Search operators are the choices used in the Contains list when creating or modifying a Search. Use them to modify search results, such as to look for what is not available (for example, all invoices which are not marked “paid”) or to restrict results (such as only bills over thirty days and over $100).

If you have a Field with a Character data type with no Field List associated, you’re most likely to be using a Contains condition, as these Fields are frequently difficult to match. For example, a first name might be entered as “Elizabeth,” “Beth,” or “Lizzie.” An address might be “Church Street” or “Church St.”

While you can assign Contains search conditions on Numeric or Decimal, using Equals or Greater Than/Less Than operators might yield more useful results.

Operator	Use in a Search Field	Field Data Type	Notes
Contains	To find results which at least partially match the query	Character, Numeric, or Decimal (their default)	Use to search for a known part of a value, such as one word in a phrase, without having to provide the entire value. Example: If you type in “Square 9” the Contains Search will find both “Square 9” and “Square 9 Softworks."
Equals	To find results which exactly match the search value to create precise searches	Any data type	Useful for finding specific names, numbers, or date/time ranges. Use with a wildcard asterisk ( * ) to create a “begins with,” “ends with,” or “contains” search.
Does Not Equal	To find results whose value is everything except the search value	Any data type	Use for the opposite effect of Equals. Often combined with other criteria to narrow the “everything else” returned by the Does Not Equal operator.
Greater than or Equal to	To find numeric results which return a value greater than or equal to the search value	Numeric, Date/Time, or Decimal
Less than or Equal to	To find numeric results which return a value less than or equal to the search value	Numeric, Date/Time, or Decimal
Is not Empty	To find the presence of any data in the Field, rather than specific results	Any data type
Is Empty	To find the lack of data in the Field, rather than specific results	Any data type	Often used to begin a process. Example: If the Approval Status is empty, then the invoice hasn’t begun the approval process.

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