Create service catalogs variables to gather information from users ordering a catalog item, for example, to ask users which options they want for the item.

1. Navigate to Service Catalog > Catalog Definitions > Maintain Items.
2. Select the catalog item that you want to create a variable for.
3. In the Variables related list, click New.
4. Select the variable type.
   Only the applicable fields for the variable type are then displayed.
5. In the form, fill the fields.

   Table 1. Variable form

   Field	Description
   Type	The variable type that you want to create.
   Application	Read-only field that indicates which applications can use this variable.
   Catalog item	Catalog item using the variable.
   Mandatory	Check box to make the variable mandatory as part of the ordering process. Note: This behavior is applicable only on page load, and can be changed via client APIs.
   Active	Check box to make the variable available for use
   Selection Required	Check box to require users to select the check box variable. For example, use this option to require users to select an I agree check box for an agreement form. If users try to submit the agreement form without selecting the check box, an alert message is displayed to tell users that they must select the check box.
   Order	Order that the variable is placed on the page for the catalog item. The variables are organized from top to bottom from least to greatest order value. For example, a variable with an order value of 1 is placed above other variables with higher-order values.
   Global	If selected, the variable is available for all catalog tasks within service catalog workflows or execution plans by default. If deselected, the variable must be associated with individual catalog tasks.
   Map to field	Maps the variable to a specific field on the table for the record producer. This field appears if the variable belongs to a record producer.
   Field	Field that the variable maps to. This field appears if the variable belongs to a record producer.
   Record producer table	Table that the record producer creates a record in. This field appears if the variable belongs to a record producer.
   Question
   Question	Question to ask users ordering the catalog item.
   Name	A name to identify the question. Note: If this field is empty, its value is auto-populated based on the Question field for all variable types except break, container split, and container end.
   Tooltip	Tooltip text to display when users point to the variable. Enter a brief note to describe the purpose of the 'Question'.
   Example text	Hint that is displayed in the question field before a user enters a value. Applicable for the following variables: IP Address Email URL Single Line Text Wide Single Line Text Multi Line Text Date Date/Time
   Annotation
   Show help	If selected, displays the help text and instructions for the variable. Note: It is not available for break and check box variables. Help text and instructions are not available for a variable set.
   Always Expanded	If selected, the Help text and Instructions field value are expanded by default when the catalog item page loads. This check box appears only when the Show help check box is selected. Note: This field is also applicable in Service Portal. If the Expand help for all questions check box is selected at the catalog item level, then the Always Expanded field setting at the variable level is overridden. If the Expand help for all questions check box is deselected at the catalog item level, then the Always Expanded field setting at the variable level is applicable.
   Help tag	If the Always Expanded check box is deselected, click the value specified in this field to display the Help text and Instructions field values.
   Help text	Help information for a service catalog variable. This field is not applicable for Break, CheckBox, Container End, Container Split, Macro, and UI Page variables.
   Instructions	Information that requires rich text formatting or adding images to support help information. Note: For HTML tables, use sizes that are within the width of the variable.
   Type Specifications (The fields in this section vary for each variable type)
   Variable Width	Width for the variable on the catalog item page, to specify what percentage of the screen size that it can span. For details, see Configure a default width for service catalog variables. This field appears for all variable types except for break, container end, container start, container split, container layout, and label variables.
   Choice direction	The direction in which the choice list is arranged. Across: Arranges choices horizontally. Down: Arranges choices vertically. This field appears for lookup multiple choice variables. Note: The selected direction is also applicable in Service Portal.
   Choice field	Table field to populate options for the variable. If no choices are defined for a field, then the variable loads field-related distinct values from the table. This field appears for select box variables.
   Choice table	Table with values to populate in the Choice field. This field appears for select box variables.
   Do not select the first choice	Check box to leave all options for the variable cleared on the catalog item page. If this check box is selected, the first choice for the variable selected by default. This field appears for multiple choice and numeric scale variables.
   Dynamic ref qual	Dynamic qualifier. Select a dynamic filter to run a query against the reference field. This field appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Dynamic.
   Include none	Check box to include the None option in a list of choices. This field appears for lookup multiple choice, lookup select box, multiple choice, and select box variables.
   Layout	Layout for a container, whether one or two columns. This field appears for container start variables.
   List table	Table with the values for the list collector. The table should have a display column specified. This field appears for list collector variables.
