Overview of the user interface - Quick filter / Quick search


Quick filter


The position of the quick filter in the main window is shown in chapter "Overview of the user interface".


The quick filter provides the possibility to decrease the number of shown folders and files. It is sufficient to type a filter string in the "Quick filter input field" (at the right end of the status bar) to filter files and folders quickly. Only files and folders are shown then, whose names contain the quick filter string.

Under the menu item "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter" can be defined (among other settings), if the the "Quick filter bar" is shown always.

Activating the quick filter

As soon as the focus is on the "Quick filter input field" and the first character is typed, the quick filter is activated and the button behind the input field is switched from to . Clicking activates the quick filter - clicking deactivates it. The shortcut "Ctrl+" deactivates it and clears the edit field.

If the focus is on the "Quick filter input field" and the shortcut "Ctrl+Enter" is activated, the quick filter of this input field is applied for both panels.

Shortcut "Ctrl+Y"

The shortcut "Ctrl+Y" activates the "quick filter bar" in the active panel, if the option "Quick filter bar always visible" is not checked under "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter".

The shortcut "Ctrl+Y" switches the focus in the active panel from the "input field of the quick filter" to the file/folder list, and vice versa.

If the option "Hotkey activates filter when field is not empty" is checked under "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter" and the quick filter input field is not empty, it is switched additionally between activated and deactivated filter.

Right-clicking the "quick filter bar"

After right-clicking

  • the quick filter input field a Windows standard menu is opened.
  • the button behind the the quick filter input field the menu item "Settings..." is shown. Clicking it opens the dialog "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter" to edit the settings of the quick filter.

Quick filter bar - popup menu

Left-clickingin the "quick filter bar"shows a popup menu with the following items:

  • Inverse quick filter
    If the input field in the quick filter bar is not empty, clicking this menu item inverts the filter. The button behind the input field is switched from   to .
    Example:
    the filter string "txt" filters all files and folders containing "txt" in their names.
    After activating this menu item all files and folders not containing "txt" in their names are filtered. Additionally the menu item is checked.
  • List of recent filters (filter history)
    One menu item per filter. Clicking one of these menu items activates the corresponding filter.
  • Clear history
    Clicking this menu item deletes the list of recent filters.
  • Clear edit field
    Clicking this menu item deletes the content of the input field and deactivates the filter.

Examples for editing the quick filter input field

If the setting "Auto add wildcards "*" is checked under the menu item "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter", the filter will find files and folders that contain the filter string anywhere in their names. If it is not checked, the filter will search only from the beginning of names.

  • Operator AND
    pdf\&inv   filters all files and folders containing "pdf" and "inv" in their names.
  • Operator OR
    pdf;inv   filters all files and folders containing "pdf" or "inv" in their names.
  • Operator NOT
    \~old   filters all files and folders not containing "old" in their names.

Examples for quick filters

If the mouse pointer is over the Quick filter input field a tooltip with filter examples is shown.


Quick search

It is sufficient to type a few characters of a search string to quickly locate a file or folder name in the active panel.

A quick search field containing those characters appears on the left of the status bar (see "Overview of the user interface"), and the first item matching the search string will be highlighted in the file/folder list. The keys ↓ or ↑ will skip to the next or previous matching items, respectively.

The quick search can be configured under the menu item "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter".

Shortcut "Ctrl+Y"

If the quick search field is focused, the shortcut "Ctrl+Y" inserts the content of the quick search field in the quick filter field, closes the quick search field and focuses the quick filter field.

Shortcut "Ctrl+A"

If the quick search field is focused, the shortcut "Ctrl+A" highlights all items that match the content of the quick search field.