Searching in XMP-area

[B e r n d]

XnView MP offers the option of saving metadata in the XMP-area. I use CustomFields1 to 10 here, which means that searching and assigning to categories also works without any problems.
I use Tools -> Search with condition XMP - Field.

One question arises: How can I search for images that have no entry in CustomField<n>?

Unfortunately, there is no “is empty” operator.
Using the operator “contains” and the regular expression “^$” (without the quotation marks) does not lead to success either.

Is there a tip on how to find images without metadata in the CustomField1?

Many thanks in advance!
Bernd

[xnview]

See issue for current status and some details.

[xnview]

This problem is supposed to be fixed in XnView MP 1.8.7. Please check and confirm the bug fix here.

[B e r n d]

Thank you very much for your support!

Unfortunately, I cannot confirm the correctness of the fix.
Did I use the function incorrectly?
I’m using version 1.8.7, date Mar 26 2025

Here are the steps I took.
Setup: 10 images, 3 with some text in custom field 2.

Evaluation: Correctness of the field name and finding a predefined text.
Checkmark: "Eve" is part of custom field 2 on three pictures.
Expectation: 3 fields should be listed.

Search: XMP:Field: "CustomField2", operator = "contains", Text = "Eve" -> 3 files found.
Result: The custom field is entered correctly and a given text is found.

Evaluation: Search for images without an entry in custom field 2.
Expectation: 7 images should be listed

Check 1: Is there an operator like "is empty" -> No
Check 2: Search with operator = "is", content = <blank> -> 0 files found
Check 3: Use regular expressions = no, operator = "is", content = "^$" -> 0 files found
Check 4: Use regular expressions = yes, operator = "is", content = "^$" -> 0 files found

[xnview]

Check 2: Search with operator = "is", content = <blank> -> 0 files found

this should work, please send us some sample files?

[B e r n d]

Thank you for looking at the problem.
Attached the samples.
Thanks

[xnview]

you can use directly 'XMP:Custom field 2' from menu

[B e r n d]

Thank you very much Pierre for your great support!
My problem is solved.

The cause was the attempt to search for empty fields in the XMP-area by using XMP->Field.
Thanks for the hint to use the custom fields directly from the drop-down menu instead. E.g. "XMP->Custom field 2" with operator "is" and leave the input field empty. This works as desired.