Files

As described earlier in this manual, an M-Files document consists of metadata and zero or more files. This tab in the detailed search is used to specify search criteria for just the document files – i.e., not the metadata, which was specified on the Properties and Status tabs.

The Files tab allows you to specify search criteria for document files.

File name

If you can remember the file name or parts of it, File name is an efficient search criterion. If you remember the exact name, select the equals sign and enter the name of the file in the next field. If you cannot remember the exact name, you can use other operator settings than the equals sign; refer to Properties (Additional Conditions).

File size (KB)

If you want the search to return files of a certain size, you can specify the minimum and maximum file size here.

File created, File changed

Searches can also be performed according to the time stamps of files, i.e., creation date and change date. The use of dates as search criteria works in the same manner in all searches. For more information about the use of dates as search criteria, refer to Status.

Linked to external location

You can also perform a search on files that are linked to an external location. You can choose to search within files that are all linked to one and the same external location, or within all linked files that are external to M-Files. For more information about linking files, refer to External File Sources.

Example: Searching for PNG Images

Steps

  1. Click Advanced Search on the right side of the search bar to bring up the advanced search options.
  2. Click Additional Conditions...
    The Additional Conditions dialog is opened.
  3. Go to the Files tab, check the Contains files check box, and select Yes from the adjacent drop-down menu.
  4. Check the File name check box and select matches wildcard pattern from the adjacent drop-down menu.
  5. Enter *.png in the text field next to the drop-down menu.
    The Files tab should now look like this:
  6. Click OK to close the Additional Conditions dialog.
  7. Enter a search term in the Quick Search field or leave it empty if you do not want to filter your search any further.
  8. Press Enter or click the arrow button next the Quick Search field to start your search.

Results

The search results show the PNG images found for your search term or all the PNG images in the vault if you omitted the search term.