VF on catalog items

[ugus]

Is is possible to add a switch to catalog items (folders) specifying their visual filter. That could be a real timesaver....

Cheers Ulrik

[ugus]

I know you can add already something like:

Desktop?*.zip

this is OK but I want the real VF also available (filter) not a search...

/Ulrik

[admin]

Is is possible to add a switch to catalog items (folders) specifying their visual filter. That could be a real timesaver....

What will you do with all the saved time?

Yeah, my first idea is: let's add visual filters (VF) to the location syntax as well! Just like simple name searches. Currently VF and searches cannot be combined, that should be changed then maybe (jacky smiling).

If we take e.g. the pipe "|" as operator -- which I already introduced in clever foresight some days ago to separate locations from VF -- then you would have:
Desktop?*.zip -> name search
Desktop|*.zip -> visual filter

That's a very cool idea!!
Have I forgotten anything?

[ugus]

What will you do with all the saved time?

I don't know...maybe work less...
Never mind, Donald your idea sounds good!

Desktop?*.zip -> name search
Desktop|*.zip -> visual filter

Have I forgotten anything?

I don't think so....

/Ulrik

[jacky]

Yeah, my first idea is: let's add visual filters (VF) to the location syntax as well! Just like simple name searches. Currently VF and searches cannot be combined, that should be changed then maybe (jacky smiling ).

If we take e.g. the pipe "|" as operator -- which I already introduced in clever foresight some days ago to separate locations from VF -- then you would have:
Desktop?*.zip -> name search
Desktop|*.zip -> visual filter

That's a very cool idea!!
Have I forgotten anything?

Nope, don't think so. That is a pretty cool idea indeed!

[admin]

On 2nd thoughts there are some issues with this.

First, as to the combination of both: "|" can be part of a Boolean search term, and "?" can be part of a VF, so no matter in what sequence I attach the suffixes there will be unsolvable ambiguities:
Desktop?:*.zip & *.rar|*.zip -> ???
Desktop|*.zip?*.zip -> ???
(Okay, it's " | " (spaces) in the Boolean syntax, but anyway... it's confusing)

Second, VF is a property of tabs (and hence show in the tab headers) rather than of locations, which is quite a difference to "Desktop?*.zip", which will disappear to nirvana on the next change of location. So, it does not really make sense to have it as part of a "location term" (or whatever we call these things we can enter to the GoTo or Address Bar in XY).

Third, VFs are kept in an MRU list. So, if I'd do "Desktop|*.zip" would that be added to that list, and will it set the "last used VF" (Ctrl+Shift+J)?

Hm. I really like "Desktop|*.zip", also because it is (or would be) the only way to set a new location and a new VF at the same time.

BTW, ugus, I'm sure you know: if you are just after the results of that VF then you can always get the identical results using a non-recursive name search (which you can define in the catalog already). These two always give the identical results (the first one with a path column because it enters find mode):
Desktop?pattern /
Desktop|pattern

[jacky]

First, as to the combination of both: "|" can be part of a Boolean search term, and "?" can be part of a VF, so no matter in what sequence I attach the suffixes there will be unsolvable ambiguities:
Desktop?:*.zip & *.rar|*.zip -> ???
Desktop|*.zip?*.zip -> ???
(Okay, it's " | " (spaces) in the Boolean syntax, but anyway... it's confusing)

Right.. it is confusing. But then maybe you could say one cannot combine "quick-searches" and VF from here (Ad. bar, Goto, Catalog, etc). So in your first example, it's a searche, in the 2nd one, a VF.
But once the first one is showed, one could then setup a VF using the usual ways.

Shouldn't really be such a limitation anyway, I think, as it doesn't really makes sense to use both in such case, I think. I mean I'd use VF on search results when they're not just based on Names but also dates, sizes, etc (ie. I seach for all files modified in the past 24h, then VF for *.avi, then for *.exe;*.zip)

2nd thoughts: well maybe I would actually, eg: "?* /r|*.rar" do get my "Show All Items in Branch" view. But that would probably not be on the first go (ie I'll set the VF after I got a view of all the results) so no biggy. Besides it's better to have to use Ctrl+J or likes to set the VF after in thoose specific case, than not being able to use VF from Go to/Catalog iteams/etc I think!

