# Error setting variable - Variable does not exist

**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-setting-variable-variable-does-not-exist/3632
**Category:** Bugs
**Created:** [June 3, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-setting-variable-variable-does-not-exist/3632 "2016-06-03T09:14:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![kathiresan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/a9a28c/32.png) [@kathiresan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/kathiresan)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-setting-variable-variable-does-not-exist/3632/1 "2016-06-03T09:14:33Z")

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Hi Team,  
  
After compilation of each project, we will assign the compilation log to another one variable(For Ex: var1) . Compilation log contains some variable formats as mentioned below.  
**$(some text)**  
**%some text here%**  
  
**Actual compilation log:**  
some warnings and errors here.  
some other texts &nbsp;$(some text) and %some text here%&nbsp;  
end of file.  
  
But actually they are not variables. Part of the compilation log. Since FB considering them as variables, automation getting failed like “ **Error setting variable var1 - variable: some text &nbsp;- does not exist!”**  
  
**\*Note: For ‘Set Variable’ action we can avoid Expand expression by uncheck that checkbox. But for my case, i need to pass that variable(var1) as parameter to another one action.&nbsp;**  
  
Is there any solution to solve this issue if variable’s content contains the formats as mentioned above? &nbsp;  
  
Thanks,  
Kathir.

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### Author: ![nevar](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/c4cdca/32.png) [@nevar](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/nevar)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-setting-variable-variable-does-not-exist/3632/2 "2016-06-06T12:31:24Z")

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Hi Kathir,   
  
 Once the variable is set using “Set Variable” with the “expand expression” turned off. You can use the string replace action to change all % to %% so that they will be escaped. The same goes for $( as it can be replaced with $$(.   
  
 When they are written to the log, or displayed in output the escapes are converted to the values they are escaping. E.g. %% will translate back to % when logging a message.

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### Author: ![kathiresan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/a9a28c/32.png) [@kathiresan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/kathiresan)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2016, 6:03am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/error-setting-variable-variable-does-not-exist/3632/3 "2016-06-06T06:03:24Z")

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Hi Jason,   
  
 Thanks for your answer.   
  
 I have solved this issue by using ‘!’(exclamation) symbol with the corresponding variables.   
 For Ex: %var1% =\> %!var1%.   
  
 Anyway i will try your answer too.   
  
 Regards,   
 Kathir.