Global variables and custom settings in Dashboards
Multiple Application Studio charts and reports on a dashboard are calculated and rendered in parallel. To achieve this parallel processing, global variables and custom settings are not kept in synch across the dashboard. For example, if multiple reports reference the same global variable, the value of that variable can be different for each report. Thus, after a global variable is loaded it behaves as a report variable.
If you require the values to be in sync across a dashboard, you must use widget communication. That requires you to define report parameters in each report and ensure that they are linked on the dashboard.
You can use the Text property and GlobalText properties of a global variable or custom setting to return their values. The Text property returns the value of the variable in the current widget. The GlobalText property returns the value that was written most recently by any user interaction. For example, a custom setting might be set in EPM Administration or by an Application Engine process.