   Lookup from table	Table from which values are obtained for users to select. The values from this table are populated in the Lookup value field. This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
   Lookup value field	Field in the lookup table that populates options for the variable. This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
   Lookup label field(s)	Comma-separated list of fields in the lookup table whose values are used to display options. This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
   Lookup price field	Field in the lookup table whose value is used to modify the price of the item being ordered. This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
   Lookup recurring price field	Field in the lookup table whose value is used to modify the recurring price of the item being ordered. This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
   Macro	UI macro to insert into the catalog item. This field appears for macro, macro with label, and UI page variables.
   Summary macro	Applicable only for Marco, and Macro with Label type variables.
   Widget	Applicable only for Marco, and Macro with Label type variables.
   Price if checked	Price of the item. This field appears for check box variables.
   Recurring price if checked	Price that increments for the item, when the user requests more than one order of the item. This field appears for check box variables. For more information about prices and recurring prices, see Using variables for price setup.
   Reference	Reference table for the variable. The table should have a display column specified. This field appears for reference variables.
   Reference qual	Qualifiers to restrict data that is available in the field. Supports reference qualifiers and advanced reference qualifiers. Returns all matching results (no maximum). Note: For security reasons, the use of scripts in the Reference qual field is restricted to system administrators through the Allow javascript in Default Value business rule. This field appears for list collector, lookup multiple choice, and lookup select box variables. reference variables. It appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Dynamic.
   Reference qualifier condition	Options to build conditions. This field appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Simple.
   Scale max	Highest value on the scale of available options for the variable. This field appears for numeric scale variables.
   Scale min	Lowest value on the scale of available options for the variable. This field appears for numeric scale variables.
   Unique values only	Check box to require a unique value for the field. When this check box is selected, two records cannot have the same value for that field. This field appears for lookup multiple choice, lookup select box, and select box variables.
   Use confirmation	Check box to prompt users to reenter data to verify their entries. This field appears for masked variables.
   Use encryption	Check box to store the answer in encrypted format in the database. If not encrypted, the answer is stored in plain text format. Encryption uses Triple DES with system encryption. This field appears for masked variables.
   Use reference qualifier	Type of qualifier to use. This field appears for reference variables.
   Validation Regex	Regular expression that validates the variable value. This field is displayed only for Single Line Text and Wide Single Line Text variable types. To define regular expressions, see Define a regular expression for a variable. Note: This field is also applicable in Service Portal. The max_length attribute value is valid even when the validation regex is set. You cannot add a catalog item with regex validation errors to the wishlist.
   Default Value
   Default value	Default value for the variable.
   Variable attributes	Attributes for this variable.
   Permission If no role is specified in this tab for the read, write, or create actions, all users who can access the catalog item can perform these actions irrespective of their role. For example, if no role is specified for the Write roles field, all users who can access the catalog item can edit the variable value in the variable editor. A user with a role that does not match any of the following roles cannot set variable values even through scripting. These roles are not available for Label, Break, Container Split, Container End, Macro, Macro with Label, and UI Page variables.
   Read roles	Roles that can view the variable before or after requesting the catalog item or record producer. Only a user with the roles specified in this field can view the variable.
   Write roles	Roles that can edit the variable in the variable editor after requesting the catalog item or record producer. If a user does not have the roles specified in this field, the variable is read-only in the variable editor.
   Create roles	Roles that can create values for the variable before requesting the catalog item or record producer. If a user does not have the specified role, the variable is read-only before requesting the catalog item or record producer.
   Availability
   Visible Elsewhere	If selected, the variable is visible in the item form before ordering the item, in VEditor after ordering the item, and in the cart view of the item.
   Visible on Bundles	If selected, the variable is visible when the item is added to a bundle.
   Visible on Guides	If selected, the variable is visible when it is added to an order guide, or when it is added to a catalog item that is included in the order guide. Note: If an order guide has too many items and variables, consider clearing this check box on as many items as possible, to improve loading performance on order guides.
   Visible on Summaries	If selected, the variable is visible on any variable summarizer of the catalog item. In Service Portal, the variable is visible in the RITM ticket page and the Approval page. In Now Mobile, the variable is visible in the RITM and the Approval records.

6. Click Submit.