topic Variable - free text box search working in array field in Open Q&A

Variable - free text box search working in array field

y_buccellato — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:26:16 GMT

Hello Community,

I’m looking for a simple way to define a variable as a free-text input that can be used to search within an array field. The array may contain any number of entries with key/value pairs composed of letters, numbers, and special characters.

The goal is to allow users to type any value into the input box and then apply a DQL filter condition against that specific array field.

For example, I should be able to freely search for values such as:

00001112344
34h43k-23jn43-
IdocSale

and similar entries.

I'd appreciate some guidance on how to best perfom such variable + filtering combination!

Thank you!

Yann

Re: Variable - free text box search working in array field

dannemca — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:38:24 GMT

Have you tried the command search? https://docs.dynatrace.com/docs/shortlink/filter-and-search-commands#search

Not totally sure if you want to search for the array position of just the record that contains that string.

If just the record, the search command may do the job.

I just suggest to set the freetext variable with some default value that always matches something, so you don't end up with a widget showing error like "The search pattern mustn't be empty."

Re: Variable - free text box search working in array field

Julius_Loman — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:11:23 GMT

I believe the search operator (similar to the search command that @dannemca already suggested) if you need to search in a specific field.
User search command if you don't know the field name where to search, use the search operator (~) if you know the field name.