# Visible Binding - Using Expression type binding to search for key word in string

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition79\
**Created:** [August 5, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428 "2020-08-05T21:39:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paulm1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paulm1/32/5900_2.png) [@paulm1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paulm1)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428/1 "2020-08-05T21:39:05Z")

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I have a drop down that is populated the following query.

```
SELECT '%' AS Value,"Select Container"
UNION
Select CONCAT_WS(' ', style, type) AS Value, CONCAT_WS(' ', style, type) AS Label
FROM container
ORDER BY Value ASC

```

Based on the operators selection of this dropdown I would like to Make Visible( or invisible) other objects on the screen. By looking for key words, in this case the word Can or Bottle.  
If it was a query I would search for ‘%Can%’.  
What is the best way to accomplish this goal?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![witman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d2c977/32.png) [@witman](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/witman)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428/3 "2020-08-05T21:46:10Z")

</div>

This should work as your visibility expression (no match = -1):

```auto
indexOf({Dropdown.selectedValue}, "Can") > -1

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paulm1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paulm1/32/5900_2.png) [@paulm1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paulm1)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428/4 "2020-08-05T21:54:06Z")

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The Drop down Selection I made is 12oz Standard Can  
The Visible Binding is

```
indexOf({Root Container. Dropdown.selectedValue}, "Can") > -1

```

Nothing became visible and no errors.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![witman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d2c977/32.png) [@witman](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/witman)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428/5 "2020-08-05T21:56:55Z")

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Yeah, `selectedValue` should be `selectedLabel` or `selectedStringValue`–I’m guessing the former (or looking closer at your query, I expect either one will give the same result).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paulm1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paulm1/32/5900_2.png) [@paulm1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paulm1)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/visible-binding-using-expression-type-binding-to-search-for-key-word-in-string/37428/6 "2020-08-05T21:59:12Z")

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Perfect. Thank you.  
Here is what appears to be working.

 ![indexOf Expression Binding](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/e/1/e1336a3646f1120cce7fa3652b004ab3533dd096.png)