# How to use LIKE in AQL?

**Category:** [AQL](https://discourse.openehr.org/c/aql/43)
**Created:** 2020-12-04 16:24 UTC
**Views:** 1500
**Replies:** 6
**URL:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/how-to-use-like-in-aql/1147

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## Post #1 by @luiz_Minelli

hello, I'm trying to use a LIKE in AQL, but it doesn't work ... how do I like to search for any place that has this certain date?


How can I do it?
![Captura de Tela 2020-12-04 às 13.24.19|690x448](upload://o1DVr1P62hl5jBRjOcltsYpOyXa.png)

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## Post #2 by @vanessap

Hi @luiz_Minelli
would something like this match your question? 

![image|690x337](upload://vbeSIRz8l5lW1P6TiOfAxnGJl18.png)

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## Post #3 by @luiz_Minelli

So, I do like you and it doesn't work for me ...


I wanted him to catch everyone without the timezone

![Captura de Tela 2020-12-04 às 14.20.06|690x368](upload://cqsodqCljRwl8XbrGLgmcodbYei.png)

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## Post #4 by @luiz_Minelli


Am I doing something wrong?

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## Post #6 by @pablo

LIKE is only available for String values, I suspect your path .../items[at0075]/value is a DV_DATE_TIME, not a String.

To get the String representation, you need to add a /value to tour path.

Remember operators apply to certain types. I guess the AQL editor is not doing type checking over the paths and operators, that is why you don't know what the error is.

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## Post #7 by @mjaynixxz

![Selection_278|690x339](upload://v1z0t7KoGm10F8JQkVuj32JQQ7X.png)
Hello, Good day, i am also having a similar situation here. I want to have a parameterised search where either a two or three letter input should return all name almost matching the search. How can this be achieved. Thank you

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## Post #8 by @ian.mcnicoll

On Better CDR you need to use * as the wildcard

Partial matching with `LIKE` operator

> Allows matching with wildcards `*` and `?`:
> 
> * `*` stands for *any string*,
> * `?` stands for *any character*.
> 
> ```
> SELECT DISTINCT c/archetype_details/template_id/value as templateName
> FROM EHR e
> CONTAINS COMPOSITION c
> WHERE templateName LIKE "Vital*"
```

```
WHERE Patient_Name LIKE "McN*" *
```

so 

```
WHERE Patient_Name LIKE  :PatientMatch
```
and patientMatch = McN* (the paramterisation adds quotes AFAIK
```
I wonder if the paramaterisation is adding quotes which get in the way of properly formatting the Like.

worth looking at the executed AQL that will appear in the response

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**Canonical:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/how-to-use-like-in-aql/1147
**Original content:** https://discourse.openehr.org/t/how-to-use-like-in-aql/1147