# Finding what UDT Data-Type an instance of that type is **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** perspective, scripting\ **Created:** [May 8, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581 "2020-05-08T16:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tmahaffey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/tmahaffey/32/30949_2.png) [@tmahaffey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/tmahaffey)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/1 "2020-05-08T16:01:45Z")
What sciript can we use to figure out what parent data type? The system.tag.getConfiguration() doesn’t seem to give me that information for this specific instance of a UDT: ```auto # This example will get the configuration of a single tag # Update the path here with the tag path you're trying to reach path = '[UGC_Upstream]Emerson Series 107 Program 2/FCB 7403/2ND AFTERFLOW' # Get the configurations tags = system.tag.getConfiguration(path) for tagDict in tags: # Iterate over the dictionary with the iteritems function for key, value in tagDict.iteritems(): # Do something with the keys and values print key, ' : ', value ``` historyEnabled : True dataType : Float4 historyProvider : Ignition\_Utah\_Oil\_and\_Gas\_Corp\_DB path : [UGC\_Upstream]Emerson Series 107 Program 2/FCB 7403/2ND AFTERFLOW opcItemPath : {bindType=parameter, binding={Meter\_Name}.SOFT\_POINT.DATA\_17:4} tagType : AtomicTag name : 2ND AFTERFLOW opcServer : UGC\_RRG\_AUTOSOL\_DB engUnit : psi valueSource : opc ---
**Author:** ![BryanB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@BryanB](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/BryanB)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/2 "2020-05-08T16:06:49Z")
Can you add a property to the UDT and put the name into that? Then read that out? ---
**Author:** ![tmahaffey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/tmahaffey/32/30949_2.png) [@tmahaffey](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/tmahaffey)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/3 "2020-05-08T16:09:18Z")
Sure. But I’m just wondering if there is a specific function that I’m missing that actually returns that ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/4 "2020-05-08T16:24:40Z")
`system.tag.readBlocking(["[default]path/to/tag.typeId"])` ---
**Author:** ![bschroeder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bschroeder/32/13260_2.png) [@bschroeder](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bschroeder)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/5 "2020-05-08T16:25:43Z")
If you read the Tag + ‘.UDTParentType’ it will return the UDT Type. ```auto #Tagpath must be the main UDT TagPath system.tag.readBlocking([tagPath+ '.UDTParentType']) ``` ---
**Author:** ![jacque\_trahan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jacque_trahan/32/58886_2.png) [@jacque\_trahan](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jacque_trahan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/finding-what-udt-data-type-an-instance-of-that-type-is/34581/6 "2023-08-04T18:45:05Z")
Here is how I did it if anyone need a quick full code. When I tried calling the **system.tag.readBlocking** function, using the UDT path does not work and I get a null. The full tag path is needed for this type of code: ```auto def runAction(self, event): system.perspective.print("Process Started") path = "You tag/ UDT path" browse = system.tag.browse(path, filter={"recursive":True}) for tagBrowse in browse: fullPath = tagBrowse['fullPath'] configs = system.tag.getConfiguration(fullPath, False) for config in configs: try: system.perspective.print(tagBrowse) system.perspective.print("------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------") system.perspective.print(system.tag.readBlocking(str(fullPath) + ".typeId")[0].value) except: pass break break # system.perspective.print(system.tag.readBlocking("[Maverick]STX/CGF/CARLA_CGFB/COMPRESSORS/COMPRESSOR_02/CAE_5020_COMP/DIGITAL_VALUE.LongID")) system.perspective.print("Process Finished") ``` I put the broad try/except there due to how something are set up in the system we have but you may not need that. Also the breaks are there so I did not have to see multiple UDTs/tags. It is not needed. Also, you may not need even need the configs function now that I am looking at this again. This is a basic set up for me to get into the configs based on what I need i can put more logic...I hope its helpful as well. **Edit and Update:** I had to change up the code a bit in the program I made. Its a CSV file tag or UDT parameter file creator. In short It is similar to the Tag report tool, but as of now the Ignition report tool outputs a CSV file of tag that has missing tags path and info. That said, on this properties function for tags I had to use the UDT's path and not the tag path. Here is how I got it to work in the function: ```auto elif parameter == "typeId": TypeIDPath = str(browse['fullPath']).rsplit("/",1)[0] + "." + parameter typeID = system.tag.readBlocking(TypeIDPath)[0].value RowDataToAdd.append(str(typeID)) ```