case_sensitive (for Explores)

This page refers to the case_sensitive parameter that is part of an Explore.

case_sensitive can also be used as part of a model, described on this documentation page.

case_sensitive can also be used as part of a dimension, described on this documentation page.

Usage

explore: explore_name {
case_sensitive: yes
}

Hierarchy

Model File

explore

case_sensitive

Default Value

yes, if the database dialect supports the parameter

Accepts

A Boolean (yes or no)

Definition

case_sensitive determines whether or not filters will be treated as case sensitive on a given Explore. All filters related to the Explore are impacted, including those added in the Explore UI, Dashboard UI, and filters parameter.

By default, case_sensitivity is on and filters are case sensitive. However, some dialects do not support this parameter, as described below.

case_sensitive works by adjusting the WHERE clause of the SQL that Looker generates. When case_sensitive is on, filters are expressed with = or LIKE, such as:

WHERE name = 'bob' WHERE name LIKE '%bob%'

When case_sensitive is off, filters are expressed with ILIKE (or equivalent), such as:

WHERE name ILIKE 'bob'

Examples

Make all filters case sensitive for the Product Explore

explore: product { case_sensitive: yes }

Make all filters not case sensitive for the Customer Explore

explore: customer { case_sensitive: no }

Common Challenges

`case_sensitive` Is Not Supported By Some SQL Dialects

By default, case_sensitivity is on and filters are case sensitive. If your SQL dialect doesn’t support the case_sensitive parameter, case sensitivity will vary according to your database setup, which will usually not be case sensitive.

Looker’s ability to provide case_sensitive depends on the database dialect’s ability to support this functionality. The list below shows which dialects support case_sensitive functionality in the most recent Looker release:

Things to Know

You Can Create a Case-Sensitive Search in MySQL

It is possible to create a case-sensitive search in MySQL, even though it does not support the case_sensitive parameter. In MySQL certain data types, called binary strings, store text as a series of numbers. The capitalization of the text makes a difference in the numbers that are used. Therefore, if you convert your text to a binary string, you can make searches that are case sensitive. For example:

dimension: will_NOT_be_case_sensitive { sql: ${TABLE}.something ;; } dimension: will_be_case_sensitive { sql: CAST(${TABLE}.something AS BINARY) ;; }