LIKE conditions are search conditions with a LIKE predicate, to which the following rules apply:

• The operator is the operator LIKE.
• LIKE conditions have the following format:
  <column_spec> LIKE <extended_value_spec>
• The value specification used (extended_value_spec) may not begin with the SQL syntax elements match_string or match_set.

Only LIKE conditions that satisfy these prerequisites can use the Optimizer to determine an optimal search strategy.

Conditions with the format ...NOT (<column_spec> NOT LIKE <extended_value_spec>) are, where possible, converted into an expression <column_spec> LIKE <extended_value_spec>. The system then continues processing the condition in this converted format.