# Variables not working
**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628
**Category:** Discussion
**Created:** [October 25, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628 "2007-10-25T11:12:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/1 "2007-10-25T11:12:15Z")
I have an include project for defining all of my variables.
Most of the variables are working but there are a few that, according to the log, get created but i cannot find them and when i try and use them, FB says they don't exist.
What could i be doing wrong?
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### Author:  [@tate](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/tate)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/2 "2007-10-26T02:46:23Z")
where abouts are you trying to use them?
One thing to note is that variables aren’t available in the property pages of actions unless the variable is declared as a user or project variable, or if the variable has been defined by running the project. The variables that get declared during the running of a build are not saved or available in property pages after the project is closed and re-opened.
We highly recommend to people that they don’t use the “Define Variable” action, and instead define user or project scoped variables.
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### Author:  [@stevage](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/stevage)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2007, 5:47am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/3 "2007-10-26T05:47:03Z")
Yes, I’ve sometimes wondered what the “define variable” action is intended for? It seems like nothing but trouble.
Steve
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### Author:  [@tate](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/tate)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2007, 6:05am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/4 "2007-10-26T06:05:34Z")
Steve - you’re probably right, but there are some (…some…) legitimate uses for it 🙂
.t8
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/5 "2007-10-26T01:56:50Z")
Hmmm, very interesting about the action. I have always used that action and never had problems before. In fact we have probably upwards of 200 variables (hmmm, is there a limit)
Anyhow, the variable in question IS defined as a project variable. There is another variable declaration right above the one that doesn’t work that is set up the same way and it does work. I am not sure what the difference could be. Anything i can send to help in diagnosing this problem?
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### Author:  [@Vincent](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Vincent)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/6 "2007-10-27T01:12:33Z")
Hi Troy
Send you project(s) to support at [finalbuilder.com](http://finalbuilder.com) and we will take a look and see if we can figure out what is happening.
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2007, 10:36am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/7 "2007-10-30T10:36:04Z")
What portion of the project do you need? Just the fbp5 files or what?
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### Author:  [@Vincent](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Vincent)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/8 "2007-10-30T11:04:44Z")
Hi Troy
If you can, send thefbp5 and fbl5… zip them up though as I believe our mail server has a limit on the size of attachements (can’t rememeber exactly hat it is though).
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2007, 11:45am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/variables-not-working/628/9 "2007-10-30T11:45:58Z")
here are the two projects
[FinalBuilder.zip](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/uploads/default/original/2X/5/508217b8bc0c0fca543520690330b5031f229882.zip) (23.961 KB)[FinalBuilder2.zip](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/uploads/default/original/2X/9/99cc6b223b9dbd12168c0de14432803cf494d3e4.zip) (86.404 KB)