BEGIN{

    # this is the full rgeex pattern i want to use
    # if (match ($0, /^[a-zA-Z]+\tdouble|char\t[0-9]+|N\/A\t[a-zA-Z\s]+/))

        # using this variable DOES work
        col1 = "[a-zA-Z]+";

        # using this variable DOESNT work
        col2 = "double|char";
}
{
        if (match ($0, /^(col1)\t(col2)\t[0-9]+|N\/A\t[a-zA-Z\s]+$/))
        {
                print $0;
        }
        else
        {
                print "No match";
        }
}
END{
        #Stuff for the end
}