Search to find blank custom column

CRussel · 03-16-2021, 02:08 PM

I have two custom date columns -- #Started and #Finished. I'm trying to figure out how to do a search that returns all those books that are started, but haven't been finished. The Started is easy -- #Started:>1/1/1900. Which is, I admit, a kludge because I couldn't figure out how to deal with blank, not-blank. Unfortunately, that kind of kludge won't work for the Finished.

I looked through the Search help files, but nothing really seemed to fit. Which is making me feel like a bit of a doofus, but not as much so as I'll likely feel when someone points out the obvious that I've missed!

Thanks,

ownedbycats · 03-16-2021, 02:40 PM

#Started:true AND #Finished:false

chaley · 03-16-2021, 02:44 PM

#Started:false tests if it is not set (empty). #Started:true is the other test, if it has a value. So your query would be

Code:

#Started:true and #Finished:false

CRussel · 03-16-2021, 11:58 PM

Duh. OK, I admit, I don't tend to think of date values as True/False. But, of course, under the hood, that makes perfect sense.

Thank you!

theducks · 03-17-2021, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Duh. OK, I admit, I don't tend to think of date values as True/False. But, of course, under the hood, that makes perfect sense.

Thank you!

You can also use a 'out of normal range' date.
I use <2001 for a book I abandoned (no longer reading for whatever reason)
2011 was the year I documented (empty books) my paper Library
So you are not just limited to True (a date) or False, in your usage

CRussel · 03-17-2021, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

You can also use a 'out of normal range' date.
I use <2001 for a book I abandoned (no longer reading for whatever reason)
2011 was the year I documented (empty books) my paper Library
So you are not just limited to True (a date) or False, in your usage

Yeah, I knew I could do a less than/greater than value for it, but the True/False was one I just hadn't thought of. Silly, I've written enough code that I should have!

03-16-2021, 02:08 PM	#1
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	Search to find blank custom column I have two custom date columns -- #Started and #Finished. I'm trying to figure out how to do a search that returns all those books that are started, but haven't been finished. The Started is easy -- #Started:>1/1/1900. Which is, I admit, a kludge because I couldn't figure out how to deal with blank, not-blank. Unfortunately, that kind of kludge won't work for the Finished. I looked through the Search help files, but nothing really seemed to fit. Which is making me feel like a bit of a doofus, but not as much so as I'll likely feel when someone points out the obvious that I've missed! Thanks,

03-16-2021, 02:44 PM	#3
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,447 Karma: 8012886 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	#Started:false tests if it is not set (empty). #Started:true is the other test, if it has a value. So your query would be Code: #Started:true and #Finished:false

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03-16-2021, 02:40 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,973 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	#Started:true AND #Finished:false

03-16-2021, 11:58 PM	#4
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	Duh. OK, I admit, I don't tend to think of date values as True/False. But, of course, under the hood, that makes perfect sense. Thank you!

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