How do I dynamically replace manual value here?

Question

I am trying to set some type of variable (or possibly parameter) inside this expression where there is '-1' so that I do not have to go each step individually but able to modify at one location to make the effect for other pipelines as well.

Sometimes, I end up changing this value ( -1) to something else like -5, etc.

I am trying to understand Variable better, but is it only applicable for one pipeline that you are on it or can it be applied to other pipelines inside same Azure Data Factory (working like a global variable)?

Answer 1

Hi @King Java

Greetings & Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum! Thanks for posting your query!

In Azure Data Factory, you can use parameters and variables to make your pipelines more dynamic and reusable. However, there's a distinction between parameters and variables that you need to understand to achieve your goal.

Parameters:

• Pipeline Parameters - These are defined at the pipeline level and can be passed values when you trigger the pipeline. They are useful for making your pipeline more dynamic.
• Global Parameters - These are defined at the Data Factory level and can be accessed across different pipelines within the same Data Factory.

Variables:

• Variables are defined within a single pipeline and maintain state within that pipeline. They are not accessible outside the pipeline they are defined in.

Parameters are a good way to introduce flexibility and reusability into your ADF pipelines. They allow you to pass values into pipelines at runtime, and you can define parameters for things like the -1 in your expression. Here's how you can use parameters for this:

Using Pipeline Parameters:

• Define a Parameter - In your pipeline settings, create a parameter named offsetValue (or any suitable name).
• Set its type to int (or other appropriate type) and assign a default value of -1.
• Utilize the Parameter in the Expression - Replace the hardcoded -1 with @pipeline().parameters.offsetValue in your expression.
• This will dynamically insert the value of the parameter at runtime.

Using Pipeline Variables:

• Declare a Variable - In your pipeline variables, create a variable named offsetVariable (or any suitable name). Set its type to int (or other appropriate type) and assign an initial value of -1.
• Set the Variable's Value - Use a Set Variable activity to dynamically assign a value to the variable, if needed. This can be based on other activity outputs or expressions.
• Utilize the Variable in the Expression: Replace the hardcoded -1 with @variables('offsetVariable') in your expression.
• This will dynamically insert the value of the variable at runtime.

Using Global Variables across Pipelines:

While ADF doesn't directly support "global variables" that apply across multiple pipelines, you can achieve a similar effect using Azure Key Vault or Azure Data Factory's Global Parameters.

• Global Parameters (ADF 2.0 and later) - You can define a global parameter that acts like a variable and is available across all pipelines in your ADF instance.
• To set up a global parameter - In the ADF portal, go to "Manage" on the left-hand pane. Under "Global parameters," create a new parameter (e.g., GlobalValue). Use it in your pipelines like you would any other parameter.
• Global parameters can be overridden at the pipeline trigger level, and they persist across different pipelines, which can be quite powerful for standardizing values.

For details, please refer: Global parameters in Azure Data Factory

Using Azure Key Vault for Dynamic Configuration:

• If you want more flexibility or need to store sensitive values (like API keys or credentials), you could store the value in Azure Key Vault and reference it in your ADF pipelines. This way, you only need to update the value in Key Vault, and all pipelines referencing that secret will automatically pick up the updated value.

Setting Parameters in ADF Triggers:

• You can also set parameters dynamically when triggering a pipeline. For example, if you are using an ADF Trigger (Scheduled or Event-based), you can set parameter values at the time of the trigger execution, so you don't have to manually modify each pipeline definition.

I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

Thank you.