ACL Variables: From Basics to Power User (1 CPE)

This is an archived session with Mike Pretorius – Senior Advisor, from the Auditopia 2026 ACL Conference.

Variables are one of the most powerful, yet underutilized, features in ACL Analytics. Whether you are building simple scripts or developing reusable analytics routines, understanding how variables work can dramatically improve the flexibility, efficiency, and maintainability of your projects.

This practical session will walk through the fundamentals of variables in ACL, including how they are created, stored, and used within scripts and analytics workflows. We will cover both manually created variables and system-generated variables, along with real-world examples commonly used in audit and data analytics environments.

Topics will include:

• • What variables are and how ACL handles them

• • Creating and assigning variables

• • Automatically generated ACL variables

• • Using variables in filters, calculations, and scripts

• • Dynamic filenames, dates, and parameter-driven analytics

• • Tips and tricks to make scripts more reusable and efficient

• • Common pitfalls and troubleshooting techniques

Participants will learn to:

• • Identify and create ACL variables used to store values such as dates, filenames, and parameters, including both user-defined and system-generated variables.

• • Apply variables in ACL scripts and analytics routines to build dynamic filters, calculations, and reusable automation that adapt to changing data and audit requirements.

• • Evaluate and troubleshoot common variable-related issues and implement best practices that improve the flexibility, efficiency, and maintainability of ACL projects.

Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (1.0 CPE)  ~   Program Knowledge: Intermediate  Duration: 50 min