Is there a way to search a repository for entries with a populated or unpopulated Event Date?
i.e.
EventDate != ""
or
EventDate = ""
You can use Search Syntax to handle that search. Within the LF Client, use the "Advanced Search" pane (magnifying glass at the top):
Then use the "Customize Search" drop-down to show only the "Search Syntax" criteria:
Finally, ensure you check the box for "Include search syntax in query" so the field isn't greyed-out.
Assuming that "EventDate" is the name of a metadata field, you can use the following syntax:
Find entries with the "EventDate" field unpopulated
{[]:[EventDate]=""}
Find entries with the "EventDate" field populated
{[]:[EventDate]<>""}
NOTE: in Laserfiche Search Syntax, the "<>" is "Does Not Equal"
NOTE: this will only display results that HAVE that field. Entries that do not have the "EventDate" field in their metadata at all will not show in the results.
Thanks for your reply Dustin. Actually, the Event Date I'm trying to evaluate is not a template field, it's the built-in date property (via Records Management) that is in play when you select a Cutoff-Instruction type of Event or Time-Event for your document.
Okay, so here's an update on this question. After doing a bit of research I discovered that you can determine if a "Cutoff Instruction" event date (i.e. Termination Date) has been set. The following query finds entries in the repository MyFiles folder that have a Cutoff Instruction type of Event or Time+Event, and have the Event Date for the Cutoff Instruction set to "Termination Date" and Termination Date has not been populated (note the minus sign that preceeds that final clause):
({LF:LOOKIN="\MyFiles"}) & {LFRM:RetentionType="E,N"} & {LFRM:Event="Termination Date"} - {LFRM:SetEvent="Termination Date"}
If you're populating a template field like "Termination Date" on your repository entries when a termination occurs, you can add a clause to the query above that tells you when that template field is populated
{[]:[Termination Date] = "*"}
So, a workflow can find all entries that have a termination date in the template that has not been set for the corresponding Cutoff Instruction event date (termination date) and set it. Thus, your event-based retention is automated. Again, this assumes that you're setting the event date in a template field.
({LF:LOOKIN="\MyFiles"}) & {LFRM:RetentionType="E,N"} & {[]:[Termination Date] = "*"} & {LFRM:Event="Termination Date"} - {LFRM:SetEvent="Termination Date"}