A recent question on this forum made me take another look at some lesser-known features of Pipeline Pilot protocols. For instance, how many users know and use the DeclareGlobal parameter found on the implementation tab of any protocol? I've used the DeclareLocal parameter often on subprotocols to make sure that some globals that I use inside the subprotocol don't "spill" outside that subprotocol, but I have not used the DeclareGlobal parameter before, despite sometimes starting my protocols with a Custom Manipulator often labelled "Initialize", in which I create and initialize a few globals that I need in the protocol. The DeclareGlobal allows the user to define and even give initial values to any number of globals. The format is:

a := 1, b := 'red', c:= true

This will define three global properties in the protocol, a, b and c. As you can see, there is no need for the @ sign in front of the global property name and the separator is the comma. The properties can be listed without an assigned value, in which case they will be created with a null value.

Do you use this parameter? Do you use it in another way or for another purpose? Comment below and let us know.