# Timer Script for Active Alarms

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/timer-script-for-active-alarms/48821>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [July 14, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/timer-script-for-active-alarms/48821 "2021-07-14T12:07:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![lrose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/lrose/32/62724_2.png) [@lrose](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/lrose)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/timer-script-for-active-alarms/48821/8 "2021-07-14T14:09:29Z")

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Okay, so I would recommend that you do some research into python, there are several great resources out there for that.

Technically speaking you haven't created a list (even though it may look that way) instead you have created several variables holding string values.

In python a 'list' is a type of data sequence denoted by surrounding comma separated values with square brackets `[]`.

For instance a list of integers could be `[1,2,3,4]`.

In my code I created a list _ **inline** _ by surrounding the strings with `[]`. You could also create the list separately and hold it in a variable.

```auto
 tagPaths = ["[Modicon]HR1005.2","[Modicon]HR1005.3","[Modicon]HR1005.4","[Modicon]HR1005.5" , "[Modicon]HR1005.6","[Modicon]HR1005.7","[Modicon]HR1005.8","[Modicon]HR1005.9","[Modicon]HR1005.10","[Modicon]HR1005.11","[Modicon]HR1005.12", "[Modicon]HR1000.8","[Modicon]HR1000.9","[Modicon]HR1004.9", "[Modicon]HR1004.3","[Modicon]HR1005.0"]

tagQVs = system.tag.readBlocking(tagPaths) #NOTE the missing [], because tagPaths is already a list

```

Alternatively you can also use the append function of the list to add elements

```auto
tagPaths = []
tagPaths.append('New Tag Path')

```

Again, I would highly recommend that you work on getting a better understanding of python. Not only will it help you in writing the code but also in understanding replies to questions on the forum. Because despite our best efforts our answers can be somewhat cryptic to the uninitiated. 😉

Here's a good post on where to hone your skills, also I can't recommend [Inductive University](https://inductiveuniversity.com/) enough.

> [@How Can I (EE Student) Practice and Work on My Ignition Skills?](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-can-i-ee-student-practice-and-work-on-my-ignition-skills/35564):
>
> Hello there, I have somewhat of a weird question. I’m currently headed into my Junior year of school to become an EE. Ideally, I would like to go into controls and automation so I’ve been learning Ignition and got my core certification about a month ago. My issue is that I don’t have any internships or a job in the field yet so I don’t want to lose all of the valuable information with Ignition that I’ve learned so far. I do have an internship lined up for next summer, but that still being a year…

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