### 5.8.1. VARIABLES File

The `VARIABLES` file lists all the variables available in the CFX-Solver. Information provided for each variable appears similar to the following:

    VARIABLE: vel
       Option = Definition
       MMS Name  = VEL
       Long Name = Velocity
       Tensor Type = VECTOR
       Quantity = Velocity
       Status = P
       User Level = 1
       Output to Jobfile = No
       Output to Postprocessor = Yes
       Component Short Names = \
          u, \
          v, \
          w
       Component Long Names = \
          Velocity u, \
          Velocity v, \
          Velocity w
       Component MMS Names = \
          VEL-1, \
          VEL-2, \
          VEL-3
       General Availability = ADAPTION, RESULTS, CEL
       Variable Description = Velocity
       Variable Scope = PHASE
    END

The following information can be identified:

- The name appearing immediately after `VARIABLE:` (in this case `vel`) is the CFX-Solver name or short name for the variable.

- For scalar quantities (`Tensor Type = SCALAR`), the name appearing after `VARIABLE:` is the name that must be used in any CEL expressions. The `MMS Name` and `Long Name` are not valid names to use for this purpose.

- For vector and tensor quantities (`Tensor Type = VECTOR` and `Tensor Type = SYMTEN2`), the `Component Short Names` (`u`, `v` and `w` in this case) are names that must be used in any CEL expressions.

- The `User Level` setting controls when the variable is seen. Variables of `User Level = 1` will appear in drop-down variable selection menus in CFD-Post. Variables with `User Level = 2` or `User Level = 3` will only appear in the full list of variables.

- The `Output to Postprocessor` setting controls if the variable is written to the results file for use in CFD-Post. A variable must be involved in the simulation before is has the potential to be written out.

- The `General Availability` field determines when a variable can be used. Only variables whose `General Availability` includes `CEL` can be used in CEL expressions.

- The names of all `VARIABLE`, `EQUATION DEFINITION` and `FUNCTION` objects are reserved names. These names should not be used as the name for any CEL expressions, Additional Variables, user routines, or user functions, and so on.

The end of the `VARIABLES` file contains a section listing call back definitions. Using call backs that are not documented, or using them on locations other than those documented, will produce invalid results. For details, see Quantitative Function List in the CFX Reference Guide.

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