diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/util/tablefilter.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/util/tablefilter.ts
index 19157c9e..f6ac701f 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/util/tablefilter.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/util/tablefilter.ts
@@ -38,12 +38,18 @@ export class TableFilter<T extends {}> {
         let queryCriteria: any = {} as any;
         Object.keys(this.criteria).forEach(name => {
             const value = this.criteria[name];
-            const queryDef = this.query[name];
-            if (typeof queryDef !== 'function') {
-                queryCriteria[queryDef] = value;
+            if (value === '--') {
+                queryCriteria[name + '.specified'] = false;
+            } else if (value === '++') {
+                queryCriteria[name + '.specified'] = true;
             } else {
-                const additionalQueryCriteria = queryDef(name, value);
-                queryCriteria = { ...queryCriteria, ...additionalQueryCriteria };
+                const queryDef = this.query[name];
+                if (typeof queryDef !== 'function') {
+                    queryCriteria[queryDef] = value;
+                } else {
+                    const additionalQueryCriteria = queryDef(name, value);
+                    queryCriteria = { ...queryCriteria, ...additionalQueryCriteria };
+                }
             }
         });
         return queryCriteria;
diff --git a/src/test/javascript/spec/app/shared/util/tablefilter.spec.ts b/src/test/javascript/spec/app/shared/util/tablefilter.spec.ts
index da7b08c2..8f523776 100644
--- a/src/test/javascript/spec/app/shared/util/tablefilter.spec.ts
+++ b/src/test/javascript/spec/app/shared/util/tablefilter.spec.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,28 @@ describe('TableFilter Tests', () => {
             expect(filter.buildQueryCriteria()).toEqual({ 'name.contains': 'test value' });
         });
 
+        it('when filter "name" is set to "--", buildQueryCriteria() returns a name.specified=false query', () => {
+            // given
+            filter.criteria.name = '--';
+
+            // when
+            const actual = filter.buildQueryCriteria();
+
+            // then
+            expect(filter.buildQueryCriteria()).toEqual({ 'name.specified': false });
+        });
+
+        it('when filter "name" is set to "++", buildQueryCriteria() returns a name.specified=true query', () => {
+            // given
+            filter.criteria.name = '++';
+
+            // when
+            const actual = filter.buildQueryCriteria();
+
+            // then
+            expect(filter.buildQueryCriteria()).toEqual({ 'name.specified': true });
+        });
+
         it('when filter "number" is set, buildQueryCriteria() returns a number.equals query', () => {
             // given
             filter.criteria.number = '-42';