# Filter 'not'
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [July 22, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182 "2007-07-22T21:10:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@chrisjj](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/chrisjj)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/1 "2007-07-22T21:10:22Z")
How to I set the filter to show all files /not/ matching an expression?
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### Author:  [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/2 "2007-07-23T06:57:35Z")
There's a check box "invert"
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### Author:  [@chrisjj](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/chrisjj)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/3 "2007-09-26T19:07:58Z")
Thanks... but unavailable I find in any version with a working %\_counter%, essential to me ☹
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### Author:  [@KaraokeK](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/KaraokeK)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/4 "2010-09-12T06:01:10Z")
I'm sure in one version there was an invert option on the filter bar - cannot see it now, using version 2.46a.
Maybe I cannot see the wood from the trees.
Thanks
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### Author:  [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 6:57am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/5 "2010-09-12T06:57:35Z")
The filter system has changed and it's been removed.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/6 "2010-09-12T07:14:38Z")
> [@chrisjj](#):
>
> How to I set the filter to show all files /not/ matching an expression?
write the positive filter like
%artist% IS Beatles
and then add a NOT
NOT %artist% IS Beatles
(all keywords in capitals)
if you want to exclude 2 criteria:
NOT %artist% IS Beatles OR NOT %genre% is Rock
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### Author:  [@chrisjj](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/chrisjj)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/7 "2010-09-12T08:16:30Z")
> [@dano](#):
>
> The filter system has changed and it's been removed.
Indeed. Disappointing. One should not have to edit the query string just to see the inverse.
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### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/8 "2010-09-12T10:01:56Z")
> [@chrisjj](#):
>
> Indeed. Disappointing. One should not have to edit the query string just to see the inverse.
Yes, clicking on an button seems to be quicker than writing the word "NOT".
But take into account, that at first the filter expression has to be written by hand, then going over to the mouse and search the button and click it will cost more time and circumstances than modifying the filter command line directly by hand and keyboard.
This is a filter expression ...
**(%ARTIST% IS "Kinks") OR (%ALBUM% IS "Black")**
... which gives all tracks containing either Artist "Kinks" or Album "Black".
To invers the filter simply write ...
**NOT ((%ARTIST% IS "Kinks") OR (%ALBUM% IS "Black"))**
... which is equivalent to the filter expression ...
**NOT (%ARTIST% IS "Kinks") AND NOT (%ALBUM% IS "Black")**
... which gives all tracks containing other Artist than "Kinks" and other Album than "Black".
To negate the previous filter expression, simply write ...
**NOT (NOT (%ARTIST% IS "Kinks") AND NOT (%ALBUM% IS "Black"))**
... which is equivalent to the filter expression ...
**(%ARTIST% IS "Kinks") OR (%ALBUM% IS "Black")**
The filter expression language provides the user more flexibility than a simple button can ever do.
DD.20100912.1400.CEST
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### Author:  [@chrisjj](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/chrisjj)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/9 "2010-09-12T12:47:32Z")
> Yes, clicking on an button seems to be quicker than writing the word "NOT".
... and two brackets.
> But take into account, ... going over to the mouse and search the button and
> click it will cost more time and circumstances than modifying the filter command line
Only on a program that fails to provide a key command for the NOT button.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/filter-not/5182/10 "2026-02-09T12:20:25Z")