cummulative effect taht requires adding/ subtracting.

**NAMING A NUMBER VARIABLE AND SETTING A START VALUE:**\ \ Just as we did before, click to "Enter Text" for both a Variable name on the left and a Start Value on the right.\ \ For our example, let's write "Do they like you" for the Variable name and "0" for the Start Value text.

**CREATING A BOOLEAN VARIABLE:**\ \ Finally, let's add a Boolean variable!\ \ Click the + button on the Variables toggle and choose 'Boolean' variable.\ \ Remember - a Boolean Variable is best for any case where you want to keep track of a binary value- yes or no.

**NAMING A BOOLEAN VARIABLE AND SETTING A START VALUE:**\ \ Again, click to "Enter Text" for both a Variable name on the left and a Start Value on the right.\ \ For our example, let's write "Made the Sale" for the Variable name and "False" for the Start Value text.

**START VALUE vs. TIMES ASSIGNED:**\ \ The 'Start Value' is the important value to set for a Variable here, but you may notice that there is an option to change the view to 'Times Assigned'.

**UNDERSTAND START VALUE:**\ \ You may use that view to see how many times that Variable has been assigned in the flow. Flow

**VARIABLE MENU OPTIONS:**\ \ Click on the right-side 3-dot button to show the menu options and you'll see the options to: Edit Name, Edit Value, Change to Project/Org level or Delete.\ \ You can edit the name or value just by clicking on the text box - but these menu options are also here for you. This menu is most used for the option to 'Delete' a variable.

**MOVE A VARIABLE FROM FLOW / PROJECT / ORG LEVEL:**\ \ As you saw in the previous step, you can click on the right-side 3-dot button to show the menu options and select "Change to Project (or Org) Variable".\ \ OR, you can also just click on the left-side 6-dot button to select and then drag the Variable down to the Project or Org level.

**DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLOW, PROJECT & ORG LEVEL VARIABLES:**\ \ **Flow Level Variable:** A Variable in the Flow Level exists only in one specific flow where it is used. Once a learner finishes the flow, the Flow Level Variables will start at the default value again - it doesn't save any information from previous interaction with the Flow Variable.\ \ **Project Level Variable:** A Variable used on the Project Level will persist (and retain calculated information) between Flows. This means that a learner who, for example, takes Flow 1 and Flow 2 in a Project, will have their Project Variables tracked / calculated retained throughout....until the learner exits the overall Project and returns. Then a Project Level Variable will reset to its default value. It is smart to connect Flows in a Project with an 'Exit To Node' so that a learner is presented with one Flow right after another, without the option to retake a Flow - because if they did, any Project Level Variables could be over-calculated in a way they're not supposed to - which is what can happen with Org Level Variables.\ \ **Organization Level Variable:** An Org Level Variable might be necessary for some advanced use cases - because right now, they are the only way to create any kind of linkage in between individual modules...\ \ **USE ORG LEVEL VARIABLES WITH CAUTION!** Because Org Level Variables persist for all Flows in all Modules of that Organization - any time that a learner has something happen with an Org Variable in any module - it's value will be saved way for that learner forever! \ \ This matters in the case where, for example, a learner takes a module more than once and then the value of an Org Variable is skewed for the next module where that Variable is used again, but it was not supposed to be calculated multiple times.

**A NOTE ON SKILLS IN THE PARAMETER MENU:**\ \ As you assign Skills in Scoring Nodes within a Flow, they are tracked here. You may notice the Skills toggle within the Parameters panel here when you are creating Variables, but Skills don't have any impact on Variables.

**A NOTE ON TAGS IN THE PARAMETER MENU:** \ \ Like Skills, Tags don't have any impact on Variables either. We just wanted to point out the Tags toggled section in this tutorial, as it appears next to the section for Variables in the Parameters panel.\ \ Tags are purely an optional feature for designers to see some kind of color-coded notes in the flow builder - tags do not change the experience for a learner in any way.\ \ Therefore, they may be a feature that you do not utilize at all - but they could be helpful if you have a need for them.\ Example uses for tags: \ \- Notes to show stakeholders\ \- Track a best path\ \- Comments for designers\ \ To create a tag, click on the + button to create a new tag. For example, we created a tag named "has been approved".\ \ To edit a tag, click the 3-dot menu button and click "Edit" to edit the color.

**ADD A TAG TO A NODE:** \ \ For this example, we will add this Tag to the Variable 1 Node we have selected - so the tag property can be applied here in the Properties panel and you'll see the tag added onto the node.

**ADD A VARIABLE TO THE SET VARIABLE NODE:**\ \ Okay, let's get back to finalizing our Set Variable Node!\ \ From within the Properties panel, you can Select a Variable, and you should see the Variables that you created within the Parameters panel before.

**SET THE VARIABLE EXPRESSION AND VALUE:**\ \ Select the symbol you'd like: **=, +, -** (or the multiplication or division symbol, but those advanced symbols are rarely used!)\ \ Click the "Enter value" field.\ \ \*Be careful when using Number Variables because their default symbol in the expression here will be an = equals sign. That could be problematic because, if you're tracking a Number Variable, it's likely that you're wanting to sum a variable, but if you forget to change the symbol to a plus sign and leave it as an equals sign, then the value will be set for the user at that point in the Flow, deleting any previous summation.

**VIEW ASSIGNED VARIABLE:**