Variables and Functions in View Criteria

Variables and Functions in View Criteria

I am trying to be as forward-thinking with my application as possible.  I know I won't be around to maintain it forever, so I thought that I could build a settings into a form: settings[string key, string value]

I created a few functions so that I could access the settings easily: settings.get(key_) and settings.set(key_, value_)

  1. string settings.get(string key_)
    {
        return settings[key = input.key_].value;
    }


  1. void settings.set(string key_, string value_)
    {
        existing  =  settings  [key == input.key_];
        existing.value = input.value_;
    }





The problem I'm running into is using these functions in View Criteria.

Currently, in all of my View Criteria, I have Semester == "Spring 2013".  This is hard-coded and difficult to maintain.  I would like to be able to change this using the application, rather than editing the application.

I tried to change it to Semester == settings.get("currentSemester") and the use of functions in this context is prohibited.

  1. show  all  rows  from  banner [Semester == settings.get("currentSemester")]
        (
            Semester
            Status
            W_Number as "W Number"
            Last_Name as "Last Name"
            First_Name as "First Name"
            email as "Email Address"
            Tags
            notes as "Notes"
            Financial_Aid_Type as "Financial Aid Type"
            Limit
            Added_Time as "Added Time"
            Modified_User as "Last Modified User"
        )














Is there a place I could create an application-wide setting like this so I don't have to change it so tediously in many locations?