Merge field types ​

There are four Merge field types:

  1. Session Merge field: uses the Merge field data within the said Flow execution only and is unavailable for other executions of the same Flow (every Flow execution represents a separate session). Session Merge field data is not passed into Subflows (unless you specifically pass it as trigger parameters) and is not listed among available Merge fields outside the current Flow.

Note

Session Merge fields have the highest speed of read/write operations, so favor using this type when working with data in the context of the same session.

  1. Shared Merge field: uses the Merge field data in all Flows within the Flow chain, including Subflows. Сonsider this Merge field type when you need to use the data generated in the current Flow in other Flows within the Bot connected through the Trigger functionality (Trigger a Flow and Proceed/Trigger a Flow and Wait for Result Steps). Flows linked through the Trigger functionality start their separate sessions, so using the Session Merge fields won't connect the data from the main Flow to the Subflow. The data expiration time limit is from 1 minute to 30 days.

Note

The Flow that generates a Shared Merge field should be executed earlier in the Flow chain so that the variable it creates has some data. Otherwise, it will show as undefined and can break further Flows' logic or execution.

  1. Global Merge field: uses the Merge field data within any Flow inside the current Bot (not account). Use this Merge field type if you need the Merge field value to be available outside a Flow session chain but inside the current Bot. The Global Merge field will become visible in the list of available Merge fields within the Bot when you save the Flow it is part of. Every Flow within the Bot can store or read data from this Merge field type. The data expiration time limit is from 1 minute to 30 days.

  2. Thread Merge field: uses the Merge field data within the said Thread to avoid disrupting the main Flow's execution and overriding parallel commands. Thread Merge field data is stored within the said Thread of the said Session of the said Flow.

Note

To access Shared and Global variables, you must execute the Flow. Only then do these variables become available from other Flows.