java.lang.Object
- com.netrics.likeit.NetricsPredicate

```
public class NetricsPredicate
extends java.lang.Object
```
Predicates are used to select or score records based on exact matching tests. Predicates are used in two ways: as a filter to restrict the records to be considered based on some exact match criteria, as a querylet within a query that computes a score based on some exact match criteria. The first is strictly a true/false test that, if false, completely eliminates a record from consideration before the record is scored. The second contributes a score (usually either 0.0 or 1.0 but could be any value between 0.0 and 1.0) that is combined with other querylet scores to determine the overall match score for a record. It acts like an exact matching version of the simple or cognate querylets. Thus the second form doesn't necessarily filter out records even if the predicate match fails. In both cases the Predicate is defined in exactly the same way, the only difference being that for a filtering predicate the result type must be boolean, for a predicate querylet the result type may be boolean or a floating point value.

Predicates can be specified in two ways, either through a string that defines the predicate or by building it up using this class. The string format is described under the setSearchPredicate method of the NetricsSearchCfg class, how to build predicates using the NetricsPredicate class is described here.

Let's start with a simple example.

Imagine you have two fields in a table - name and company. Your business requirements assert that you be able to search only within a given company.

For example, someone might want to search for the Joe Schmoe who works for Pepsi, not the one who works for Coca-cola. He knows Joe Schmoe works for Pepsi and he wants no results returned for people who work for Coca-cola. This would be an example of a filtering predicate.

If you performed a fuzzy search on both of the fields, this is not guaranteed. Some not-insignificant value would still be assigned to a match in the company field, and the matching company could be Coca-cola. For instance, searching for the name "Bloke" would have a reasonably strong match with the company Coca-cola. This is not the behavior you want.

Instead, you want to search only the first name field and set a predicate where the field "company" must match the String "Pepsi," or it will not be evaluated at all. This would pass to the search filter only those records which evaluate to true in the predicate, in this case guaranteeing that only those people who work for Pepsi are searched.

Here is what the code would look like.
NetricsSearchCfg tblcfg = new NetricsSearchCfg("tbl"); NetricsPredicate pred1 = tblcfg.CreateStringOperand("Pepsi"); NetricsPredicate pred2 = tblcfg.CreateFieldNameOperand("Company"); NetricsPredicate pred3 = tblcfg.CreatePredicate(pred1,0,pred2); tblcfg.SetSearchPredicate(pred3);

In addition, the relationship between predicates is hierarchical. You can create predicate operands and then combine them with other operators using the CreatePredicate method of the NetricsSearchCfg class.

In fact, you can nest predicates to an arbitrary depth. Imagine you are searching for Joe Schmoe, and you aren't sure whether he works for Pepsi or Coke, but you are positive it is either Pepsi or Coke and you don't want to see any results from Snapple.

Here is what the code would look like.
NetricsSearchCfg tblcfg = new NetricsSearchCfg("tbl"); NetricsPredicate pred1 = tblcfg.CreateStringOperand("Pepsi"); NetricsPredicate pred2 = tblcfg.CreateFieldNameOperand("Company"); // create the pepsi predicate as before NetricsPredicate pred3 = tblcfg.CreatePredicate(pred1,NetricsPredicate.EQUALS,pred2); NetricsPredicate pred4 = tblcfg.CreatePredicate("Coke"); // create the coke predicate NetricsPredicate pred5 = tblcfg.CreatePredicate(pred2,NetricsPredicate.EQUALS,pred4); // combine the two predicates NetricsPredicate pred6 = tblcfg.CreatePredicate(pred3,NetricsPredicate.OR,pred5); tblcfg.SetSearchPredicate(pred6);

Remember, predicates can be arbitrarily nested, but not all predicates make sense. For instance, a predicate can be created by using the TOKENIZE operator on a long data type, but will generate an error in the server. Make sure your predicates are not only well formed, but make sense. If you continue to receive error messages, check the error description, and you will get a detailed account of what is causing the error.

Predicates do not support implicit type conversions. Make sure the operands to each binary operator have the same type. Make sure the operand of each unary operator has the correct type.

See Also:

NetricsSearchCfg, NetricsSearchCfg.SetSearchPredicate(String), NetricsQuery.Predicate(NetricsPredicate)

Nested Class Summary

Nested Classes
Modifier and Type Class Description

static class NetricsPredicate.DistanceUnits
Units of measure for distance functions.

