4 Replies Latest reply: Jun 11, 2011 4:02 PM by SimonTindemans RSS

    How to use path names for library filter?

    SimonTindemans Community Member

      Hi all,

       

      I have been looking for a way to use the library filter functionality to show only images in a particular folder (or subfolder thereof). From the help pages [http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Lightroom/3.0/Using/WSAB7B303E-081D-4617-BF47-B4B8D3D49CC3.htm l] I found that the image path is included when you filter using 'any searchable field'.

       

      However, I do not seem to be able to use a full path name, just the individual directory names. To give an example, I can locate files in c:\data\photos using 'contains all: c data photos', but this will also select images in 'c:\data\someotherproject\photos'. I have tried all combinations of slashes and backslashes, but have found no solution to this problem. Does anyone know what the internal representation for the path name is, and if it's possible to search for it?

       

      Just to pre-empt the obvious answer: I know that you can simply click on a folder to show its contents. However, using the filter bar would be a more permanent selection of a working directory, which remains when you click on a collection, for example.

       

      Thanks.

      Simon

        • 1. Re: How to use path names for library filter?
          gatorjim2000 Community Member

          However, using the filter bar would be a more permanent selection of a working directory, which remains when you click on a collection, for example.

           

          It's not clear (to me anyway) what you mean by the above and what you are trying to accomplish. But (1) adding the folder as a favorite to the sources list on the filter bar or (2) using a smart collection might accomplish what you want.

          • 2. Re: How to use path names for library filter?
            SimonTindemans Community Member

            Sorry, I could have been clearer.

             

            What I'm trying to achieve is the following. My computer contains photos by myself, my wife and others, organised in three main folders. Having them in separate catalogs isn't convenient, because we often have photos of the same event (outings, holidays). However, most of the time I only want to work on my photos, and my wife wants to work on hers. A directory filter would be a good and fool-proof way of doing things. I am currently using a special keyword to do this, but I must remember to apply the correct keyword when importing.

             

            Adding a folder as a favorite only works to select that folder in its entirety. What I would like to do is to have a 'master' folder selected and then use Lightroom as I normally would (select folders, collections, etc) Filtering by path name would enable me to do just that - and it does, except that there are false positives due to not being able to enter a full path name.

             

            A smart collection has the same problem: the 'Folder' rule doesn't seem to support paths. And even if it did, it's not possible to select two collections with a logical 'and' operator, unless you make a new smart collection for each possibility.

             

            My current keyword workaround is functional, but slightly error-prone. And in any case, if 'any searchable field' includes the file path, it stands to reason that there should be a way to match that with the entire path. The documentation isn't clear about this, so I hope that anyone can shed some light on this.

            • 3. Re: How to use path names for library filter?
              Jasonized Community Member

              The correct way to solve this problem is probably with smart collections.   The key here is instead of using "folders" as a field, use" any searchable text".

               

              Create smart collection:

                   first rule: "Any searchable text"  "contains"  "master folder"

              then use alt/cmd (depending on your  OS type) and your '+' prompt will change to a '#' prompt.  click on this and you have a new rule that allows you to select logical or/and functions to the above rule.  select "All of the following are true" and then include "any searchable text" and "doesn't contain" "sub folder blah"

               

                  It might be a little more clumsy than you want, but if you select a naming structure for your sub folders that lends itself to filtering, then it could be done easilly enough.  For example, if you have sub folders for jane, john and doe, always start the folder name with their name before adding in the descriptive name.  Then you could have just one rule filtering out all folders that start with jane_, etc.

               

              Work for you?


              Cheers!

              • 4. Re: How to use path names for library filter?
                SimonTindemans Community Member

                Using '#' to generate (effective) parentheses is pretty neat, as it enables complex expressions. It's one of those things in Lightroom that would benefit from better visual cues and contextual help... but it's good that I know now. Thanks!

                 

                However, I don't think it resolves my particular problem. Whether I use 'any searchable field' of 'folder', there is no way to select a full path, so to accurately resolve directories I'd have to resort to unique directory (sub-)names, like you suggested. The second problem is that it's not possible to select images that are in a smart collection and another collection from the GUI, so I would need to specialize all collections for the different users on the machine.

                 

                In fact, thinking a little more about unique directory names, this may be the easiest workaround for my problem. I'll simply rename my main photo directory to SimonPhotoRoot, which doesn't clash with anything else. Then I can use a library text filter for 'SimonPhotoRoot' in any searchable field, and similar for other users.

                 

                Regardless of this (or any) workaround, I doubt whether there is any way to use the path name in filters or smart collections. If there isn't, Adobe should probably clarify this in their documentation.