> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://botpress-update-integrations.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assigning a value

export const GoodToKnow = ({children}) => {
  return <Callout icon="notebook-pen" color="#65d15a" iconType="regular">
      {children}
    </Callout>;
};

A newly-created variable is like an empty box—you need put something inside it before you can use it. This is called *assigning a value* to your variable.

Let's use our `firstName` variable to remember the user's first name. Go back to the Main Workflow and select your Autonomous Node. This opens its inspector:

<Frame>
  <img alt="Autonomous Node inspector" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc&q=85&s=4446192d894c3756a69ed968b4f159c9" width="1264" height="502" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png" />

  <img alt="Autonomous Node inspector" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc&q=85&s=9993cdf1bc3a7e61d41b1237de1cc6ee" width="1264" height="502" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Giving access to variables

By default, the Autonomous Node can't check what's in a variable or assign it a different value.

Let's give it access. Select **+ Add variable(s)**, then select `workflow.firstName`. Then, check **Allow write access**, so your bot has permission to modify the variable.

<Frame>
  <img alt="Variable access" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO&q=85&s=54ee88a86b5d3fe93d7a7b100bb34689" width="1264" height="152" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png" />

  <img alt="Variable access" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc&q=85&s=430cd148c77d813b5f9ae45a144eeac3" width="1264" height="152" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Modifying your prompt

Next, modify the prompt so your bot knows how to work with the variable. Erase everything in the **Instructions** field, then paste the following:

```txt wrap theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
You are Teddy 🐶, the customer support bot for Teddy's Pet Shop.

If the `firstName` variable has a value, use it to address the user by name. If not, prompt the user to enter their name, then assign it to `firstName`.
```

Now, switch back to the Emulator and start a conversation with your bot:

<Frame>
  <img alt="Variable test" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO&q=85&s=60fec5a17cbc09f7afc5fb8e2b425848" width="1264" height="804" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png" />

  <img alt="Variable test" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TzxEbqHdUR35TBxO&q=85&s=c10c1b5a5b547252a6581bc3a87fcf86" width="1264" height="804" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png" />
</Frame>

Nice! Our modified prompt worked. If you look back at the Variables section, you can see that the value updated:

<Frame>
  <img alt="New value" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc&q=85&s=7f1314e7d3c94574a4670151a3c6e305" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png" />

  <img alt="New value" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-update-integrations/G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=G-VBBNMk-HGWW1fc&q=85&s=3ab409d9a169722695a2096e7ded29b5" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png" />
</Frame>