Field Summary

Fields
Modifier and Type	Field	Description
`static int`	`ABS`	return the absolute value of a double or integer.
`static int`	`AND`	return true if both left and right evaluate to true.
`static int`	`ARGS_APPEND`	append an argument to an argument list.
`static int`	`ARGS_CREATE`	create an argument list with one item.
`static int`	`DIVIDEDBY`	divide left by right.
`static int`	`ENDSWITH`	Check if left argument ends with right argument.
`static int`	`EQUALS`	Check for equality of raw data
`static int`	`FUNC_GEO_DIST`	determine distance between two points on the globe.
`static int`	`FUNC_IF`	if then else operators.
`static int`	`FUNC_TO_SCORE`	normalize a float value into a 0.0 to 1.0 score.
`static int`	`GREATERTHAN`	check if left greater than right.
`static int`	`GREATERTHANOREQ`	check if left greater than or equal to right.
`static int`	`INSEN_ENDSWITH`	Check if left argument ends with right argument, ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_EQUALS`	Check for equality ignoring letter case and diacritics
`static int`	`INSEN_GREATERTHAN`	check if left > than right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_GREATERTHANOREQ`	check if left >= right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_ISIN`	letter case insensitive version of ISIN operator.
`static int`	`INSEN_LESSTHAN`	check if left less than right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_LESSTHANOREQ`	check of left <= right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_LIKE`	As `LIKE`, but ignores letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_REGEX_MATCH`	As `REGEX_MATCH`, but ignores letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`INSEN_STARTSWITH`	Check if left argument starts with right argument, ignoring letter case and diacritics.
`static int`	`ISBLANK`	Check if the argument contains only whitespace and punctuation.
`static int`	`ISIN`	return true if left string is a substring of right string.
`static int`	`LESSTHAN`	check if left side less than right side
`static int`	`LESSTHANOREQ`	check if left less than or equal to right side.
`static int`	`LIKE`	Check if left argument matches right argument as a SQL LIKE pattern.
`static int`	`MINUS`	subtract left from right, or negate value.
`static int`	`NOT`	logical inversion.
`static int`	`OR`	return true if either left or right evaluate to true.
`static int`	`PLUS`	add left to right, concatenate if both are strings.
`static int`	`REGEX_MATCH`	Check if left argument matches right argument as a regular expression.
`static int`	`STARTSWITH`	Check if left argument starts with right argument.
`static int`	`SUBSET`	return true if all strings in block array on left are in block array on right.
`static int`	`SUPERSET`	return true if block array on left contains all strings in block array on right.
`static int`	`TIMES`	multiply left and right.
`static int`	`TOBLK`	convert a value to a character block.
`static int`	`TODATE`	convert value to date.
`static int`	`TODATEEU`	convert value to date assuming it is in European dd/mm/yyyy format.
`static int`	`TODATEEUT`	convert a value to date and time assuming it is in European format.
`static int`	`TODATET`	convert a value to date and time.
`static int`	`TODBL`	convert value to Double (Float).
`static int`	`TOINT`	convert value to integer.
`static int`	`TOKENIZE`	split a string into tokens, returning a block array.
`static int`	`TOTHE`	raise left to the power of right.

Method Summary
- Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
  equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

