# Syntax Error on Token: 'EQUAL' (Line 1 , Char 8)

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/syntax-error-on-token-equal-line-1-char-8/67153>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** vision, scripting\
**Created:** [December 1, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/syntax-error-on-token-equal-line-1-char-8/67153 "2022-12-01T16:39:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pranav\_Ravichandran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/85e7bf/32.png) [@Pranav\_Ravichandran](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Pranav_Ravichandran)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/syntax-error-on-token-equal-line-1-char-8/67153/1 "2022-12-01T16:39:53Z")

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Syntax Error on Token: 'EQUAL' (Line 1 , Char 8) is the error i am getting everytime i use a equal to symbol for example I am trying to switch windows every 10 seconds and I used a timer to initiate the change and when i try Minute = system.date.getMinute I get the following error **Syntax Error on Token: 'EQUAL' (Line 1 , Char 8)**. I am new to scripting. any help and suggestions will be appreciated.  
Thank you

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/f/0/f020ee83f74dab40dada0f10a065d9c3b133e9d9.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 1, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/syntax-error-on-token-equal-line-1-char-8/67153/2 "2022-12-01T16:52:03Z")

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You're in an _expression_ binding. You need to be using Ignition's expression language, **not** scripting. Expressions are a computer-science-ey term for "bits of code that always return exactly one value".

So an **expression** can be something like `123` or `"abc"`, or it can run certain special **expression** functions, like `now()`.

You cannot (directly) run **scripts** (Ignition uses Jython as a scripting language) in binding contexts. Scripts can run in _reaction_ to something, but are not suited for bindings which _must_ return a value, unconditionally.

If you want to _do_ something every 10 seconds in Vision, I would use the timer [_component_](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Vision+-+Timer), and add an event script to it. But you will want to review your fundamentals (I would suggest [inductiveuniversity.com](http://inductiveuniversity.com)) or you'll just continue to end up confused.