# Using a variable/placeholder in an Expression binding

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/using-a-variable-placeholder-in-an-expression-binding/84147>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** perspective\
**Created:** [January 11, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/using-a-variable-placeholder-in-an-expression-binding/84147 "2024-01-11T21:25:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mdemaris](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/mdemaris/32/54639_2.png) [@mdemaris](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/mdemaris)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/using-a-variable-placeholder-in-an-expression-binding/84147/1 "2024-01-11T21:25:37Z")

</div>

Hi all,

Is it possible to use a placeholder as used here:

```auto
[default]Machine Process/TMs/{1}_TM2/Enabled

```

in an expression binding? Such as:

```auto
if([default]Machine Process/TMs/{1}_TM2/Enabled = 1, True, False), {view.param.zone}

```

Thanks,

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [January 11, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/using-a-variable-placeholder-in-an-expression-binding/84147/2 "2024-01-11T21:33:58Z")

</div>

No. Use an indirect tag binding in a custom property to retrieve that value, then use the custom property in the `if()` expression.

{ Ignore those who tell you to use the `tag()` expression function in a user interface. }

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mdemaris](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/mdemaris/32/54639_2.png) [@mdemaris](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/mdemaris)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/using-a-variable-placeholder-in-an-expression-binding/84147/3 "2024-01-11T22:13:42Z")

</div>

> [@pturmel](#):
>
> { Ignore those who tell you to use the `tag()` expression function in a user interface. }

LOL, I just read a post in which you chose not to rant on using `tag()`.