Creating global variables for Lawson users

If users filter or search for similar information frequently, using variables containing pre-defined search or filter criteria can save them time.

As a system administrator, you can create global or role-based variables for users to access from the context menus of many Lawson objects, including list-driven form filter fields, Info Browser settings, Criteria fields, links, and so on. Through roles, you can also give (or deny) access to users's ability to create their own variables.

Global variables are available to all users; role-based are associated with users of the role.

When you create variables, you can determine if users or roles can update them. If you enable updating by user or role when you create the variable, users or the person who is maintaining a specific role (administrator or power user) can create a new variable with the same name as the one you created. The user- or role-defined variable will be used by the user or role instead of the global variable.

This topic describes how to create global variables. Information about how to give users the ability to create their own variables is in another section. See Creating Lawson custom roles using Role Manager.

  1. From Navigator, access Infor Lawson > Lawson Administration > Lawson Global Variables.

    From Navigator, access Infor Lawson > Lawson Administration > Role Manager. Select a role for editing and then click Variables.

    A dialog box showing all existing variables is diplayed. In addition to creating a new variable, you could also use this dialog box to edit or delete an existing variable.

  2. Click New to begin creating a new variable.
  3. Populate these attributes for the new variable:

    • Assign a name for the variable. Notice that variable names are preceded by # (the number or pound sign character). This character will be added automatically to the beginning of the name.

    • Description: Short description of the purpose and use of this variable

    • Value: The value that you are looking for when you run a filter or search using this variable

    • Type: Select the type of value. Choices are: Alpha, Numeric, Date

    • Allow user update: If you are creating a new variable from Lawson Global Variables, the Allow user update option is displayed. When this option is enabled, users can create a new variable with this same name which will override the global variable.

      Allow role update: If you are creating a new variable from Role Manager, the Allow role update option is displayed. When this option is enabled, the administrator who maintains the role can create a new variable with this same name that will override the global variable.

  4. Click Save when you are finished creating (or editing) the variable.