A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product optimizes a search for data from documents. A processor receives an instruction to perform an initial map/reduce search for a specific set of data in documents from a first database. A synthetic event, which is a non-executable descriptor of the specific set of data in documents from the first database, is generated, and a revised map/reduce search for the synthetic event in a second database is conducted. The processor then returns a solution for the revised map/reduce search.