How to determine if the source text contains a specific search value using Contains()?

About this article

This article will explain what the Contains() function is and provide examples of how it can be utilized with the binding syntax in smart templates.

What is the Contains() function?
Contains() function examples

Prerequisites

Library and at least one Dynamics modules enabled
Templafy Desktop and Office VSTO add-in installed on the PC
Tenant admin/owner access or Space owner access

What is the Contains() function?

Contains() is a function that returns True/False depending on a SourceValue containing a SearchValue. Contains() is case sensitive, comparisons between two values that might be using different casings can be achieved by utilizing a Lower() or Upper() functions together with Equals.

Contains() logic

Syntax	{{Contains(SourceValue, SearchValue)}}
Output	True/False

Contains() function examples

Example 1

Using the Equals() function to check if a sentence contains the word "random" (case-sensitive).

Binding	{{Contains("This is a longer sentence with some random text", "random")}}
Output	True

Binding	{{Contains("This is a longer sentence with some Random text", "random")}}
Output	False

Example 2

Using the Contains() function together with Lower() to match the casing used and make a comparison.

Binding	{{Contains(Lower("This is a longer sentence with some random text"), Lower("Random"))}}
Output	True

Example 3

Using the Contains() function together with Not() and Lower() to match the casing used and make a comparison.

Binding	{{Not(Contains(Lower("This is a longer sentence with some random text"), Lower("Random")))}}
Output	False

Example 4

Using the Contains() function together with IfElse() and Lower() to verify if the input entered in the "Body" question originating from the response form contains the word "legal" (not case-sensitive as Lower() function is used). If the "Body" contains "legal" the output should be "There is legal text in the above document. Ensure it's legally compliant.", otherwise insert an empty input.

Binding	{IfElse(Contains(Lower(Form.Body), "legal"), "There is legal text in the above document. Ensure it's legally compliant.", "")}}
Input	Form.Body = "This is legal text."	Form.Body = "This is marketing text."
Condition	True	False
Output	"There is legal text in the above document. Ensure it's legally compliant."	""

Example 5

Using the Contains() function together with IfElse() to display or hide some text based on the value of the "Office.Name" originating from the user profile.

If the "Office.Name" is "Copenhagen" or "Berlin", the text should be hidden
If the "Office.Name" is anything else, the text should be shown

Binding	{{IfElse(Contains("Copenhagen, Berlin", UserProfile.Office.Name), VisibilityType.Hidden, VisibilityType.Visible)}}
Input	UserProfile.Office.Name = "Berlin"	UserProfile.Office.Name = "Copenhagen"	UserProfile.Office.Name = "Eindhoven"
Output	Hidden text	Hidden text	Visible text

Example 6

Using the Contains() function together with IfElse() to see if the "Subject" question originating from the response form matches any of the comparison values (large, cat, small, dog). If the values are "large", "small", "cat", or "dog", the output should be "Match found", otherwise "No match found" should be shown.

Binding	{{IfElse(Contains("large cat, small cat, dog", Form.Subject), "Match found", "No match found")}}
Input	cat	Cat	large cat	small cat	dog	fox
Condition	True	False	True	True	True	False
Output	"Match found"	"No match found"	"Match found"	"Match found"	"Match found"	"No match found"

Based on the example above, one can also add the Concat() function to see if the "Subject" question originating from the response form matches exactly any of the comparison values (large cat, small cat, dog). If the values are "large cat", "small cat", or "dog", the output is "Match found", otherwise "No match found" is shown.

Binding	{{IfElse(Contains("##large cat##, ##small cat##, ##dog##",Concat("##",Concat(Form.Subject,"##"))), "Match found", "No match found")}}
Input	cat	Cat	large cat	small cat	dog	fox
Condition	False	False	True	True	True	False
Output	"No match found"	"No match found"	"Match found"	"Match found"	"Match found"	"No match found"

In this example, the output for "cat" is "No match found", because "cat" is neither equal to 'large cat' or 'small cat'. It is not an exact match.
Instead of '##' any other characters can be used, e.g. '@' or '+++'.

Example 7

Using the Contains() function together with IfElse() to see if the "Subject" question originating from the response form matches any of the comparison values (large, cat, small, dog) and adjust the text visibility. If the values are "large", "small", "cat", or "dog", the output should be shown, otherwise, it should be hidden.

Binding	{{IfElse(Contains("large cat, small cat, dog", Form.Subject), VisibilityType.Visible, VisibilityType.Hidden)}}
Input	cat	Cat	large cat	small cat	dog	fox
Condition	True	False	True	True	True	False
Output	Visible	Hidden	Visible	Visible	Visible	Hidden

Based on the example above, one can also add the Concat() function to see if the "Subject" question originating from the response form matches exactly any of the comparison values (large cat, small cat, dog) and adjust the text visibility. If the values are "large cat", "small cat", or "dog", the output should be shown, otherwise, it should be hidden.

Binding	{{IfElse(Contains("##large cat##, ##small cat##, ##dog##",Concat("##",Concat(Form.Subject,"##"))), VisibilityType.Visible, VisibilityType.Hidden)}}
Input	cat	Cat	large cat	small cat	dog	fox
Condition	False	False	True	True	True	False
Output	Hidden	Hidden	Visible	Visible	Visible	Hidden

In this example the output for 'cat' is Hidden text, because 'cat' is neither equal to 'large cat' or 'small cat'. It is not an exact match.
Instead of '##' any other characters can be used, e.g. '@' or '+++'.

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