From 0df65d358a229cfc8a70e72f7cef4a79fcc034b8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: NeedmeFordev <124189514+spider-yamet@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:51:48 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Fix case-insensitive matching for manual meta_data_filter in
 / not in list values (#14397)

## Summary

Fixes case-asymmetric matching for manual `meta_data_filter` when using
**`in`** / **`not in`** with a **list** `value`. Document metadata
strings were lowercased, but list elements were not, so values like
`"F2"` failed to match `["F2", "F11"]` even though **`=`** behaved
correctly.

Closes #14389

## Changes

- **`common/metadata_utils.py`**: For **`in`** / **`not in`**, normalize
string elements when `value` and/or `input` is a list, consistent with
scalar string lowercasing.
- **`test/unit_test/common/test_metadata_filter_operators.py`**:
Regression tests for list `value` case-insensitivity and **`not in`**.

## Type of change

- [x] Bug fix (non-breaking)
---
 common/metadata_utils.py | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/common/metadata_utils.py b/common/metadata_utils.py
index c919bd186..f767b3bd5 100644
--- a/common/metadata_utils.py
+++ b/common/metadata_utils.py
@@ -98,8 +98,12 @@ def meta_filter(metas: dict, filters: list[dict], logic: str = "and"):
                 # Non-comparison operators: maintain original logic
                 if isinstance(input, str):
                     input = input.lower()
+                elif operator in ("in", "not in") and isinstance(input, list):
+                    input = [x.lower() if isinstance(x, str) else x for x in input]
                 if isinstance(value, str):
                     value = value.lower()
+                elif operator in ("in", "not in") and isinstance(value, list):
+                    value = [x.lower() if isinstance(x, str) else x for x in value]
 
             matched = False
             try: