Mac Automator/AppleScript: Is there a way to refer to Variables within AppleScript?

Question

I've seen a lot of questions about this on the interwebs but no answers. Is there a way to refer to an Automator 'variable' within AppleScript? I'd like to do some string manipulation as part of a workflow. I've worked around this by using Get Variable and passing them into temporary files, but it's kind of ugly.

Answer 1

An AppleScript used in a workflow accepts two parameters: input, or the output of the previous workflow, and parameters, the options set in the workflow's UI (if applicable). If the string you are manipulating is part of the workflow's input, it will be in input.

More information is available here.

Answer 2

I was trying the same ting as Steven. My conclusion is that when you run a flow inside the "Automator" application then your applescript can access Automator-varaibles via the Apple Script "Automator Suite" interface. For example:

set my_variable to value of variable "The Variable" of workflow 0 of current application
display dialog my_variable as text
set my_variable to "Test"

But if you save the flow as a stand alone application then it does NOT include the "Automator Suite" into the application and therefore the above script will no longer function :-(