How to build a query with the filter similar as SQL LIKE

Question

Hi there, 
 In the SQL, we can use LIKE as the filter, but in the Appian, there is no such "operator". so in my case, I am trying to build a query to search a database by people's name. 
 if using operator "includes" or "starts with" to search value "Michael", then it will return list of people, but if search value "Michael S", it will return nothing, but it should return some. 
 in the SQL, we can use LIKE 'Michael S%', but dont know how to implement this in the Appian. 
 Could anyone here can help to point a direction? 
 Best regards, 
 Lin

Josh · Answer

A couple of ideas. Not really in recommended or "performant" order as it would depend on your exact use case, data loads, etc. 
 
 Use the Query Database smart service to write out your query and use the SQL LIKE functionality 
 Pull back a set of primary keys and names into a local variable, use something like the Regex Plugin to find matches in the names, then re-query for the full dataset with the matching primary keys 
 Write a stored procedure that mimics a query using the SQL LIKE functionality and invoke it using this plugin

Chris · Answer

To note, I wouldn't expect to have any issues with your use case. 
 The Appian "includes" operator for "Michael S" should operate as SQL does with LIKE '%Michael S%'. The "starts with" operator should perform exactly as your SQL LIKE 'Michael S%' call. 
 This is an example where we can search for "includes" value "ware deve" and it correctly returns any user with job title similar to "Soft w are Deve loper". 
 Can you share your code? 
 a!queryEntity(
 entity: cons!USER_DS,
 query: a!query(
 paginginfo: a!pagingInfo(1,10),
 filter: a!queryFilter(
 field: "jobTitle",
 operator: "includes",
 value: "ware deve"
 )
 )
)