# Inquiring coupling state and coupling number via variables

Variables in the NC program can be used to request the current coupling state and the current or last active coupling group. The following new axis group-related variables are introduced for this purpose:

Syntax of Inquiring the current or last active coupling group:
V.G.AX_LINK.NR

Syntax of Inquiring the current coupling state:
V.G.AX_LINK.ACTIVE

Only read access is permissible for these variables. A write operation leads to an error message and to program abort.