The Goldfynch advanced search lets you include multiple values against a single parameter without having to create a new condition for each one. This is done through complex operators, and in effect works just like a group of conditions connected with "OR", "AND", and "NOT" Boolean operators. This article explains how can you speed up your query building process by using complex operators.
The list of complex operators are:
- CONTAINS ANY OF
- CONTAINS ALL OF
- CONTAINS NONE OF
- DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL OF
- IS ANY OF
- IS ALL OF
- IS NONE OF
- IS-NOT ALL OF
Performing an advanced search using complex operators from the 'Advanced Search' view
Example 1: To find files that contain any one of the words 'email data', 'open file' or 'create case'
For the above example, we can create a single search condition using the complex operator 'CONTAINS ANY OF'. This will be much faster than having to create multiple conditions and then connecting them with the 'OR' logical operator.
- Click the 'Advanced Search' button in the left pane
- Click on the 'Create New Search' button
- Click anywhere on the condition box to enter the search criteria. Alternatively, you can click on the edit icon (the pencil) that appears when you hover over the condition box
- Select the parameter body and then click on the operator drop-down list and select the 'CONTAINS ANY OF' operator
- There are two ways to enter multiple values for the search -
- Method 1 - Enter values using the `+Add Value` button
- Click on the `+Add Value` button and enter the value. Repeat this for each of the values that need to be entered
- Click on the `+Add Value` button and enter the value. Repeat this for each of the values that need to be entered
- Method 2 - Enter values using the `Bulk edit values` button
- Click on the `Bulk edit values` button
- Enter each value in the Bulk Edit screen overlay separating each value with commas or by entering each value in a new line. There is no need to enclose the values in quotes.
- Click on the Save button in the bulk edit screen overlay
- Click on the `Bulk edit values` button
- Method 1 - Enter values using the `+Add Value` button
- Execute the search query
Example 2: To find files that are tagged with all of the following tags 'Documentation', 'From Zips' and 'Important'
We follow the same procedure as for example 1, except instead of the body parameter we select the tags parameter.
Here are the steps:
- Navigate to the 'Advanced Search' view and create a new search using the 'Create New Search' button
- Click on the edit icon (the pencil) or click anywhere in the condition box to enter the search criteria
- Select the tags parameter from the drop-down list
- Select the 'IS ALL OF' operator from the Operator drop-down list
- Click on the `+Add Value` button and select a value from the drop-down list. Repeat this till all the values have been added.
- Execute the search
Performing an advanced search using complex operators from the search bar
Performing advanced searches from the search bar is similar to performing them from the advanced search view, except that the entire query is typed directly into the search bar, separated with operators like AND, OR, and NOT. You can get a detailed look at how to use advanced searches from the search bar here.
We will use example 1 from above to show how we can use complex operators from the search bar. Our search should retrieve files that contain any of the following words 'email data', 'create case' or 'open file'.
- Begin by typing 'body' in the search bar at the top of the screen
- Select the Advanced Search tab that appears on the screen
- Continue by typing the complex operator 'CONTAINS ANY-OF'
- Add the values to the query in the search bar. Each value should be enclosed in quotes and be comma-separated. All the values should be enclosed within parentheses.
- Hit the return key to execute the search.
Complex Operators and their corresponding parameters
The following table gives you the list of complex operators, their effective function (of operators) they serve, and the parameters that they can be used with:
| Complex Operator | Description | Effective Operator | Parameter List |
| CONTAINS ANY OF | Retrieves files that contain any of the values entered | OR(values) | Body, Subject, Document notes |
| CONTAINS ALL OF | Retrieves only files that simultaneously contain all values entered | AND(values) | Body, Subject, Document notes |
| CONTAINS NONE OF | Retrieves only files that have none of the values entered | NOT(OR(values)) | Body, Subject, Document notes |
| DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL OF | Retrieves files that do not simultaneously contain all values entered | NOT(AND(values)) | Body, Subject, Document notes |
| IS ANY OF | Retrieves files that satisfy any of the values selected | OR(values) | Family role, All email address related parameters, Production, type, hash, pstate, tags, system-tags, custodian, source, privileged-category, directory, name.ext, name.term, name.dirs, id, review-set, reviewed-by, reviewed-in |
| IS ALL OF | Retrieves only files that satisfy all of the values selected | AND(values) | All email address related parameters, Production, tags, system-tags, directory, name.dirs, review-set, reviewed-by, reviewed-in |
| IS NONE OF | Retrieves only files that simultaneously satisfy none of the values selected | Family role, All email address related parameters, Production, type, hash, pstate, tags, system-tags, custodian, source, privileged-category, directory, name.ext, name.term, name.dirs, id, review-set, reviewed-by, reviewed-in | |
| IS-NOT ALL OF | Retrieves files that do not simultaneously contain all of the values selected | All email address related parameters, Production, tags, system-tags, directory, name.dirs, review-set, reviewed-by, reviewed-in |