# How to convert a string into a Value in a Expression function?

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition80\
**Created:** [May 9, 2023, 10:58am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460 "2023-05-09T10:58:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Miguel_Cimildoro)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:58am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/1 "2023-05-09T10:58:06Z")

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I think it is a simple question but I would like to know how I could show the value of that specific tag?

for now I get it by means of a custom property of another window but I need by means of an expression to change that string to the value of that tag in particular.

I tried with tag(concat({Root Container.tagPath} , "/GSC\_Racks/Rack\_Global\_3/Word/Rack\_Run\_State"))

is there any other alternative or suggestion?

thank you very much

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/9/2/924b5a8378704f4a311b4df975d7c98d139ac972.png)

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**Author:** ![nminchin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nminchin/32/6911_2.png) [@nminchin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nminchin)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/2 "2023-05-09T11:20:42Z")

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To read an indirect tag path (eg a parameterised tag path), you should be using an indirect tag binding.  
For example:

```auto
Indirect path:
{1}/GSC_Racks/Rack_Global_3/Word/Rack_Run_State

```

And link 1 to your root container tagpath

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Miguel_Cimildoro)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/3 "2023-05-09T11:42:43Z")

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> [@nminchin](#):
>
> `/GSC_Racks/Rack_Global_3/Word/Rack_Run_State`

Can you be a little more specific please? I have never used the Indirect Tag method.

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**Author:** ![pascal.fragnoud](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pascal.fragnoud/32/24728_2.png) [@pascal.fragnoud](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pascal.fragnoud)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/4 "2023-05-09T11:47:53Z")

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An indirect tag binding is basically a parameterized path. You put in place holders (that look like this: `{some_identifier}`) in the path, and give them values dynamically.

For exemple, in your case, the constant part of the path is `/GSC_Racks/Rack_Global_3/Word/Rack_Run_State`, and it takes a variable part before that.  
So, you make an indirect tag binding and use a path like this:  
`{prefix}/GSC_Racks/Rack_Global_3/Word/Rack_Run_State`  
In the parameters list below the path, you now have one called `prefix`, and you can give it a value. Make this value a binding to `{Root container.tagPath}`, and you're done.

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**Author:** ![leonardo.godoi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/leonardo.godoi/32/27178_2.png) [@leonardo.godoi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/leonardo.godoi)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 11:53am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/5 "2023-05-09T11:53:09Z")

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It'll look something like this:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/8/6/86c73443493e5b325a5d50c4351535b12c89696d.png)  
You can build your path exactly as @pascal.fragnoud described.  
You can also take a look at the page on the manual for indirect tag bindings here:  
[https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Indirect+Tag+Bindings+in+Vision](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Indirect+Tag+Bindings+in+Vision)  
And i would recommend you to take the Inductive University's **free** credential course, but this video should be enough for this topic:

> **[Indirect Tag Binding Video at Inductive University](https://inductiveuniversity.com/video/indirect-tag-binding/8.1?r=%2Fvideo%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dindirect%20tag%26checked_topics%3D)**
>
> An indirect Tag binding is very much like a standard Tag binding, except that you may introduce any number of indirection parameters to build a Tag path dynamically in the runtime.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@Miguel\_Cimildoro](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Miguel_Cimildoro)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:47am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-convert-a-string-into-a-value-in-a-expression-function/73460/6 "2023-05-10T07:47:23Z")

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thank you very much, I have seen the videos and documentation about the indirec tags and I have found the solution!