# Groups Alerts - Expression Newbie Qestion - Only accepts num

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/groups-alerts-expression-newbie-qestion-only-accepts-num/6109>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [March 27, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/groups-alerts-expression-newbie-qestion-only-accepts-num/6109 "2013-03-27T14:26:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![momoore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@momoore](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/momoore)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/groups-alerts-expression-newbie-qestion-only-accepts-num/6109/1 "2013-03-27T14:26:29Z")

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I am configuring notifications with group alerts. With the search criteria being expressions (which I assumed was a string since the db default is a varchar) it will only let me enter numeric expressions otherwise I get parsing Sytanx errors back:  
Example: Syntax Error on Token: ‘End of Expression’ (Line 0, Char 0)

Questions:

1. Can I not use string expressions?
2. When using default (Ignition generated tabel) Alert\_Log what column is being searched for the expression?
3. When configuring the tags alert properties, what is the suggested field to modify for expression (Display Path) - understanding this could be based on the answer to number 2 and subject to how end user wants to see alerts.

Thanks for any help

❓

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**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:** [March 27, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/groups-alerts-expression-newbie-qestion-only-accepts-num/6109/2 "2013-03-27T15:44:58Z")

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You can use string filtering in the expressions. Can you post the expression you are trying to use?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![momoore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@momoore](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/momoore)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/groups-alerts-expression-newbie-qestion-only-accepts-num/6109/3 "2013-03-27T16:49:05Z")

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My bad… I was misinterpreting “Expression” LOL 😊

Now that I put an actualy have a script type expression {[Item\_Path]} LIKE ‘Folder/%’, works like a champ. Thanks for the help

😃