> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.broadstripes.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using a multi-value search 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 *** Multi-value city search ## Basic syntax The multi-value search uses **parentheses with comma-separated values**: ``` field=operator(value1, value2, value3) ``` ### 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: ``` city=Boston OR city=Cambridge OR city=Somerville OR city=Medford OR city=Malden ``` **Multi-value approach** Much simpler and cleaner: ``` city=(Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Malden) ``` **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: ``` city=(Boston, Cambridge, Somerville) ``` **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: ``` city!=(Boston, Cambridge, Somerville) ``` **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: ``` city=(Boston, "New York", Chicago) ``` **Example 2: Search multiple states** Find contacts in Connecticut or Massachusetts: ``` state=(CT, MA) ``` **Example 3: Search multiple employers** Find contacts working at specific companies: ``` employer=(Acme, Globex, Initech) ``` **Example 4: Exclude multiple values** Find contacts NOT in certain cities: ``` city!=(Boston, Cambridge) ``` **Example 5: Search by multiple names** Find specific people: ``` name=(John Smith, Jane Doe, Bob Johnson) ``` *** ## Handling values with commas If a value itself contains commas (like company names or addresses), wrap it in **quotes**: ``` employer=("Dewey, Cheetham, and Howe", "Smith, Jones & Associates", Acme) ``` **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: ``` # Company names with commas employer=("ABC, Inc.", "XYZ Corporation", "123 Industries, LLC") # Addresses with commas address=("123 Main St, Suite 100", "456 Oak Ave, Floor 2") # Names with commas (Last, First format) name=("Smith, John", "Doe, Jane", "Johnson, Bob") ``` *** ## 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: ``` city=(Boston, Cambridge) employer=(Acme, Globex) ``` **Example:** Find contacts in multiple states OR with specific job titles: ``` state=(MA, CT) OR title=(Manager, Director) ``` **Nested searches with subqueries** You can combine multi-value syntax with subqueries using square brackets: ``` employer=[state=(CT, MA, RI)] ``` **Meaning:** Find contacts whose employer's state is Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island **Complex organization searches** ``` employer=("Acme Corporation", "Globex Industries", "Initech, LLC") employer.city=(Boston, Cambridge, Somerville) ``` **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: ``` state=(MA, CT, RI, NH, VT, ME) ``` **Scenario 2: Multiple account managers** Find contacts assigned to specific account managers: ``` account_manager=(John Smith, Jane Doe, Bob Wilson) ``` **Scenario 3: Event participation** Find contacts who attended specific events: ``` memberactivity=(Summer Conference, Fall Meetup, Winter Summit) ``` **Scenario 4: Exclude test data** Exclude contacts from test companies: ``` employer!=(Test Company, Demo Corp, Sample Inc) ``` **Scenario 5: Metropolitan area search** Find contacts in a metro area with multiple city names: ``` city=(Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Malden) ``` **Scenario 6: Industry-specific search** Find contacts in specific industries: ``` industry=(Technology, Software, IT Services, Computer Hardware) ``` *** ## Common pitfalls **❌ Forgetting quotes for values with commas** ``` ✗ employer=(Smith, Jones & Associates, Acme) # Will be split into 3 values: "Smith", "Jones & Associates", "Acme" ✓ employer=("Smith, Jones & Associates", Acme) # Correctly creates 2 values ``` **❌ Mixing up OR and AND logic** ``` # This finds contacts in Boston OR Cambridge city=(Boston, Cambridge) # This finds contacts NOT in Boston AND NOT in Cambridge city!=(Boston, Cambridge) # If you want "NOT in Boston OR NOT in Cambridge", you need: city!=Boston OR city!=Cambridge ``` *** ## Quick reference ### Syntax cheat sheet ``` # Basic multi-value (OR logic) field=(value1, value2, value3) # Negated multi-value (AND logic) field!=(value1, value2, value3) # With quoted values field=("value with, comma", value2, "value with spaces") # Contains operator field:(value1, value2) # Exact match operator field==(value1, value2) # Not contains field!:(value1, value2) ``` ### Operator reference | Operator | Logic | Example | Meaning | | -------- | ----- | --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `=` | OR | `city=(Boston, Cambridge)` | Matches whole words in any order - finds Boston OR Cambridge | | `:` | OR | `employer:(Acme, Globex)` | Matches word fragments in any order - finds Acme OR Globex (including "AcmeCorp", "GlobexCom") | | `==` | OR | `state==(MA, CT)` | Matches exactly - finds MA OR CT | | `!=` | AND | `city!=(Boston, Cambridge)` | Excludes whole words - does NOT contain Boston AND NOT contain Cambridge | | `!:` | AND | `employer!:(Test, Demo)` | Excludes word fragments - does NOT contain Test AND NOT contain Demo | | `!==` | AND | `state!==(NY, NJ)` | Excludes exact matches (not case sensitive) - is NOT exactly NY AND NOT exactly NJ |