# Fundamental Question on Tag Paths in Easy Chart

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [August 21, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340 "2018-08-21T13:47:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dano38291](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dano38291](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dano38291)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340/1 "2018-08-21T13:47:36Z")

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Hello,

I noticed I could generate 4 different possible Tag Paths for a Tag in a Easy Chart Historical, some worked some did not.  
Just curious what the use cases are Fully Qualified vs just Tag Path vs [~].

**Dragging from Tag Browser** (works)  
[~]VectorData/Exhaust LEL  
**Typing in Folder/Tag Name** (works)  
VectorData/Exhaust LEL  
**Easy Chart Customizer-\>Edit Pen-\>Tag Symbol Leaving Fully Qualified Unchecked** (doesn’t return data)  
[/ignition-XXXXXX:serialdatatagprovider]vectordata/exhaust lel  
**Easy Chart Customizer-\>Edit Pen-\>Tag Symbol Checking Fully Qualified** (doesn’t return Data)  
[IGNITIONDEV/ignition-XXXXXX:serialdatatagprovider]vectordata/exhaust lel

My project Settings list “SerialDataTagProvider” as Default Provider  
Default Database as “IGNITIONDEV”

I also have an “IGNITIONPROD” DB that I use when I migrate my applications.  
I find myself Modifying the Tag History Properties of Tags to point from DEV to PROD when I migrate my applications. Like I am not taking advantage of Default Database?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dano38291](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dano38291](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dano38291)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340/2 "2018-08-21T14:44:57Z")

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I think I answered my Tag History Properties Question, it appears like from the Inductive U video that there is NOT a way to specific default Database when configuring Tag History Properties, they always Show selecting from Drop Down. I experimented with leaving it blank, typing in , when I configure Tag History on a Tag.

Can you take advantage of Default Database listed under Project Properties for Tag History Configuration? Or is the Default Database only be used for when you use Tags on Components?

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**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:** [August 21, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340/3 "2018-08-21T15:14:36Z")

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`[~]path/to/tag` _is_ a shortcut to using the default database. If it’s omitted entirely, the query also assume that you mean the default database, but `[~]` is our shorthand for "use the default tag provider in place of the `~`"

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dano38291](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dano38291](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dano38291)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/fundamental-question-on-tag-paths-in-easy-chart/19340/4 "2018-08-21T15:52:44Z")

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Thanks for the Clarification, PGriffith. I am going back and removing fully qualified Paths.

Can I use the [~] on the Tag Editor/Tag History page?

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/2X/2/257d1fd680d55ce777758f570740771447b24323.PNG)

I tried Leaving History Provider Blank, but it just turns off the History for Tag.

As for my Original Question on why Full Defined Paths were not working for me? I might have found something here

> [@Easy Chart won't display historical data](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/easy-chart-wont-display-historical-data/18660/5):
>
> Consider comparing the difference you get in the tagPens dataset when dragging and dropping the pen (doesn’t work) versus manually adding the pen in the customizer (does work). Feel free to show the two versions here (the text form of the datasets, from the dataset editor’s copy-to-clipboard button).