The Multi-value Search feature in Broadstripes CRM allows you to search for multiple values in a single field using a special parentheses syntax. Instead of creating separate search rules for each value, you can combine them into one efficient search statement.
Key benefits:
- Search for multiple values at once
- Cleaner, more concise search queries
- Faster than creating multiple individual search rules
- Works with any searchable field
Basic syntax
The multi-value search uses parentheses with comma-separated values:
Components:
- field: Any searchable field name (e.g.,
city, state, employer, name)
- operator: Standard search operators (
=, :, ==, !=, !:, !==)
- parentheses: Wrap your list of values in
( and )
- commas: Separate each value with a comma
Multi-word values must be wrapped in quotes.membertype = ("Active Member", "Retired Member", "Non-Member")
is equivalent to
membertype = "Active Member" OR membertype = "Retired Member" OR membertype = "Non-Member"
Traditional ‘OR’ search vs multi-value search
Traditional approach
To find contacts in multiple cities, you’d create multiple rules:
Multi-value approach
Much simpler and cleaner:
Benefits of multi-value:
- ✓ Shorter, more readable queries
- ✓ Easier to modify (add/remove values)
- ✓ Less prone to syntax errors
How it works: OR vs AND logic
The behavior of multi-value search depends on the operator you use:
Positive operators → OR logic
When using positive operators (=, :, ==), values are combined with OR logic:
Meaning: Find records where city equals Boston OR Cambridge OR Somerville
Negative operators → AND logic
When using negative operators (!=, !:, !==), values are combined with AND logic:
Meaning: Find records where city is NOT Boston AND NOT Cambridge AND NOT Somerville
Basic examples
Example 1: Search multiple cities
Find contacts in Boston, New York, or Chicago:
Example 2: Search multiple states
Find contacts in Connecticut or Massachusetts:
Example 3: Search multiple employers
Find contacts working at specific companies:
Example 4: Exclude multiple values
Find contacts NOT in certain cities:
Example 5: Search by multiple names
Find specific people:
Handling values with commas
If a value itself contains commas (like company names or addresses), wrap it in quotes:
How it works:
- Values inside quotes are treated as a single value
- Only commas outside quotes separate values
- Use double quotes
" to wrap values
More examples:
Advanced use cases
Combining with other search rules
Multi-value search works seamlessly with other search criteria using AND/OR logic:
Example: Find contacts in multiple cities AND working at specific employers:
Example: Find contacts in multiple states OR with specific job titles:
Nested searches with subqueries
You can combine multi-value syntax with subqueries using square brackets:
Meaning: Find contacts whose employer’s state is Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island
Complex organization searches
Meaning: Find contacts at those specific companies located in those cities
Real-world scenarios
Scenario 1: Regional sales team
Find all contacts in New England states:
Scenario 2: Multiple account managers
Find contacts assigned to specific account managers:
Scenario 3: Event participation
Find contacts who attended specific events:
Scenario 4: Exclude test data
Exclude contacts from test companies:
Scenario 5: Metropolitan area search
Find contacts in a metro area with multiple city names:
Scenario 6: Industry-specific search
Find contacts in specific industries:
Common pitfalls
❌ Forgetting quotes for values with commas
❌ Mixing up OR and AND logic
Quick reference
Syntax cheat sheet
Operator reference
