Using <apex:variable> to store a simple math division gives the error: Unknown property 'NCQuote__cStandardController.Multiplier'

Question

I am having an issue storing the result of a simple math division of two local VFP variables into a third variable called Multiplier.

<apex:page readOnly="true"     
           standardController="NCQuote__c"
           showHeader="false"
           sidebar="False"
           applyBodyTag="false"
           applyHtmlTag="false">

<!-- SETTING CUSTOM OBJECT NAME  -->  
<apex:variable var="Obj" value="{!NCQuote__c}" />

<!-- CONFIDENTIAL PRICING CALCULATIONS  -->
<apex:variable var="Multiplier" value="{!0}" /> 
<apex:variable var="TotalNonConfidentialPrice" value="{!0}" />     
<apex:variable var="TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice" value="{!0}" />
<apex:variable var="C_RollupExtendedConfidentialPrice" value="{!0}" /> 
     
<apex:variable var="TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice" 
value="{!Obj.TotQAmt__c - Obj.TotalPlansSalesPrice__c}" />

<!-- C SPECIALTY ITEM LIST SIZE AND VALUES  --> 
<apex:repeat value="{!Obj.Specialty_Item_Relationship__r}" var="sir">
    <apex:variable var="C_RollupExtendedConfidentialPrice"
     value="{!IF(AND(sir.Excluded_Checkbox__c==FALSE,sir.Optional_Checkbox__c==FALSE,
            sir.Confidential_Checkbox__c==TRUE),sir.Extended_Confidential_Price__c + C_RollupExtendedConfidentialPrice,C_RollupExtendedConfidentialPrice)}"/>
</apex:repeat>

<!-- CALCULATING TOTAL NON-CONFIDENTIAL PRICE  -->     
<apex:variable var="TotalNonConfidentialPrice" value="{!TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice - C_RollupExtendedConfidentialPrice}"/>
    
<apex:variable var="Multiplier" value="{!TotalNonConfidentialPrice/TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice}"/> 

If I save the VFP, I get this error message: "Unknown property 'NCQuote__cStandardController.Multiplier'" Note that If I do any other math operations with the same variables (add, subtraction or multiplication), then I get no issue.

• {!TotalNonConfidentialPrice + TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice} is OK

• {!TotalNonConfidentialPrice - TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice} is OK

• {!TotalNonConfidentialPrice + TotalLaborMaterialsSalesPrice} is OK

Even dividing the same variable on herself, it gives me an error {!TotalNonConfidentialPrice/TotalNonConfidentialPrice} gives me an error.

I must be missing something simple which I cannot figure out. Any help, it would be appreciated it.

Answer 1

This is a Known Issue, and marked as No Fix, so I wouldn't wait on them fixing it. You can calculate the value either in Apex or JavaScript. You can still do division in the page if you want to use it for other purposes, you just can't divide in an assignment to an apex:variable and expect to use that variable elsewhere.

Summary

Fails to save VF page by "Error: Unknown property ..." when using division operator(/) with apex:variable and referring to the variable.

Repro

• Steps to reproduce

1. Try to save the following Visualforce page

---

<apex:page >
<apex:variable var="Test1" value="{!10}" />
<apex:variable var="Test2" value="{!5}" />
<apex:variable value="{!Test1/Test2}" var="Test3" />
{!Test3}
</apex:page>

---

You will see "Error: Unknown property 'Test3' referenced in ..." error. This is unexpected.

---

2. Try to save the following Visualforce pages with */+/- operators.

---

<apex:page >
<apex:variable var="Test1" value="{!10}" />
<apex:variable var="Test2" value="{!5}" />
<apex:variable value="{!Test1*Test2}" var="Test3" />
{!Test3}
</apex:page>

---

<apex:page >
<apex:variable var="Test1" value="{!10}" />
<apex:variable var="Test2" value="{!5}" />
<apex:variable value="{!Test1-Test2}" var="Test3" />
{!Test3}
</apex:page>

---

<apex:page >
<apex:variable var="Test1" value="{!10}" />
<apex:variable var="Test2" value="{!5}" />
<apex:variable value="{!Test1+Test2}" var="Test3" />
{!Test3}
</apex:page>

---

You would be able to save the page successfully. These are working as expected.

Workaround

User can implement the method in their controller class for division operation instead of visual force page.