We've added the ability to define variables in WebvantaScript, and to access their values.

To define a variable, use the following code:

<w:var name="my_variable" value="This string is stored in the variable" />

OR

<w:var name="my_variable">This string is stored in the variable</w:var> 

The first form is useful if you want to quickly capture a simple, static value. The double tag form is useful when you want to put more complex data into a variable including the results of other WebvantaScript. The lines between the opening and closing <w:var> tags will be interpreted and the results are captured for you.

You can then insert the value of the variable into your HTML using the self-closing version of the same tag (notice, the absence of the value= attribute):

<w:var name="my_variable" />

In addition, Global Settings automatically behave as variables, so you don't need any w:var statement to use them. For example, if you have a setting named my_setting, you can access that value as {{my_setting}} (as described below) without defining the variable explicitly.

Using Variables in WebvantaScript

You can access the value of a variable in other WebvantaScript statements using the notation {{my_variable}}

This is especially useful because it allows you to effectively nest WebvantaScript statements, which is not otherwise possible. You can also use variables to pass parameters into snippets.

Here is an example that takes advantage of both of these capabilities. Suppose the following code is stored in the snippet "list_items":

<w:kb:item:each category="{{item_category}}">
  <p><w:name /></p>
</w:kb:item:each>

You can then set the item type as part of your code on a page, in a template, or in another snippet, and then list all of the items with that category ("Education" in this example) as follows:

<w:var name="item_category">Education</w:var>
<w:snippet name="list_items" />

Alternatively, you could use the ability to pass a parameter to the snippet using the two-part form of the tag:

<w:snippet name="list_items">Education</w:snippet>

And then set the variable inside the snippet:

<w:var name="item_category"><w:yield /></w:var>

Limitations

Variables are dependent on the order in which they are appear in your markup. You must define a variable _before_ you use it.

Variables are currently supported only in the following WebvantaScript contexts:

• w:asset in name= and rendition=
• In those tags that use the taxonomy=, category= or tag=
• In the iterator tags' condition= attribute, within right-hand side of expressions
• In the iterator tags' limit= attribute
• In the w:kb:if/unless tags' condition= attribute, within left-hand or right-hand side of expression. (In the left-hand side, the variable can be a value only; further interpretation won't occur on that value.)

If you have a need to use it in another context, please let us know and we'll see if we can extend it.