# Multiple search items in query do not work **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [November 11, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357 "2026-11-11T05:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/matta/32/5126_2.png) [@matta](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/matta)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357/1 "2026-11-11T05:18:32Z")
I am trying to ensure that I do an update pass over all my notes (5680) in a particular deck, and update all their content. I have tried to create a Filtered Deck with the following query: `"deck:EO All Official Esperanto Words and Roots" (is:new card:1) (is:new card:2)` . I essentially want to find any note that has both cards new, i.e. any note, for which I have not seen either of its cards. The Note Type is reversible: each note has two cards. Thus I am trying to write a query that says: Card 1 must be new AND Card 2 must be new. The query above produces no cards. I can see several notes that have both cards new, but the query is not returning them??? I then tried the following query: `"deck:EO All Official Esperanto Words and Roots" is:new (card:1 2)`. It returns 1262 cards and shows only Card 1 in the Browse window. But this query seems to miss some of the notes that have both cards new, when I look through the list returned by the base query: `"deck:EO All Official Esperanto Words and Roots" is:new`. It also shows cards, for a note that has one card that is not new. What is wrong with my query/queries? How do I return Card 1 for all notes that have both cards new? Many thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![jcznk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/jcznk/32/15215_2.png) [@jcznk](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jcznk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357/2 "2026-11-11T06:03:50Z")
As far as I understand, searches in Filtered Decks and Card Browser never match _notes_, but rather they match cards (even when the Browser is in “Notes” mode). So this sort of search string: `card:1 card:2` (which is the same as `card:1 AND card:2`), will never return any result, because no card can be card 1 and card 2 at the same time. ( Also note that `(card:1 2)` means `card:1` AND the text “2”, so it should only match card 1s containing a “2” somewhere ) It’s possible to use tags as a workaround: 1. First, search only for `"deck:EO All Official Esperanto Words and Roots" is:new card:2` 2. Add a tag to all the notes that match this query, like `Card2New`, for example. 3. Now search for `tag:Card2New card:1 is:new` to match all notes where both card 1 and card 2 are new. 4. You might want to periodically remove the tag, since it won’t update when card 2 stops being new. ---
**Author:** ![matta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/matta/32/5126_2.png) [@matta](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/matta)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357/3 "2026-11-11T06:29:42Z")
Thanks, @jcznk ! That’s what I thought. Is there no way from a query to drive up to the parent note and then search all its child cards to see whether they are new? The tag thing will work, but it’s manual. I was hoping to have a single query that would perform the work so that I can use it in a Filtered Deck. ---
**Author:** ![jcznk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/jcznk/32/15215_2.png) [@jcznk](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/jcznk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 6:52am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357/4 "2026-11-11T06:52:10Z")
Unfortunately, I don’t think this is possible with a single normal query. The best alternative I can think of is using python (e.g., via add-ons or the debug console). For example, you could have a script that looks for all cards matching given criteria and prints a list of cids, like `cid:1611220135653,1611220135663,1611220135660`, which then needs to be copy-pasted to a filtered deck. ---
**Author:** ![matta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/matta/32/5126_2.png) [@matta](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/matta)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/multiple-search-items-in-query-do-not-work/74357/5 "2026-11-11T07:44:40Z")
Thanks! I’ll have to think about a Python script that might suit. Thanks very much for taking the time to think about the problem!