- Field Detail
  - EQUALS
```
public static final int EQUALS
```
    Check for equality of raw data
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_EQUALS
```
public static final int INSEN_EQUALS
```
    Check for equality ignoring letter case and diacritics
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - LESSTHAN
```
public static final int LESSTHAN
```
    check if left side less than right side
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_LESSTHAN
```
public static final int INSEN_LESSTHAN
```
    check if left less than right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - LESSTHANOREQ
```
public static final int LESSTHANOREQ
```
    check if left less than or equal to right side.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_LESSTHANOREQ
```
public static final int INSEN_LESSTHANOREQ
```
    check of left <= right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - GREATERTHAN
```
public static final int GREATERTHAN
```
    check if left greater than right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_GREATERTHAN
```
public static final int INSEN_GREATERTHAN
```
    check if left > than right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - GREATERTHANOREQ
```
public static final int GREATERTHANOREQ
```
    check if left greater than or equal to right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_GREATERTHANOREQ
```
public static final int INSEN_GREATERTHANOREQ
```
    check if left >= right ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - PLUS
```
public static final int PLUS
```
    add left to right, concatenate if both are strings.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - MINUS
```
public static final int MINUS
```
    subtract left from right, or negate value.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TIMES
```
public static final int TIMES
```
    multiply left and right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - DIVIDEDBY
```
public static final int DIVIDEDBY
```
    divide left by right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TOTHE
```
public static final int TOTHE
```
    raise left to the power of right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - AND
```
public static final int AND
```
    return true if both left and right evaluate to true.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - OR
```
public static final int OR
```
    return true if either left or right evaluate to true.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - NOT
```
public static final int NOT
```
    logical inversion.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ISIN
```
public static final int ISIN
```
    return true if left string is a substring of right string.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_ISIN
```
public static final int INSEN_ISIN
```
    letter case insensitive version of ISIN operator.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TOINT
```
public static final int TOINT
```
    convert value to integer.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TODBL
```
public static final int TODBL
```
    convert value to Double (Float).
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TODATE
```
public static final int TODATE
```
    convert value to date.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TODATEEU
```
public static final int TODATEEU
```
    convert value to date assuming it is in European dd/mm/yyyy format.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TOKENIZE
```
public static final int TOKENIZE
```
    split a string into tokens, returning a block array.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - SUPERSET
```
public static final int SUPERSET
```
    return true if block array on left contains all strings in block array on right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - SUBSET
```
public static final int SUBSET
```
    return true if all strings in block array on left are in block array on right.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TOBLK
```
public static final int TOBLK
```
    convert a value to a character block.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TODATET
```
public static final int TODATET
```
    convert a value to date and time.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - TODATEEUT
```
public static final int TODATEEUT
```
    convert a value to date and time assuming it is in European format.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ABS
```
public static final int ABS
```
    return the absolute value of a double or integer.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ARGS_CREATE
```
public static final int ARGS_CREATE
```
    create an argument list with one item.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ARGS_APPEND
```
public static final int ARGS_APPEND
```
    append an argument to an argument list.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - FUNC_IF
```
public static final int FUNC_IF
```
    if then else operators.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - FUNC_GEO_DIST
```
public static final int FUNC_GEO_DIST
```
    determine distance between two points on the globe.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - FUNC_TO_SCORE
```
public static final int FUNC_TO_SCORE
```
    normalize a float value into a 0.0 to 1.0 score.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - STARTSWITH
```
public static final int STARTSWITH
```
    Check if left argument starts with right argument.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_STARTSWITH
```
public static final int INSEN_STARTSWITH
```
    Check if left argument starts with right argument, ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ENDSWITH
```
public static final int ENDSWITH
```
    Check if left argument ends with right argument.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_ENDSWITH
```
public static final int INSEN_ENDSWITH
```
    Check if left argument ends with right argument, ignoring letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - LIKE
```
public static final int LIKE
```
    Check if left argument matches right argument as a SQL LIKE pattern.
    % matches 0 or more characters. %% matches a percent sign.
    _ matches exactly one character.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_LIKE
```
public static final int INSEN_LIKE
```
    As LIKE, but ignores letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - REGEX_MATCH
```
public static final int REGEX_MATCH
```
    Check if left argument matches right argument as a regular expression.
    Uses the "ECMAScript 3" regular expression grammar.
    This uses regular-expressions, not ibi™ Patterns fuzzy matching.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - INSEN_REGEX_MATCH
```
public static final int INSEN_REGEX_MATCH
```
    As REGEX_MATCH, but ignores letter case and diacritics.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values
  - ISBLANK
```
public static final int ISBLANK
```
    Check if the argument contains only whitespace and punctuation. See the Programmers Guide for a complete list of whitespace and punctuation characters.
    
    See Also:
    
    Constant Field Values

Class NetricsPredicate

Nested Class Summary

Field Summary

Method Summary

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

Field Detail

EQUALS

INSEN_EQUALS

LESSTHAN

INSEN_LESSTHAN

LESSTHANOREQ

INSEN_LESSTHANOREQ

GREATERTHAN

INSEN_GREATERTHAN

GREATERTHANOREQ

INSEN_GREATERTHANOREQ

PLUS

MINUS

TIMES

DIVIDEDBY

TOTHE

AND

OR

NOT

ISIN

INSEN_ISIN

TOINT

TODBL

TODATE

TODATEEU

TOKENIZE

SUPERSET

SUBSET

TOBLK

TODATET

TODATEEUT

ABS

ARGS_CREATE

ARGS_APPEND

FUNC_IF

FUNC_GEO_DIST

FUNC_TO_SCORE

STARTSWITH

INSEN_STARTSWITH

ENDSWITH

INSEN_ENDSWITH

LIKE

INSEN_LIKE

REGEX_MATCH

INSEN_REGEX_MATCH

ISBLANK