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To many variables being created

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Posted on by Rkmatieda

Hi All,

Is there any way to better organize the variable? The variables keep on piling up in the "Flow variables" pane. And for complex automation program it becomes difficult to keep an eye on it.

Please suggest any measures on this issue to better organize the variables. Also is it possible to create & delete some variables dynamically in the program execution?

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Power Automate Desktop

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crelke 75 on at

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@Rkmatieda, what type of variables are being created in your Desktop Flow (UI Flow)? I noticed the same trend when having a DateTime, string, numeric, etc that are set in the flow or are inputs. If I use an action like format as datetime or convert etc, each action created a new variable. I started using those actions but saving the result into the same variable name to reduce them piling up.

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Rkmatieda 77 on at

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Hi @crelke , I agree with your suggestion. In fact the first solution that comes to mind is the one you suggested i.e. to use the same variables for all activities instead of creating new ones.

But this always doensn't work. All variables are available in the pane. Some variables from previous workflow will get reset if we use them illogically.

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crelke 75 on at

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Hi @Rkmatieda, that's about the best method I have to managing a growing number of variables. I don't think there is an option to delete variables once you include them in your automation. You do have the ability to set new variables later on in your automation but they all show in the variables tab all the time.

How many variables do you have in your automation and how are you trying to use them?

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Rkmatieda 77 on at

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Still in between the code development. In just one sub flow, there are around forty variables created. And in the next subflow, it keeps showing all previous variables.
So firstly, I am planning to reuse them. Let's see how it is further developed.

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Rkmatieda 77 on at

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I have made a small progress in my quest to properly organize the variables. It has 2 steps.
Prefix unique number (in my case an alpha numeric) to each subflow. like "x001_Subflow"
Prefix this unique number to the variables pertaining to this subflow. like "x001_NewUser"
In my case I have also given the pattern to the variables which are common/used between the various subflows e.g. "varTest" to identify them.

So this way it has become easier to find out some variable using filter button in the variables pane. Also all the variables in the same sub flows gather nearby to each other so skimming in the variables pane has also become easy.

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