Absolute references contain the full name of the referenced item. They can be used instead of relative references anywhere in the database, but have to be used for referencing items in other databases.
Absolute references use the format:
"<full name of item>.<property>"
Where <full name of item> is the full name of the database item being referenced, including any groups, sub-groups, and the name of the item. The <property> part of the expression is the name of the property that is being referenced. Do not include the angle brackets < >.
If the referenced item is located in a different database to the item that contains the expression, the reference has to include the name of the database (system) followed by a colon:
"<system>:<full name of item>.<property>"
Example:
A Mimic named 'Values' is in a group named 'SCADAPack Modbus'. The 'SCADAPack Modbus' group is contained within a group named 'Main'. The 'SCADAPack Modbus' group also contains a point named 'AIP3'.
A text box on the Mimic is configured to show the current value of the 'AIP3' point. The following expression is used:
"Main.SCADAPack Modbus.AIP3.CurrentState"
The expression uses an absolute reference—it includes the full name of the item (the names of each of the groups between the root group and the property are included as well as the name of the item and the property).