# Reference self in tag expression?

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-self-in-tag-expression/46059>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition81\
**Created:** [April 27, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-self-in-tag-expression/46059 "2021-04-27T08:01:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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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:** [April 27, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-self-in-tag-expression/46059/1 "2021-04-27T08:01:51Z")

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Is it possible to reference the expression tag itself in an expression tag’s expression?

For example, I want to get the containing tag’s name dynamically:  
`lookup({[.]Daily Table Row Counts}, '[dbo].[' + {[.].Name} + ']', None, 'TableName')`

I can’t get the `{[.].Name}` reference right though… if it’s even possible.

I can’t find the relative path references (`./`, `../`, and `[.]`) referenced in the user manual anywhere either, hoping that it would have been included in the same spot…

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**Author:** ![matthew.ayre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/matthew.ayre/32/19499_2.png) [@matthew.ayre](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/matthew.ayre)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-self-in-tag-expression/46059/2 "2021-04-27T08:12:21Z")

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Hi @nminchin, the only reference I have found to relative paths in the manual is [here](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Tag+Paths).

I have also struggled to use relative paths. I’m sure I spotted a post somewhere (or it was in the IU videos) that stated relative paths didn’t work well in certain scenarios 🤔. I have resorted to using the full tag path in most circumstances, but this is a PITA when it comes to review and changes 😅

Edit: the link above does have reference to the {this} keyword. This might help on your situation?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 27, 2021, 8:16am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reference-self-in-tag-expression/46059/3 "2021-04-27T08:16:30Z")

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Thanks for the reference and yep that works, sweet! I was going to try that before I posted, but thought it wouldn’t work 🙃

Cheers!

I used `{this.name}` for reference