Filtering by blank fields in the Library grid

Lew Worthington · 2025-02-17T16:49:15+00:00

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I'm using the desktop app in Windows 11, latest of everything.
I use filters daily, but here's something I don't understand. In this example, I filter by series. Then I add to that filter "subject:". And that works great as long as there's text in the after "Subject:" But if I leave it blank or if I put a space between quotes, only two books show up out of a total of 62:

Also, if I use the filter keyword, "Subjects:" (plural), only the Leviticus volume remains.

Interestingly, if I add to that filter "Author:" or "Authors:" with nothing or with a space, the commentary on Revelation goes away.

Finally, if I add to the Series: filter an empty "Author:" filter, 19 of my 62 volumes show up. But if I add an empty "Authors:" filter, only 16 volumes show up. I think this might be explained by the fact that the 3 that show up with "Author:" but don't show up with "Authors:" do not have middle initials (or a "III" after their names). But even so, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Otherwise, I don't see anything in the metadata that would cause this to happen. Does anyone have an explanation?

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Comments

Andrew Batishko

If you don't have anything (or just a space) after Subject: then it's invalid query syntax, and the engine just does the best it can. It possibly is giving the same results as if you'd just used Subject, which means it's looking for matches against the title, description, author, etc.

But ultimately it's invalid syntax and you shouldn't use it. I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish by leaving nothing after subject: but maybe if you explained that we can help you figure out how to accomplish what you want.

Lew Worthington

I wasn't trying to accomplish anything. I was just typing and stopped for a moment. I was intrigued at what appeared. Especially since it's an invalid syntax.

I love the description of the engine just doing the "best it can". But I'm happy enough with it.

Thanks for the info.

NB.Mick

the engine just does the best it can. It possibly is giving the same results as if you'd just used Subject, which means it's looking for matches against the title, description, author, etc.

Yes. NICNT Rev contains "subjectivism" in its description, NICOT Lev the term "subjects" (which also explains only this one leaving when putting subjects into the search string).

Lew Worthington

Yes, that's it! Great work. :)