Boolean Expressions

FileLocator Network's Boolean expression engine supports Web style search expressions using the AND, OR, NOT, NEAR, and LIKE operators. FileLocator Network can be configured to match the expression across the whole file (default) or on a line by line basis in the Expression Tab.

The expression work AND document searches for lines that include the words work and document. Since FileLocator Network implicity assumes an AND the expression can alternatively be written as work document.

The expression work OR document searches for lines that include either 'work' or 'document'.

The expression work NOT document searches for lines that include 'work' but not 'document'.

The expression work AND document searches for files that include the words work and document. The words can occur on the same line or on different lines throughout the file.

The expression work NOT document searches for files that include work but not document anywhere in the file.

Note: the operators AND, OR, and NOT must be written in capital letters otherwise they are assumed to be search terms.

The expression work AND (document OR letter) searches for lines that include work and either document or letter.

If the spelling of the search term is unsure, or possibly misspelled in the search text, the LIKE operator can be used to specify an approximate search term. For example,

To specify that two search terms should be near to each other in the search text use the NEAR operator. For example,

will only match the two terms if they are within a certain number of characters of each other.

Boolean expressions are comprised of sub expressions. The sub expression type will depend on the expression type chosen

Boolean (no wildcards1)	Each phrase is matched exactly as typed but will match against partial words. e.g. fish will match against the words fish, fishing and selfish.
Boolean (with wildcards1)	Allows wildcard characters '' and '?'. '?' will match any single character and '' will match zero or more characters until the end of the word. e.g. fish* will match against the words fish, fishing, and selfish.
Boolean RegEx	Each phrase is treated as a regular expression. If the regular expression includes spaces or parenthesis use quotes to group the expression together. e.g. trout.* OR "fish(es\|ing)"
Whole Word	Each phrase is matched exactly as typed. e.g. fish will match against only the word fish and not fishing or selfish.

1 The wildcard setting is specified in the Boolean Expressions (the default is to allow wildcards).

By using the Boolean RegEx expression type regular expression searches can be combined using the operators AND, OR, and NOT. The regular expressions are evaluated on each line but the behaviour of the Boolean combination of those regex results, ie line by line or across whole file, is defined by the Boolean Expression settings in the Boolean Expressions.

The expression [0-9]+ AND document searches for lines that include both a number and the word document.

The expression "[a-z]+@[a-z]+" NOT "\.(com|net)" searches for lines with email like text but not including .com or .net. Note the use of quotes to show the regular expression grouping (otherwise the brackets would have been treated as a boolean grouping).

The expression "([0-9]+\.){3}[0-9]+" AND error searches for files with an IP address and the word error somewhere in the file but not necessarily on the same line.

Quotes are used to identify parts of the expression that are regular expressions.

Note: Due to the complex nature of the Boolean RegEx expression type searches using it are usually slower than with the other expression types. Therefore use of Boolean RegEx is only recommended when its specific capabilities are required.