---
title: "Data Types and Formats"
id: "data-types-and-formats-1"
project: "MES User Manual"
url: "https://docs.sepasoft.com/articles/user-manual/data-types-and-formats-1"
updated: 2026-07-31T14:57:09Z
---

# Data Types and Formats

**Sepasoft MES Module Suite**
 
This page is a reference to the various data types and formats that are used while scripting.

### int

* Int data type is a 32-bit signed two's complement integer
* Minimum value is - 2,147,483,648 (-2^31)
* Maximum value is 2,147,483,647(inclusive) (2^31 -1)
* Integer is generally used as the default data type for integral values unless there is a concern about memory
* The default value is 0
* Example: int a = 100000, int b = -200000

### long

* Long data type is a 64-bit signed two's complement integer
* Minimum value is -9,223,372,036,854,775,808(-2^63)
* Maximum value is 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 (inclusive)(2^63 -1)
* This type is used when a wider range than int is needed
* Default value is 0L
* Example: long a = 100000L, long b = -200000L

### float

* Float data type is a single-precision 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point
* Float is mainly used to save memory in large arrays of floating point numbers
* Default value is 0.0f
* Float data type is never used for precise values such as currency
* Example: float f1 = 234.5f

### double

* double data type is a double-precision 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point
* This data type is generally used as the default data type for decimal values, generally the default choice
* Double data type should never be used for precise values such as currency
* Default value is 0.0d
* Example: double d1 = 123.4

### boolean

* boolean data type represents one bit of information
* There are only two possible values: true and false
* This data type is used for simple flags that track true/false conditions
* Default value is false
* Example: boolean one = true

### String

String types of literals can contain any Unicode characters

* Example: String a = "\u0001"

### DateTime

See the Ignition documentation for various date functions: [DateTime](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC79/Date-and-Time)

### List

The list can be written as comma-separated values (items) between square brackets.

* Items in a list need not be of the same type.
* List indices start at 0, and lists can be sliced, concatenated and so on.
* Example: 
list l1 = ['Sarah', 'process segment', 100, 2018]
 list l2 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
 list l3 = ["a", "b", "c", "d"]

### Python Dictionary

In the following example the Date and Value pairs is passed as a Python dictionary:

**values={dateTime1:4, dateTime2:3}**

Code Snippet

Code

```
#Define the from and to dates
date1 = system.date.getDate(2017, 2, 17)
dateTime1 = system.date.setTime(date1, 12, 55, 31)
date2 = system.date.getDate(2017, 2, 17)
dateTime2 = system.date.setTime(date2, 13, 06, 13)

equipmentPath = '[global]\Enterprise\San Marcos\MP Rotator\MP Rotator 1'
collectorType = 'Equipment State'
key = ''
values={dateTime1:4, dateTime2:3}

system.mes.addTagCollectorValues(equipmentPath, collectorType, key, values)
```


**Sepasoft MES Module Suite**