Global variables are user defined storage areas.  Users are able to declare a virtually unlimited number of global variables.  Users define the global variable ID (up to 25 characters) and the content or value for the global variable (up to 1024 characters).  Using variable substitution, Global variables can contain other global variables and can be "stacked" to achieve lengths greater than 1024.  The content/value of a GV is stored in character format.  This includes numeric data and date, time, or datetime data.  If a global variable contains numeric data and is used in a numeric operation, its contents will be converted into the appropriate numeric value.  The user does not need to concern themselves with this for the most part.  Global variables are declared in the global variable section of the PowerHome Explorer.  An initial value can also be assigned at this time.  Global variables can have their contents changed from within macros and formulas.  Global variable contents can be referenced from within formulas and macros where global variable substitution is performed.  Global variables maintain their state even when PowerHome is shutdown as they are stored within the database.

Key takeaways:

A Global variable is a user defined storage object. Text, numbers, dates, times, etc. can be stored and dynamically read and updated

Global variables are stored within the PowerHome database and their value will persist between both PowerHome and machine restarts

All data (even numeric and date/time) are stored within a GV as a "string"