Second, VF is a property of tabs (and hence show in the tab headers) rather than of locations, which is quite a difference to "Desktop?*.zip", which will disappear to nirvana on the next change of location. So, it does not really make sense to have it as part of a "location term" (or whatever we call these things we can enter to the GoTo or Address Bar in XY).

I don't really see this as a big deal. I mean, yes we set up a VF from here, so as its a VF it'll stay on the next change of location, but that how it's supposed to do: it is a VF!
Same as, we have a VF, and change a location that way, VF is still aplied. And as you said, it is shown on the tab's header, so you can't really forget it's there.

Third, VFs are kept in an MRU list. So, if I'd do "Desktop|*.zip" would that be added to that list, and will it set the "last used VF" (Ctrl+Shift+J)?

If it did, that's be awesome!

Hm. I really like "Desktop|*.zip", also because it is (or would be) the only way to set a new location and a new VF at the same time.

I do too. And I really don't think not being able to set a VF this way when doing a name search is such a big deal...

[admin]

Hm. I really like "Desktop|*.zip", also because it is (or would be) the only way to set a new location and a new VF at the same time.

I do too. And I really don't think not being able to set a VF this way when doing a name search is such a big deal...

Ok, but if we can switch on VF via a suffix, we need the possibility to switch it off by suffix as well. That's easy and quite nice, too:
"Desktop|" -> Show Desktop unfiltered (switch off any VF)!

[jacky]

Ok, but if we can switch on VF via a suffix, we need the possibility to switch it off by suffix as well. That's easy and quite nice, too:
"Desktop|" -> Show Desktop unfiltered (switch off any VF)!

Yeah sure! Or one could use * as VF to get it all anyways Don't actually turn it off, but does the same... maybe it should turn it off

[ugus]

+++ Now you can set a Visual Filter directly through the Address Bar,
the Catalog, the Favorites etc. This means you can set a new path
and a new filter at the same time! For example:
Desktop|*.jpg;*.png = browse to Desktop and show only *.jpg
and *.png files
The crucial operator here is the "|"-char (pipe). These are the
general syntax options (Path can be slashed or not):
Path|a* = set filter "a*" to Path
Path| = remove any filters from Path
|a* = set filter "a*" to current Path
| = remove any filters from current Path
The filter will be added to the top of the Visual Filter MRU (most
recently used) list, so it will be available for toggling on/off
(Ctrl+Shift+J).

Bravo!!!

Cheers Ulrik

[allen]

This is indeed excellent -- very convenient. I love the power/flexibility provided by the address bar in XYplorer. It's quiet luxury. The zen of file management, as you said Donald :)

Edit: Ok, is there anyway to bookmark results filtered by way of the address bar? I can't seem to do it via favorite files or folders -- am I missing a list item or is this feature a wish?

[jacky]

Excellent, very well done indeed, Don!

Edit: Ok, is there anyway to bookmark results filtered by way of the address bar? I can't seem to do it via favorite files or folders -- am I missing a list item or is this feature a wish?

I don't think there's an automatic way no, you have to create the Catalog item manually, and input as Destination what you typed on the Address bar.

[JustinF]

This is a very nice feature, thanks!

I had a search string like this C:\Windows\System32\?ts?d*.dll, how do I go about setting up a visual filter in the Catalog like that? Basically, the problem is the question mark (?). I'd like to be able to use a filter that can look for a single character (?) instead of any number of characters (*).

Thanks!

[allen]

Excellent, very well done indeed, Don! :D

Edit: Ok, is there anyway to bookmark results filtered by way of the address bar? I can't seem to do it via favorite files or folders -- am I missing a list item or is this feature a wish?

I don't think there's an automatic way no, you have to create the Catalog item manually, and input as Destination what you typed on the Address bar.

Yeah, I just discovered the ability to manually edit catalog entries . . . at which point I realized I should try keying a filter onto a favorite entry via the favorites list editor. Naturally, it works perfectly. I can access favorites directly from the favorites menu which makes it more desirable for me than the catalog anyway.

It would seem that most things one wants to do with XY they can -- just a matter of knowing how to do it. :)

[jacky]

I had a search string like this C:\Windows\System32\?ts?d*.dll, how do I go about setting up a visual filter in the Catalog like that? Basically, the problem is the question mark (?). I'd like to be able to use a filter that can look for a single character (?) instead of any number of characters (*).

I think this should work: C:\Windows\System32\??ts?d*.dll
The first ? means it's a name search, and then it's your pattern, with ? and * as you wish