FolderSizes Help

FolderSizes search and scan filter rules can match files or folders by name.

 

Two primary name matching methods are provided - wildcards and regular expressions. The Use Regular Expressions checkbox controls which of these modes is currently in effect (when unchecked, wildcard matching is used).

 

Wildcard Matching

 

Uses wildcard characters (such as *.*) to match file path parts. In this mode of operation, multiple name masks can be used by separating each with a semi-colon. For example:

 

*.jpg;*.png;*.gif

 

The mask above, when applies to a file search rule, will match any file name that contains ".jpg", ".png", or ".gif".

 

Wildcard matching can also be be applied to folder search rules. For example, the expression below will match all folders below the Windows system folder:

 

c:\windows\*

 

Regular Expressions

 

Provides a more advanced pattern matching capability. See the Regular Expression Support section of this help file for additional information.

 

Note that when using regular expression mode, you cannot separate multiple masks with semicolons (as you would with wildcard matching, described above). This is not supported because a single regular expression is sufficiently expressive to do this on its own.

 

Other Options

 

Additional file name mask switches include:

 

•Case sensitive comparisons - Controls whether wildcard or regular expression match patterns are compared to file and folder names in a case sensitive manner.

•Compare filename only (not the full path) - When engaged, this switch indicates that only the relative file or folder name is compared against the name mask. Turn this switch off to match entire file or folder name paths.

 

File Name Mask Presets

 

The Presets button appears when editing name masks for file search rules, providing quick access to a number of pre-defined (and user customizable) name masks. Click the Presets button and select the file name of the mask that you wish to use.

 

To customize the available file name mask presets, click the Preset button and select the Manage Presets option in the resulting menu. The Preset Mask Editor window will appear, allowing you to edit existing masks and define up to two custom file name mask entries.

 

Note that file name mask presets are comprised of traditional wildcard-based pattern matching expressions, each separated by a semi-colon.

 

See also: Scan filter rules, Search rules