# SimulationAids (View expression): Filtering Dataset based off Column Value using String Wild Cards **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** vision\ **Created:** [April 21, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175 "2024-04-21T18:48:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alexandro\_Arguello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Alexandro\_Arguello](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Alexandro_Arguello)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/1 "2024-04-21T18:48:59Z")
Hi, I am trying to use the view expression (direct binding to component) from SimulationAids to filter a dataset based off a String value that is a wildcard, I am having some issues since I am not sure of the pseudo-SQL syntax. Just for example (where the column name is Station\_Name): view("SELECT \* WHERE Station\_Name== '%North%'", {[default]dataset}) This doesn't work, but basically unsure of the syntax to search if the column has that substring ('North') and return the rows in the dataset that have it. the % operators don't work. Any help is appreciated, I want to see if this would be simple using the module, otherwise I'll just use python and SQL and not the SimulationAids module. ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/2 "2024-04-21T18:52:39Z")
I don't know, but `==` isn't valid SQL and you can't use the single `=` with wildcards. Try, ```sql SELECT * WHERE Station_Name LIKE '%North%' ``` > **[SQL LIKE Operator](https://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_like.asp)** > > W3Schools offers free online tutorials, references and exercises in all the major languages of the web. Covering popular subjects like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, Java, and many, many more. ---
**Author:** ![Alexandro\_Arguello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Alexandro\_Arguello](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Alexandro_Arguello)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/3 "2024-04-21T18:54:16Z")
The problem is that the view() expression doesn't use SQL, it's pseudo-SQL. The like operator doesn't work ---
**Author:** ![Alexandro\_Arguello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Alexandro\_Arguello](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Alexandro_Arguello)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/4 "2024-04-21T18:57:34Z")
The code works if the string matches. For example, this code works for rows where the column name is 'North'. view("SELECT \* WHERE Station\_Name== 'North'", {[default]dataset}) But I want it to work and return the rows if the string in the column contains 'North' in the string. Having issues with the syntax for the wildcard since '%' doesn't work ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/5 "2024-04-21T19:01:27Z")
OK. Looking through the [manual](https://www.automation-pros.com/toolkit/doc/scripting.html#pseudo-sql) it says, ```python Select pyExpression, pyExpression As ColumnName, pyExpression As "Column Name" ... Where pyConditionalExpression ... ``` The "pyCondidionalExpression" suggests to me that I'm wrong and that your `==` is correct but your `%` wildcard is the problem as that is SQL syntax. ---
**Author:** ![Alexandro\_Arguello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Alexandro\_Arguello](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Alexandro_Arguello)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/6 "2024-04-21T19:02:39Z")
Yes, the '%' is the issue. I am not sure how to implement this in the view() expression. ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/7 "2024-04-21T19:02:53Z")
This (from the manual) might be useful: > When in doubt how `view()` is handling your code and data, set its logger to DEBUG, or wrap in the `debugMe()` expression function. This will show you the python whenever it re-compiles, along with execution times. Looking at the generated python will also show other variables you may use in your expressions. ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/8 "2024-04-21T19:04:46Z")
Here comes Phil! ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/9 "2024-04-21T19:05:57Z")
You would use jython's `in` operator to test for a string within another string. Like so: ```python view( "SELECT * WHERE 'North' in Station_Name", {[default]dataset} ) ``` However, consider using the `where()` expression function instead, like so: ```python where( {[default]dataset}, it()['Station_Name'] LIKE '%North%' ) ``` `view()` launches jython, which has much more overhead than the Integration Toolkit's other iteration functions. { Ignition's expression language **does** have the `LIKE` operator. } ---
**Author:** ![Alexandro\_Arguello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Alexandro\_Arguello](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Alexandro_Arguello)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/simulationaids-view-expression-filtering-dataset-based-off-column-value-using-string-wild-cards/89175/10 "2024-04-21T19:07:45Z")
Ok, that works. Thanks a lot!