Variable Searches

You might want to find a particular reference variable or orphan variable in your report in CDM. If the report is large, it might be difficult to find a particular variable.

You can use the Reference Variables window or Orphan Variables window to find a variable. You can also use the Reference Variables window to open an object containing a variable.

The following reference and orphan variable icons can be displayed.

Find a Reference Variable

A reference variable is a variable that is used to hold content for report automation. If necessary, you can search for all the reference variables in a report in CDM. From the search results you can select a specific variable and directly open the report object in which it is contained.

To search for reference variables:

1. Open the report that you want to work with.
2. Click Home > Reference Variables. The Reference Variables window opens with a list of reference variables and their respective information in the following columns:
   • Report - The name of the report in which the reference variable is located.
   • Report Object - Name of the report object in which the reference variable is located.
   • Name - The name assigned to the reference variable. For the ##RS/##RE and ##IRS/##IRE range variables, the range is shown (for example, A1:G23). When you hover over the variable, an icon indicates the type of variable, such as Range or Source.
   • Address - For an Excel object, the name of the worksheet within the report object, along with the row and column of the cell, where the variable is located.
   • Comments - Displays any comments associated with the variable.
3. The table is a pivot table, so you can change your view.
   • To filter any column, right-click the column header and select a filter method.
   • To group the table by a particular column, drag and drop the column into the Drag a column header here to group by that column area.
4. You can also perform additional tasks by clicking the following buttons in the Reference Variables window:
   • Refresh - Refreshes the window.
   • Export To Excel - Creates a new Excel file and copies the pivot table information into it.
   • Open - Select a variable and then click this button to close the window and open the report object containing the variable.
   • Close - Closes the window.

Find an Orphan Variable

An orphan variable is a reference variable that does not contain an accompanying source declaration. If necessary, you can search for all the orphan variables in a report in CDM. From the search results you can select a specific orphan variable and directly open the report object in which it is contained.

To search for orphan variables:

1. Open the report that you want to work with.
2. Click Home > Orphan Variables. The Orphan Variables window opens, displaying a list of orphan variables and their respective information in these columns:
   • Report - The name of the report in which the orphan variable is located.
   • Report Object - The name of the report object in which the orphan variable is located.
   • Variable Name - The name assigned to the orphan reference variable. When you hover over the variable, an icon indicates the type of variable, such as Range or Source.
   • Address - For an Excel object, the name of the worksheet within the report object, along with the row and column of the cell, where the orphan reference variable is located.
   • Comments - Displays any comments associated with the variable.
3. The table is a pivot table, so you can change your view.
   • To filter any column, right-click the column header and select a filter method.
   • To group the table by a particular column, drag and drop the column into the Drag a column header here to group by that column area.
4. You can also perform additional tasks by clicking the following buttons in the Orphan Variables window:
   • Refresh - Refreshes the window.
   • Export To Excel - Creates a new Excel file and copies the pivot table information into it.
   • Open - Select an orphan variable and then click this button to close the window and open the report object containing the orphan variable.
   • Close - Closes the window.