Question

I am writing a view which searches my models db depending on search fields selected by the user. The basic code is something like:

def search(request):
if submit in request.POST:
    ...
    kwargs = {}
    if request.POST['field1']:
       kwargs['field1__icontains'] = request.POST['field1']

    if request.POST['field2']:
       kwargs['field2__icontains'] = request.POST['field2']
    ...
    results_list = Mymodel.objects.filter(**kwargs)
    ...

Of course this is fine if my query is all AND statements, but if I need to throw an OR in there – is it possible? For example if I needed field2__icontains = request.POST['field2'] OR field3__icontains = request.POST['field2']

Answer 1

Build up a Q() object instead of a dictionary as you work through your fields. Then you can and and or as you wish.

query = Q()
if request.POST['field1']:
    query &= Q(field1__icontains=request.POST['field1'])
if request.POST['field2'] and request.POST['field3']:
    query &= (Q(field2__icontains=request.POST['field2']) | Q(field3__icontains=request.POST['field3']))
results_list = MyModel.objects.filter(query)