# Disabling visibility on multiple containers

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [December 3, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388 "2010-12-03T20:03:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_Mendonca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@Joseph\_Mendonca](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Joseph_Mendonca)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388/1 "2010-12-03T20:03:16Z")

</div>

I’m trying to change the visibility of a number of containers in a window. Is it possible to use a for loop or do I need to replicate the following script x amount of times?

system.gui.getParentWindow(event).getComponentForPath(‘Root Container.Comms Container 1’).visible=0

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 3, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388/2 "2010-12-03T20:26:51Z")

</div>

Yes, you can use a loop. Here is an example:`for i in range(5):
	system.gui.getParentWindow(event).getComponentForPath('Root Container.Comms Container %d' % (i+1)).visible = 0`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_Mendonca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@Joseph\_Mendonca](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Joseph_Mendonca)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388/3 "2010-12-03T23:50:19Z")

</div>

Thanks! Got it to work but little confused on %d’ % syntax. Anywhere in the manual that explains?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 4, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388/4 "2010-12-04T00:01:17Z")

</div>

It is used in Python string formatting. Take a look at this page in the user manual [http://www.inductiveautomation.com/support/usermanuals/ignition/string\_formatting.htm](http://www.inductiveautomation.com/support/usermanuals/ignition/string_formatting.htm) for more information.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Carl.Gould](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/carl.gould/32/7262_2.png) [@Carl.Gould](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Carl.Gould)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/disabling-visibility-on-multiple-containers/2388/5 "2010-12-08T18:50:33Z")

</div>

Heres the exact same script with the second line broken down so that each line does one thing:

`for i in range(5):
   path = 'Root Container.Comms Container %d' % (i+1)
   window = system.gui.getParentWindow(event)
   container = window.getComponentForPath(path)
   container.visible = 0`