Searching for a file

Overview
Version: Light (without criteria) / for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

The search for files features is one of the most powerful ways to organize your files. It allows extracting a set of files specifying some criteria, then to work on these files as if they were located in the same directory. Search of files is performed in one directory and its sub directories and can combine one or more criteria.
Once you define your request, just click on the search button. Files that match your request are displayed as long as they are found in the main window. You can save the search results and use it later. You can also update a search results you made previously.

Note: You cannot change the current directory while 3D Photo browser is searching. If you want to change the directory, the software asks you to cancel the search.

What is a search results and what can I do with it?
Version: Light (without criteria) / for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

A search results is an album, which means it only contains references to files that match the criteria you entered. You can use all the 3D Photo Browser commands on a search result. For example, you can extract all jpg files which width are more than 1000 pixels and the file size more than 500 Ko. Once the files found, it is possible to compress them - reducing their size, using a batch command.

Search for files in a local network
version: for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users (Windows NT/2000/XP only)
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

3D Photo Browser makes searching and retrieving files easier when you have several computers connected on a local network. Suppose you have several computers connected and multimedia documents scattered over the network. If you want to search for a file on the network, just define a repository folder. From that moment, each time you browses a directory using 3D Photo Browser, a link to this directory is created in the repository (only if the folder contains recognized documents).
This solution can also be used when several 3D Photo Browser users need to shares documents on the network. In this case, define a repository folder common to each 3D Photo Browser application setup on your network.

Doing that, you just have to check Search in repository and search list to search on the network. 3D Photo Browser takes into account all the links created in the repository, and allows you to find the network documents you were looking for.

Searching a specific file
Version: Light (without criteria) / for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

Name and location

Enter some indication about the files you want to find. This name can contains wildcards:

  • *.jpg search files which extension is jpg.
  • a???.jpg search jpg files (4 characters name, starting by a).
  • *.html;*.htm;*.asp search for files which extensions are html, htm or asp.

Enter the path in which the search is performed in the Search in field, or select it clicking on the Browse... button.

Check Search in sub folders to also search in the sub directories of the selected directory.

Check Search in repository and search list to search on your local network or in a predefined directories list. Look at Search for files in a local network and at additional directories list to get more information.

Check Search in albums or catalogues to analyze albums or catalogues contained in the searched directories. For example, this option allows to search in the CD-Rom catalogues and to find that are not directly accessible on your computer. Note that contents.obv catalogues are always analyzed, so criteria are taken into account.

Name

Search in

Browse...

Search in sub folders

Search in repository and search list

Search in albums or catalogues
Kind of file

Select the kind of files you want to search. The option All recognized file allows files recognized by the application to be export (images, 3D scenes and audio files). If you select Image only the search results will only contains images.


Defining search criteria
Version: Light (without criteria) / for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

When the file name and its type match the parameters define above, the file is added to the search results. However, you might define criteria to add only files that match accurately particular conditions. 3D Photo Browser criteria are similar to the filter concept you find in database. Criteria apply to files information, keywords and properties. You can define up to 3 different criteria.

Match all criteria defined below

Match one of the criterion defined below

 If you define several criteria, select one of these options if you want the files match at least one criterion or all criteria.
Criteria

Click on Criteria >> to select the information to search. There are criteria about file properties, file information or keywords, which are associated to files.

Depending on the content of the criterion you select, specific fields appear to define accurately your request.

Search for a numerical information

When the criterion content is a value, enter it then select the mode (lower than, greater than, egal to, between).

Example:
Select Images / Size and resolution / Width, then select Between and enter 400 and 800 to search images which width is between 400 and 800 pixels.

Searching for a specific text

Match case

When the criterion content is a text, you might be looking for a specific word, several words, an expression or simply check that the text exists.

Enter the words to search (separated by spaces) in the edition field then select the search mode.

Check Match case so lower and upper case characters are taken into account differently.

Example:
Select Description / Keywords, then enter chair and table in the edition field.
Contains all words mode will find all files which have chair and table in their keywords list.
Contains one word will find files which have chair or table in their keywords list.
Contains any text to find files that have any keywords in their list.
Match the expression then enter chair & ( "balcony seat" ^ stool ) to find files which have chair in their keywords list and balcony seat or stool . A popup menu left the edition field helps you to create logical expression.
Searching for a date, a boolean value... Searching for a date, a boolean value works the same way than the one described above.


Saving the search results
Version: Light (without criteria) / for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
menu access: Tools / Search for a file...
toolbar access
keyboard access: F3

You can save the search results content when search is achieved or canceled. Click on the floppy icon next the New search button. It's better to save the results in the proposed directory (or one of its sub directories), so a quick access is automatically added in the Search results folder of the My computer panel.

Opening an existing search results

Select the search results to open in the search results folder of the My computer panel. The search results is an album and you can perform all albums operations on its content.

Updating a search results

To update a search results, open it using the search results folder of the My computer panel. Then open the search panel, using the F3 key for example. Selected search parameters are automatically set back in the dialog. You just need to click on the search button to update the search results content.

Opening the directory that contains a search results file
Version: for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
mouse access: right click on the required file

To open the directory that contains a search result file:

Open the directory that was opened before performing the search
Version: for Dig. Cam. / for 3D Users
mouse access: right click on the background of the thumbnails window

To open the directory that was opened before performing the search: