When you include version free variables in the data card of a file, you can use a workflow transition to update the content of the variables without creating a new version of the file.
Administrators must first configure the variables to be version free and then create a workflow transition that includes actions that set the value of the variables.
When users run the workflow transition by changing the state of a file, the variables' value update but the file is not versioned unless there are other set variable actions for non-version free variables.