# Reference cell in dataset using an expression and column name

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-cell-in-dataset-using-an-expression-and-column-name/38174>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [August 28, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-cell-in-dataset-using-an-expression-and-column-name/38174 "2020-08-28T18:32:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jfryar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jfryar](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jfryar)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-cell-in-dataset-using-an-expression-and-column-name/38174/1 "2020-08-28T18:32:23Z")

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Wondering if there is any way to reference a cell within a dataset using the expression language and a column name. Referencing the column number is extremely fragile and error prone because if the columns ever change their order you’ll be referencing the wrong data. It also takes a lot of effort and time to count out the column numbers.

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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 28, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-cell-in-dataset-using-an-expression-and-column-name/38174/2 "2020-08-28T19:02:51Z")

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[https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC80/Expression+Overview+and+Syntax#ExpressionOverviewandSyntax-DatasetAccess](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC80/Expression+Overview+and+Syntax#ExpressionOverviewandSyntax-DatasetAccess)

Yes 🙂

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**Author:** ![jfryar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jfryar](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jfryar)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-cell-in-dataset-using-an-expression-and-column-name/38174/3 "2020-08-28T19:06:02Z")

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Dang! I could’ve sworn I tried that! I bet I didn’t put it in as a string. Thanks!