Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

advice1010 · 2025-03-24 00:22:47

Before I request something like this, I was wondering if the following was possible.
Does anyone know if there is a way to create an "ignore list" for items (folders) you do not want to have the built in Find/Search tool (Ctrl+F) search through when performing searches?

Just to give an example, I was playing around with the application "Timeshift" which can save backups of system. This basically creates a double of all your system files and is save on the same drive.
On occasion (actually often because I am always searching for system files people mention that I do not know where they would be located) I do a search in all system files to find items.
I just noticed now that I create a "Timeshift" backup, now I get duplicate results for anything items found.
So I was just wondering if for example the "Timeshift" backup folder could be "ignored" when doing searches.

Thank You

gogogadget · 2025-03-24 09:16:38

advice1010 wrote:

Before I request something like this, I was wondering if the following was possible.
Does anyone know if there is a way to create an "ignore list" for items (folders) you do not want to have the built in Find/Search tool (Ctrl+F) search through when performing searches?

The search function uses Catfish, a GUI for locate which has no "ignore list" option.

I think the solution would be to create a custom action using another search tool. Fsearch, for example, has an include/exclude directories option.

JmaCWQ · 2025-03-24 11:41:29

advice1010 wrote:

......So I was just wondering if for example the "Timeshift" backup folder could be "ignored" when doing searches.
Thank You

Possibly.
With Catfish 4.16.3 on MX-21.3, in Preferences > Advanced there is an "Exclude Directories" option.
Perhaps that will work?

gogogadget · 2025-03-24 15:02:58

JmaCWQ wrote:

Advanced there is an "Exclude Directories" option.
Perhaps that will work?

I think it's the solution for OPl, I didn't use Catfish for some time, didn't know this new option existed, thanks for the correction.

(tried with Catfish 4.20.0-2)

Last edited by gogogadget (2025-03-24 15:04:05)

JmaCWQ · 2025-03-25 05:38:23

gogogadget wrote:

I think it's the solution for OPl, I didn't use Catfish for some time, didn't know this new option existed, thanks for the correction.
(tried with Catfish 4.20.0-2)

No probs cool
I've never actually tried it myself but noticed a while ago the option was there.

advice1010 · 2025-03-27 00:50:27

Thank you guys for the responses.
I might be incorrect but I did not think that Thunar was using Catfish to do searches, I thought it was something built in.
If you do a search in Thunar and look at the bottom of the file pane it gives you the option to instead "Search with Catfish"

I tried what was mentioned regardless, I had seen this feature available in Catfish but because I did not think the two applications were related I never tried this. I think my test results might confirm that my assumption might be correct because I added a subfolder within my Downloads folder to this Catfish "ignore" list and when I did a search for keyword based on files I knew were in that subfolder, they showed up in my Thunar search even though the folder is supposed to be "ignored".
Not sure if anyone else experiences the same results?

JmaCWQ · 2025-03-27 05:30:19

Is that using the search box that appears up the top when CTRL+F is hit in any Thunar window?
I never even knew that existed in Thunar until now, learn something new every day it would seem...
I think you're correct, the Catfish setting doesn't seem to apply to Thunar's search function, using Thunar 4.18.3.

I knew about the search feature that when a folder is open you just type on the keyboard and a small box appears bottom right, if what characters you've typed matches characters of a filename or folder name in that folder, it auto goes to it and highlights it.

him610 · 2025-03-27 13:26:14

I just checked my installed thunar version 4.16; it has the exclude directories settings.

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#1 2025-03-24 00:22:47

Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#2 2025-03-24 09:16:38

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#3 2025-03-24 11:41:29

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#4 2025-03-24 15:02:58

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#5 2025-03-25 05:38:23

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#6 2025-03-27 00:50:27

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#7 2025-03-27 05:30:19

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

#8 2025-03-27 13:26:14

Re: Thunar - Way to create an ignore list for Search tool

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