Runtime Variables

The runtime layer combines session context, form metadata, registry values, and temporary state for the active form. Everything hangs off the $. root and is reached with a direct path — for example $.self.name or $.variable.companyName.

Namespaces

Namespace	Holds	Reached with
$.self	The logged-in user's profile	$.self.email
$.form	Metadata about the current form	$.form.name
$.state	Temporary, script-set runtime state	$.state.ticketTitle
$.variable	Data variables from the registry	$.variable.companyName
$.image	Image variables from the registry	$.image.logo_h
$.fn	Callable functions from the registry	$.fn.estimateTurnaround(…)

For where each namespace can be used, whether it is writable, and how it persists, see Variable Reference.

Session context — $.self

Read-only values from the logged-in user's profile. Available in all contexts.

Variable	Type	Example	Description
$.self.id	string	698f282f7fa272fac96bcb65	User unique identifier
$.self.name	string	Sean	First name
$.self.surname	string	Davis	Last name
$.self.fullName	string	Sean Davis	Full name
$.self.email	string	sean.davis@example.com	Email address
$.self.login	string	daviss	Username / login ID
$.self.role	string	admin	Role
$.self.theme	string	—	Active theme ID
$.self.language	string	en	Language preference
$.self.timezone	string	America/New_York	Timezone preference

Runtime state — $.state

Form-scoped state set by scripts at runtime. Use it for derived values such as ticket titles and turnaround labels. State lives in memory only and is cleared on page refresh — it is never submitted or persisted.

Function	Returns	Description
$state(name, value)	any	Set runtime state and return the written value. Exposed afterwards as $.state.name. Scripts only
$state(name)	any	Read runtime state. Returns undefined if not set

// In an On Load script: seed state from session + registry values
$state('ticketTitle', $.variable.companyName + ' / ' + $.form.name);
$state('openedBy', $.self.fullName);

// Anywhere afterwards (label, default, text, rule):
// $.state.ticketTitle
// $.state.openedBy

Syntax reference

Context	Syntax	Notes
Data access	$.self.name	Direct lookups resolve in text, scripts, defaults, and labels
Form metadata	$.form.name	Current form id, name, url, mode, and related metadata
Runtime state	$.state.ticketTitle	Set with $state, read anywhere in the form
Registry variables	$.variable.keyName	Data variables from the registry, overridable per theme
Image variables	$.image.keyName	Image assets from the registry, overridable per theme (light/dark)
Script functions	$.fn.keyName()	Callable registry functions with read-only runtime context

Direct paths vs. expressions

A direct path like $.self.name resolves in text, scripts, defaults, and labels. To call a helper or compute a value inside Text Display, wrap it in {{ }} — for example {{ $sum('line_total') }}. See Variable Reference › Runtime caveats.

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See also: Scripts overview · Code Helpers · Variable Reference