Filter files

A filter narrows the active File view without moving or changing files. Each condition combines a field, an operator, and a value, such as Kind is Image or Modified is after July 1.

Add a filter

1. Choose Filter above the File view.
2. If the complete editor is not open, choose Edit all filters at the start of the Filter row.
3. Choose the field, operator, and value for the first condition.
4. Choose Add filter for another condition at the same level.

The field picker includes built-in facts such as Name, Extension, Kind, Size, Created, and Modified. It also includes applicable metadata fields and, inside a Workspace Folder, properties such as dates, options, tags, ratings, numbers, and checkboxes. Relation properties are not available as filter fields.

The value control follows the field: dates use a date picker, sizes include a unit, ratings use stars, and option-backed properties use their existing options. For complete field and operator tables, see Filter fields, operators, and values.

Combine conditions with AND or OR

The logic control between conditions determines which items remain:

• AND requires every condition at that level to match.
• OR requires at least one condition at that level to match.

Choose Add filter group when part of the rule needs its own logic. For example, Kind is Image AND (Rating ≥ 4 OR Tag contains Portfolio) uses an OR group inside an AND rule. A new filter group starts with OR and its first condition.

Logic belongs to each group. Changing an inner group from OR to AND does not change its parent. Choose Ungroup to move a group’s conditions into its parent without deleting them.

See Combine filters with AND, OR, and groups for evaluation examples.

Include subfolders

Set the filter scope to Flatten (recursive) to evaluate files in the current folder and its descendants. Phials presents matching files in one File view and hides the intervening folder rows. Return the scope to Current folder to evaluate only the folder you are browsing; in that scope, folders can match conditions too.

Recursive filtering only changes what Phials presents. It does not move files or flatten the folders on disk.

Edit or clear filters

Choose a filter chip to edit its field, operator, or value. Choose the close control on a chip to remove that condition, or choose Clear all in the complete editor to remove the whole filter tree.

Closing the Filter row does not clear its conditions. The Filter control remains highlighted while browse filters are active. Search uses a separate filter tree, so search filters do not replace the filters configured for ordinary folder browsing.

Filters are part of the current File view configuration. If a saved view is active, use Save view settings to keep the filter tree or Reset view to restore the saved one.