# Data Type Parameters used in Metadata **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338 "2012-10-27T13:15:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NorthPoint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@NorthPoint](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/NorthPoint)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/1 "2012-10-27T13:15:41Z")
I have created data types representing analog instruments. As such, these types have multiple REAL elements (for example) that should all have the same data format string, and engineering unit. So I have created Data Type Parameters (of string type) for those two, called EngUnits and NumFormat. I have then used {EngUnits} on the “Eng Unit” metadata field on one of the REAL elements, assuming that like a similar link I use in Tooltip, it would pass what I put in the Data Type parameter and use the value. So I would only have to type the engineering unit in once. However, this does not seem to work. When run, the engineering unit field returns {EngUnit}, not what I typed in on the instance. Am I doing something wrong or are Parameters only functional on certain fields? ---
**Author:** ![greg.simpson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/greg.simpson/32/3135_2.png) [@greg.simpson](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/greg.simpson)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/2 "2012-10-29T16:25:22Z")
You shouldn’t have to add a data type parameter for the Eng Units. I changed my Eng Units to Amps by typing Amps in the drop down. So now all my instances of the tag now show Amps as the Eng Unit. Additionally, I don’t know if you were trying the tooltip also, but by placing “Amps Motor{motorNum}”, without quotes, I was able to display “Amps Motor 3” as a mouse over tooltip. If your trying to do something else let me know ---
**Author:** ![NorthPoint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@NorthPoint](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/NorthPoint)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/3 "2012-10-29T22:27:50Z")
I am not sure I follow. My data type say has 6 REAL elements, all of which need to be set to on EGU (NTU, PSI, GPM, etc). I realize that I can multi-select and then override the engineering units for all, but I thought I could reduce labor by designing a single Engineering Unit parameter and then just referencing it. Since this DOES work in the tooltip field, I assumed it would work for EngUnits and for DataFormat. ---
**Author:** ![Travis.Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Travis.Cox](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Travis.Cox)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/4 "2012-10-30T20:19:11Z")
It doesn’t look like it works on the Eng Unit right now. I will add a ticket in for that. ---
**Author:** ![NorthPoint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@NorthPoint](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/NorthPoint)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/5 "2012-10-30T23:00:48Z")
Thanks Travis. Same for Data Format? ---
**Author:** ![Travis.Cox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Travis.Cox](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Travis.Cox)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-type-parameters-used-in-metadata/5338/6 "2012-10-31T01:02:19Z")
Yes