Finding Image Files

[TrevorD]

I am attempting to carry out an extensive search for all Image files, which are mostly - but not exclusively .JPG files.
I have been attempting to do this using the 'Simple Find' dialog in Directory Opus, leaving all fields blank except 'Type', and I have been testing the search by initially searching a single folder containing some .JPG files. I am having difficulty in achieving a search for all image files that will return the .JPG files known to be present in the test folder.

Specifically, I can find no correlation bewteen the list of file types in the 'Type' drop-down list in the 'Find' dialog panel and the list of 'File Types' and 'File Groups' in Settings > File Types. And I can see no way of manually entering a file type in the 'Type' entry field. (I have also tried using the 'Advanced Find' dialog, but that still leads to the same problem with the 'Type' drop-down list.)

For example, the 'Type' drop-down list in the 'Find' dialogue includes an entry 'Image Files' - but that name is not listed in the Settings dialog for 'File Types', so I cannot ascertain what file extensions are included within that group 'Image Files' - but any search for "Type=Image Files" is completely negative.
Conversely, the Settings dialog for 'File Types' includes a File Group named "Images' - note the difference in name - (defined as including a list of about 17 file types) - but that group in NOT listed in the 'Type' drop-down list in the 'Find' dialog.

Incidentally, ".JPG" is listed solely as a "Photo Album 6 Photo", but searching for that will obviously not find other types of image files.

On a related issue, when using the 'Simple Find' dialog to search soley by File Type, it was not clear to me whether I needed to put a wildcard 'star' or 'star dot star' in the 'Name matching' field, or whether I could leave it blank. Both seem to work, but some guidance may be helpful.

I'm also slightly confused by the "Use wildcards" checkbox, because I would have expected that (a) the use of a standard wildcard character in the Name/Description field would automatically indicate that wildcards are being used and that the seacrh should understand that; and (b) in the absence of wildcard character being used in the Name/Description field, checking the "Use wildcards" checkbox would achieve nothing as there would be no indication as to where (and what type of) wildcard is permitted. Please clarify.

Finally, I cannot understand - not find any explanation of - the 'source / destination / new tab' dropdown at the right-hand end of the 'Find' dialog.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Leo]

It you only want .JPG files, either setting the type drop down to .JPG (Photo Album 6 Photo as that tool must have renamed the type on your system) or setting the name to *.(jpg|jpeg) should work.

Is that actually what you want, or do you want to find other non-JPG images as well?

The "use wildcards" checkbox on the Simple Find tab affects the Containing Text box above it; it has no effect on the Name box further up, which always supports wildcards.

[Jon]

@TrevorD

Finally, I cannot understand - not find any explanation of - the 'source / destination / new tab' dropdown at the right-hand end of the 'Find' dialog.

Those are explained on the manual page for the Find Files function:

Normally the current file display will automatically navigate to show this collection when the search begins, but you can use the drop-down below the Show results in field to specify that the collection should be shown in the destination (rather than the source) file display, and also opt to have it shown in a new tab.

[TrevorD]

@leo

do you want to find other non-JPG images as well?

Thanks Leo.

Sorry if I hadn't made it clear - I want to find ALL image files.
I thought I should be able to achieve that using the File Group "Image Files" listed in the Type dropdown - but (a) that doesn't work and (b) I cannot find a definition of what that group includes. How can I find and (if necessary) amend a definition of that group?
Alternatively, I thought I should be able to do that using the File Group "Images" listed in the Settings dialog for 'File Types' - but that group is NOT listed in the 'Type' dropdown. How can I add that group to the 'Type' dropdown, so that I can use that group for my search?

Thanks, Trevor

[Jon]

The easiest way is to leave the Type dropdown empty, and instead enter grp:Images for the Name matching field.

[TrevorD]

@jon

The easiest way is to leave the Type dropdown empty, and instead enter grp:Images for the Name matching field.

Thanks, that works.

But can you please still clarify where the contents of the Drop-down list for 'Type' come from?
Are the defined 'File Groups' not included in that Drop-down list?
How do I ascertain what files are included within "Image Files' from that drop-down?

[quote="jon"]Those are explained on the manual page for the Find Files function:

Normally the current file display will automatically navigate to show this collection when the search begins, but you can use the drop-down below the Show results in field to specify that the collection should be shown in the destination (rather than the source) file display, and also opt to have it shown in a new tab.[/quote]

Thanks, but I still do not understand the reference to 'source' and 'destination' displays in the context of a 'Find' operation.

[Leo]

But can you please still clarify where the contents of the Drop-down list for 'Type' come from?

The Find Panel's Type drop-down lists your system file types. Everything in the third section of the Settings > File Types dialog, plus a few other items (in square brackets) for special cases.

File Type Groups are not shown in the Find panel's drop-down, but you can use grp: wildcards for those, as Jon showed.

How do I ascertain what files are included within "Image Files' from that drop-down?

That sounds like some software you've installed has created a type called "Image Files". Software you install can create, name and assign extensions to types arbitrarily. You can view the type via Settings > File Types > System File Types. (Don't confuse it with the Recognised Images or Images items in the other sections of the File Types dialog.)

Thanks, but I still do not understand the reference to 'source' and 'destination' displays in the context of a 'Find' operation.

Source and Destination basically refer to the active and inactive halves of a dual file display window. See Basic Concepts / Source and Destination in the manual for more detail.