# Writing to tag values on a gateway timer script (Ignition v7.9.6) **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** scripting\ **Created:** [November 4, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309 "2020-11-04T19:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/1 "2020-11-04T19:13:22Z")
Hello, I am attempting to write to a tag that runs on a gateway timer script. Essentially we are reading a value from a flowmeter and are attempting to obtain the flow from this meter for the entire month by adding it continually. I’m sure this is just a syntax issue but we can’t seem to get this to work. Any pointers would be appreciated, thanks! ![Gateway_timer_Script](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/d/9/d9a18524fb006abe1e03e8d99f100216d650223a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MMaynard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/mmaynard/32/3366_2.png) [@MMaynard](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MMaynard)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/2 "2020-11-04T19:25:41Z")
you need to READ the tags for the values in scripting. ```auto sum2 = system.tag.read('[default[PathToFlowTag').value + system.tag.read('[default[PathToSumTag').value system.tag.write('[default]PathToSumTag',sum2) ``` ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/3 "2020-11-04T19:46:43Z")
Definitely a step in the right direction, I appreciate your response. The script still doesn’t seem to be working however, CURR\_MONTH\_FLOW\_TOT is still 0, so it’s not being written to. Sidenote: Are you sure that the “.value” in system.tag.read is written outside of the parenthesis, and not inside of it? I tried it both ways and it didn’t work either way, but I’m honestly just curious. I’m not really sure where to go from here, but I’m attaching a screenshot of the new script. Thanks! ![Gateway_timer_Script2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/5/8/587a2d5e32ad3e37e88ec4d67891bfa8406cd466.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/4 "2020-11-04T19:51:13Z")
Reading a tag gives a ‘qualified value’ with three components, value being one of them. Howerver, _Curr\_Month\_Flow_ does not need .value when you write to a tag. ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/5 "2020-11-04T20:07:52Z")
Getting closer it seems, but still not quite there. Scripting in Ignition is definitely my weak point so I appreciate the assistance. I wonder if maybe it isn’t working because Curr\_Month\_Flow is a summation of two system.tag.read functions? ![Gateway_timer_Script3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/c/f/cfb35ca70e35ed914f62d5570749c4585b8c59a7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bpreston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@bpreston](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bpreston)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/6 "2020-11-04T20:11:24Z")
You removed the .value from your reads, it needs to be there. Try: ```auto Curr_Month_Flow = system.tag.read("[Gretna]Analog/CURR_MONTH_FLOW_TOT").value + system.tag.read("[Gretna]Analog/FIT_501/PV").value system.tag.write("[Gretna]Analog/CURR_MONTH_FLOW_TOT",Curr_Month_Flow) ``` ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/7 "2020-11-04T20:19:24Z")
I had tried it earlier and it wasn’t working. So I removed them just to experiment, just forgot to put the “.value” back. I just tried exactly what bpreston suggested and still no dice. Maybe it’s possible that the problem at this point doesn’t lie in my syntax? I checked the gateway logs and no errors are showing up, but I see the same thing posted all over the log. Attaching screenshot, thanks everyone. ![Diagnostic_Log](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/a/f/afa45b1d0e4f3077a5be83c136f333818d137af9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/8 "2020-11-04T20:20:44Z")
I doubt the screenshot has much to do with my current issue. It doesn’t seem as though the timer script is even running though. ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/9 "2020-11-04T20:24:36Z")
Yea it seems like the script doesn’t like the “+” in my script. I found out how to check the script error on the gateway and found this: Traceback (most recent call last): File “\”, line 1, in TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: ‘com.inductiveautomation.ignition.common.sqltags.BasicTagValue’ and ‘com.inductiveautomation.ignition.common.sqltags.BasicTagValue’ 7.9.6 (b2018012914) Oracle Corporation 1.8.0\_161 ---
**Author:** ![bpreston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@bpreston](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bpreston)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/10 "2020-11-04T20:28:34Z")
Try testing it in your script console instead of the timer script. Try: ```auto mft = system.tag.read("[Gretna]Analog/CURR_MONTH_FLOW_TOT").value fit = system.tag.read("[Gretna]Analog/FIT_501/PV").value print "MFT:",mft print "FIT:",fit Curr_Month_Flow = mft + fit print Curr_Month_Flow ``` What does it print if you do this or do you get an error? ---
**Author:** ![kade.castille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@kade.castille](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kade.castille)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/writing-to-tag-values-on-a-gateway-timer-script-ignition-v7-9-6/40309/11 "2020-11-04T20:37:00Z")
It worked fine in the console, so I somewhat replicated what you just suggested and we finally got it working. Thanks a lot for your help!