You can reference a previously defined variable to return its value.
To reference a variable in Net.Data macros, specify the variable name inside $( and ). For example:
$(variableName) $(homeURL)
When Net.Data finds a variable reference, it substitutes the variable reference with its value.
To use variables as part of your text presentation statements, reference them in your HTML blocks. For example, if you have defined the variable homeURL:
%DEFINE homeURL="http://www.ibm.com/"
You can refer to the home page as $(homeURL) and create a link:
<A href="$(homeURL)">Home page</A>
You can reference variables in any part of a Net.Data macro. If the variable has not yet been defined at the time it is referenced, Net.Data returns an empty string. Net.Data does not define the variable.
Restriction: Circular references (or cycles) are not allowed. For example, the DEFINE statements below result in an error when the variable is referenced and the final values are evaluated:
%DEFINE a="$(b)" %DEFINE b="$(a)"