Thanks for the replies! I did get it to work. Here is what i did: I created a new python method inside my primary class: def is_local_name(self, name): """ returns true with ID if name is a local user """ rlist = map(None,self.ids) rlist = filter(lambda x,p=self : p.data[x].validated, rlist) rlist = filter(lambda x,p=self : p.data[x].meta_type == 'SRPersonPost', rlist) rlist = filter(lambda x,p=self : p.data[x].name, rlist) rlist = filter(lambda x,p=self,s=thisdjname : p.data[x].name == s, rlist) return rlist then called it using this dtml: <dtml-if namelist> <dtml-in namelist> <dtml-let thisname=sequence-item> <dtml-if "is_local_name(_['sequence-item'])"> <dtml-in "is_local_name(_['sequence-item'])"> <A HREF="<dtml-var site_url>/<dtml-var sequence-item>/index_html"><dtml-var thisname></A><BR> </dtml-in> <dtml-else><dtml-var sequence-item><BR> </dtml-if> </dtml-let> </dtml-in> </dtml-if namelist> -ed-