# Filter a filed so that it matches if is has a certain value or if it is empty **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [October 10, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filter-a-filed-so-that-it-matches-if-is-has-a-certain-value-or-if-it-is-empty/13907 "2013-10-10T15:08:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bruno\_ais](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bruno\_ais](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/bruno_ais)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filter-a-filed-so-that-it-matches-if-is-has-a-certain-value-or-if-it-is-empty/13907/1 "2013-10-10T15:08:35Z")
How do I do a search so that it matches if a certain parameter is an empty array or if it has a certain set of values. I'm trying something like this: ... "filters": [ { "script" : { "script" : "doc['filed.subfield.all'].values.length == 0" } }, { "and":{ "filters": [ { "term": { "filed.subfield.all": 123 } } ] } } ] ... but it throws the following error: Query Failed [Failed to execute main query]]; nested: PropertyAccessException[[Error: could not access: length; in class: java.util.Collections$EmptyList] [Near : {... doc['"filed.subfield.all'].value ....}] ^ [Line: 1, Column: 1]]; }] Can anyone get why I'm getting this? An example data structure (one of the ones I'm trying to get): { "data": "123 can", "subfiled": { "all":[], "some":[ 123 ] } } Another example data structure (one of the ones I'm trying _not_ to get): { "data": "123 can", "subfiled": { "all":[123,321], "some":[] } } I didn't give more information because I think you don't require but if you still require more information, just ask. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![johtani](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/johtani/32/44956_2.png) [@johtani](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/johtani)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filter-a-filed-so-that-it-matches-if-is-has-a-certain-value-or-if-it-is-empty/13907/2 "2013-10-10T16:58:14Z")
Hi bruno, You try to use "doc['filed.subfield.all'].empty" instead of "values.length == 0". See [Elasticsearch Platform — Find real-time answers at scale | Elastic](http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/modules-scripting.html) I try to use this query, then i get data that include "all":. { "query": { "filtered": { "query": {"match\_all": {}}, "filter": { "script": { "script": "doc['subfiled.all'].empty" } } } } } * * * Jun Ohtani [johtani@gmail.com](mailto:johtani@gmail.com) blog : [http://blog.johtani.info](http://blog.johtani.info) twitter : [http://twitter.com/johtani](http://twitter.com/johtani) On 2013/10/11, at 0:08, bruno ais [brunoaiss@gmail.com](mailto:brunoaiss@gmail.com) wrote: > How do I do a search so that it matches if a certain parameter is an empty array or if it has a certain set of values. > I'm trying something like this: > > ... > "filters": [ > { > "script" : { > "script" : "doc['filed.subfield.all'].values.length == 0" > } > }, > { > "and":{ > "filters": [ > { > "term": { > "filed.subfield.all": 123 > } > } > ] > } > } > ] > ... > > but it throws the following error: > Query Failed [Failed to execute main query]]; nested: PropertyAccessException[[Error: could not access: length; in class: java.util.Collections$EmptyList] [Near : {... doc['"filed.subfield.all'].value ....}] ^ [Line: 1, Column: 1]]; }] > > Can anyone get why I'm getting this? > > An example data structure (one of the ones I'm trying to get): > > { > "data": "123 can", > "subfiled": { > "all":, > "some":[ > 123 > ] > } > } > > Another example data structure (one of the ones I'm trying not to get): > > { > "data": "123 can", > "subfiled": { > "all":[123,321], > "some": > } > } > > I didn't give more information because I think you don't require but if you still require more information, just ask. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filter-a-filed-so-that-it-matches-if-is-has-a-certain-value-or-if-it-is-empty/13907/3 "2017-07-06T02:12:59Z")