ECMap maintains a set of variables called system variables. These system variables hold information such as company identification data, trading partner data, trade agreement data, EDI envelope data, current date and time, a hard-coded form feed, and record level control for outbound flow. Each system variable has a predefined size and field type and is given a name that reflects the information it contains.
You cannot add a new system variable, nor can you delete a system variable. You cannot change the characteristics of a system variable, but you can modify the value. You can use system variables in certain rule commands, view a list of system variables, and map from a system variable to an output application field in an any-to-any map. You cannot explicitly map from a system variable in a transaction map, but you can assign a system variable to a memory variable and map from the memory variable.
System variables are used to populate EDI envelopes. If you assign a value to a system variable in the Before Rule of the master level in the map flow, you can override the current value of the system variable that would have been inserted into the EDI envelope. While you must use this feature with caution, it can be extremely useful. For example, if you are running a map with the All Trade partner and your application data contains a trading partner ID (such as the DUNS number), you can load that information into the appropriate system variable in the Before Rule and it is used on the EDI envelope.
