# search operator for features

[camilstaps]

Is it possible to extend the search template language to allow # for features?

For example, I want to find sentences where אמר is followed by some ל+infinitive construct, but want to exclude the infinitive construct of אמר. I would then like to use the query below (or is there an easier way to do this with the current search template syntax?):

sentence
    clause
        word lex=>MR[
    < clause
        word lex=L
        <: word vt=infc lex#>MR[

[codykingham]

I second the need for a != operator in TF search.

[dirkroorda]

There are now new possibilities:

• nodetype feature : feature is present and not None
• nodetype feature! : feature is not present or None
• nodetype feature>val : feature has value greater than val (numerical features only)
• nodetype feature<val : feature has value less than val (numerical features only)
• nodetype feature~regexp : feature matches regular expression (string features only)

So: word vt=infc lex~(?!^>MR[)

[dirkroorda]

Actually, this was an embarrasingly good suggestion. Regular expressions are nice, but clumsy when you just want to use them for the non-equality of values. So I have implemented the # after all. And saying word vt# means: feature vt has no value for word.

It will be included in the next release.

[camilstaps]

Excellent, thanks!