How can I maintain a variables value when editing a Program or App

[Bob Frazee]

I have about 10 variables I need to save that are defined in an App. If I open up that App for editing, any EXPORTED variables are reset, LOCAL variables disappear when the App ends, and the GLOBAL App variables (variables that are only seen internally in the App) are reset. Searching the manual, I could store to a MATRIX, but that adds another file outside the App. Another thread has talked about using NOTES to programmatically store and retrieve variable values, but I am unclear as to if that can be done with the App note, or how to do it. I've searched the online manual and the calculator help file, tried some of the examples, and it's still unclear to me. If any one could provide some more detail, or even if it is possible to programmatically store and retrieve multiple variables from the App note file, it would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
RCF