Amazon CodeCatalyst is no longer open to new customers. Existing customers can continue to use the service as normal. For more information, see [How to migrate from CodeCatalyst](migration.md).

# Exporting a variable so that other actions can use it
<a name="workflows-working-with-variables-export-input"></a>

Use the following instructions to export a variable from an action so that you can reference it in other actions.

Before you export a variable, note the following:
+ If you only need to reference the variable within the action where it's defined, then you don't need to export it.
+ Not all actions support exporting variables. To determine whether your action supports this feature, run through the visual editor instructions that follow, and see if the action includes a **Variables** button on the **Outputs** tab. If yes, exporting variables is supported. 
+ To export a variable from a GitHub Action, see [Exporting GitHub output parameters](integrations-github-action-export.md).

For more information about variables, see [Using variables in workflows](workflows-working-with-variables.md).

**Prerequisite**  
Make sure you have defined the variable you want to export. For more information, see [Defining a variable](workflows-working-with-variables-define-input.md).

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#### [ Visual ]

**To export a variable (visual editor)**

1. Open the CodeCatalyst console at [https://codecatalyst.aws/](https://codecatalyst.aws/).

1. Choose your project.

1. In the navigation pane, choose **CI/CD**, and then choose **Workflows**.

1. Choose the name of your workflow. You can filter by the source repository or branch name where the workflow is defined, or filter by workflow name or status.

1. Choose **Edit**.

1. Choose **Visual**.

1. In the workflow diagram, choose the action that you want to export the variable from.

1. Choose **Outputs**.

1. In **Variables - optional**, choose **Add variable**, and then do the following:

   Specify the name of a variable that you want the action to export. This variable must already be defined in the `Inputs` or `Steps` section of the same action.

1. (Optional) Choose **Validate** to validate the workflow's YAML code before committing.

1. Choose **Commit**, enter a commit message, and choose **Commit** again.

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#### [ YAML ]

**To export a variable (YAML editor)**

1. Open the CodeCatalyst console at [https://codecatalyst.aws/](https://codecatalyst.aws/).

1. Choose your project.

1. In the navigation pane, choose **CI/CD**, and then choose **Workflows**.

1. Choose the name of your workflow. You can filter by the source repository or branch name where the workflow is defined, or filter by workflow name or status.

1. Choose **Edit**.

1. Choose **YAML**.

1. In the action that you want to export the variable from, add code similar to the following:

   ```
   action-name:
     Outputs:
       Variables:
         - Name: variable-name
   ```

   For more examples, see [Examples of variables](workflows-working-with-variables-ex.md).

1. (Optional) Choose **Validate** to validate the workflow's YAML code before committing.

1. Choose **Commit**, enter a commit message, and choose **Commit** again.

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