# Search/find missing stuff

**URL:** <https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [May 1, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420 "2021-05-01T22:15:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mdietz39](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@mdietz39](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/mdietz39)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420/1 "2021-05-01T22:15:54Z")

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Win 8.1, GrampsAIO64-5.1.3-2  
How can I search or find those individuals with a missing event such as Education or Military? I have much success in finding those with a specific event but cannot find any document on the negative find.

Thank you  
Michael Dietz  
[charmike238@gmail.com](mailto:charmike238@gmail.com)

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**Author:** ![GeorgeWilmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@GeorgeWilmes](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/GeorgeWilmes)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420/2 "2021-05-02T00:42:28Z")

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You can do this by creating a [custom filter](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.1_Wiki_Manual_-_Filters#Custom_Filters). Use the filter rule “People with the personal \<event\>” and select the option “Return values that do not match the filter rules”.

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**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420/3 "2021-05-02T00:59:47Z")

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This custom filter will exclude anyone who has a Military or Degree Event or is female. (Not to be sexist, just trying to have fewer search results to sort through.)

![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/1X/95aabf5796848ce1374389db22d498ac9a4d7150.png)

In the `custom_filters.xml` file found in the [User Directory](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.1_Wiki_Manual_-_User_Directory), this filter appears as the following:

```
<filter name="No Military or Degree" function="or" invert="1">
      <rule class="HasEvent" use_regex="False">
        <arg value="Military Service"/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value="0"/>
      </rule>
      <rule class="HasEvent" use_regex="False">
        <arg value="Degree"/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value=""/>
        <arg value="0"/>
      </rule>
      <rule class="IsFemale" use_regex="False">
      </rule>
    </filter>
```

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/1X/2ac1e712b7adf612e31ca08a55419f4cf37c0158.png) [@system](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/search-find-missing-stuff/1420/4 "2021-06-01T00:59:57Z")

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