# Defining context variables

## Procedure

1. Click the [+] button to add a parameter line in the table.
2. Click in the Name field and enter the name of the variable you are creating, host in this example.
3. From the Type list, select the type of the variable corresponding to the component field where it will be used, String for the variable host in this example.

   Information noteWarning: If you change the type of a variable that has already a value, the value will be cleared and you need to set it again.
4. If needed, click in the Comment field and enter a comment to describe the variable.
5. Click in the value field for each context environment and enter the variable value.

   For different variable types, the value field appears slightly different when you click in it and functions differently:
   | Type | Value field |
   | --- | --- |
   | String (default type) | Editable text field |
   | Boolean | Drop-down list box with two options:<br>true and<br>false |
   | Character,<br>Double,<br>Integer,<br>Long,<br>Short,<br>Object,<br>BigDecimal | Editable text field |
   | Date | Editable text field, with a button to open the<br>Select Date & Time dialog box. |
   | File | Editable text field, with a button to open the<br>Open dialog box for file<br>selection. |
   | Directory | Editable text field, with a button to open the<br>Browse for Folder dialog box for<br>folder selection. |
   | List of Value | Editable text field, with a button to open the<br>Configure Values dialog box for<br>list creation and configuration. |
   | Password | Editable text field; text entered appears<br>encrypted. |
   | Resource | Editable text field, with a button to open the<br>Select a Resource dialog box for<br>you to select a resource defined under<br>Resources in the Repository.<br><br><br>For more information, see [Using resources in Jobs](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/studio-user-guide/8.0-R2026-09/using-resources-in-jobs "You can create resources in Talend Studio and use them in your Jobs for file handling. This way, when exporting your Jobs, for example, you can pack the resource files as Job dependencies and deploy your Jobs without having to copy the files to the target system."). |
6. Optional: To display a prompt for the variable value and to edit it when running your Job or Route in a context environment, select the Enable prompt check box.

   This check box is applied globally to all context environments and the context variable name is used as the prompt label.
7. Repeat the steps above to define all the variables in this example.
   * port, type String,
   * database, type String,
   * username, type String,
   * password, type Password,
   * table, type String

   ![Create / Edit context wizard.](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/studio-user-guide/Resources/images/studio-repository-context-wizard.png)

   All the variables created and their values under different context environments are displayed in the table and are ready for use in your Job.

   You can further edit the variables if needed. Through preference configuration, you can enable or disable propagation of variable changes to your Jobs. For more information, see [Performance preferences (Talend > Performance)](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/studio-user-guide/8.0/performance-preferences-talend-performance).