how come my variables default to 'not required to run'

In Clay's Prompt Editor, variables default to "not required to run" to give you flexibility. You can toggle "Required to Run" for specific fields when you want to ensure your AI enrichments only run when those fields contain data. This helps prevent errors from empty rows and optimizes your workflow.

Source: Referencing dynamic data from other columns | Documentation | Clay University

Yes, there was a change. Previously, variables defaulted to "required to run, " but now they default to "not required to run." You can still manually toggle this setting for specific fields when you want to ensure your AI enrichments only run when those fields contain data.

Source: Referencing dynamic data from other columns | Documentation | Clay University

Currently, there isn't a global setting to change the default preference for whether variables are "required to run" in Clay's Prompt Editor. You need to manually toggle the "Required to Run" setting for each field individually when configuring your enrichments. As a workaround, you can use conditional runs in the Run Settings to achieve similar control - this allows you to set conditions for when enrichments should run based on whether specific fields contain data. Would you like to know more about how to set up conditional runs as an alternative approach?

Source: Referencing dynamic data from other columns | Documentation | Clay University