No "Flow Variable Creator" node?

Dear Knimers,

I am just wondering why there is a “Table Creator” node but no “Flow Variable Creator” node… Is it because the functionality would be the same as a Table Creator followed by a Table Row To Variable node?

Best
Aswin

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Hi Aswin,

In the node repository under Workflow Abstraction > Configuration > Input you’ll find nodes that create flow variables.

Their names come from the fact that they can be used to create configuration windows for you components (previously called wrapped metanodes). You can just use them to create variables in your workflow as well though.

Does this sound like what you’re looking for?
image

P.S.
To anyone using an older version of KNIME you’ll want to search your repository for Quickform nodes, they have a similar effect.

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Dear Corey,

I was aware of these nodes, but they do a lot more than simply creating a humble flow variable… not really appropriate if I just want to create a local helper variable that I do not want to show up in the config window (just like the Table Creator does not show up in the config window).

Best,
Aswin

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Ah I see what you mean, there are no dedicated flow variable creator nodes that don’t have some secondary purpose.

The widget nodes are the only alternative work around to using the table creator that comes to mind. They’re for interactive views as opposed to configuration, but can be disabled in the layout editor.

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Thank you Corey, consider this a little feature request from me then :blush: But I can also keep using the Table Creator -> Table Row to Variable method that I am using currently, it is no problem. I was just wondering if there is some design philosophy that prevented the implementation of a Flow Variable Creator, since it seems such an obvious feature for an outsider like me.

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Hi @Aswin,

Don’t think so. It just seems to me there are so many ways to create flow variables so this was never considered.

Br,
Ivan

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You could use the “Rule Engine Variable” for that. You don’t need to connect an input port, so you can simply use the node as a “source” (note the outlined input variable port, which means the connection is optional):

The if-then syntax probably need some getting used to, e.g. the following will do:

TRUE => 'flow_variable_value_to_create'

Best,
Philipp

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Interesting, I wasn’t aware of this option. Thanks!

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Since Knime 4.7 there is a dedicated “Variable Creator” node under IO/Other in the node repository, making workarounds unnecessary. Thanks Knime developers! :pray:

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