I use labels to "tag" files (e.g. "red"). Then I enable flat view (no folders) for a multi-level hierarchy. Then I want to use the filter bar to only display "tagged" (=red) files over the entire flat view. I switch on (Evaluator=true) in the filter bar, as described in the docs. I then use "?mycustomfilter" to only show tagged files, also described in the docs. [1]
It works as expected in normal view, but not in flat view - it filters/hides ALL files, even the tagges files. Is this a bug?
I see, thank you Leo. This does make sense, however, it's not the behavior I expected. I guess there is currently no option to change that?
To me, the behavior described in the docs should evaluate the pre-defined filter it for every item, without considering whether the parent folder was a match (=shown) or not (= hidden).
In evaluator mode, the quick filter expression is passed to the Evaluator for each item in the list. The expression should return true if the item should be shown, or false if it should be hidden.
Using Tools > Find Files is the best approach, unless you really need the view to update when new files are added (which is unusual with complex filtering, and probably not needed when searching for labels).
Based on @lxp's response that what I'm trying to do should work, I did some more testing. Here's what I found.
I open a fresh lister, navigate to the directory, enable Flat View (No Folders).
Then, both of those further paths work:
Enable "Evaluator" in filter bar, then enter "?red", press enter. → Filters correctly.
First enter "?red", then enable "Evaluator". → Filters correctly.
However, when (after completing the above), I navigate to another folder, go back, do the same again (except enabling Evaluator, as it's still enabled), then the filelist remains empty, i.e., the filter does not work. This is fixed by once again disabling and enabling "Evaluator".
So, my use case seems to work, but the behavior I just described seems to be a bug?
(I assumed it doesn't work at all, probably because I somehow ran into this bug repeatedly.)
Another thing I noticed: overall, when "Evaluator" is on, the filter bar behaves weirdly. Given the situation I have done all of above and only red-labeled files are shown in the lister. If I then enter "label=="whatever"" into the filter bar and hit enter, the file lister doesn't change - it still shows all red-labeled files. Should the "label=="xx"" syntax work? It's not listed in the docs, I think. That's why I created a pre-defined filter.
@lxp, you said "Maybe the file display just needs a refresh?". When I hit my custom refresh button (GO refresh), then the filter bar is cleared. Do you suggest to use another method of "refreshing"?
