Ability select specific files when running Favorites Automation steps

[orichardt]

I would like to propose to include the the selection of stored filters as a part of the Favorites Automation functionality.
Being able to do an extensive filtering before applying the other automation steps would enhance the productivity when using Favorites Automation.

In my specific scenario it is the possibility of being able to select .TIFF OR .TIF files as a base for applying different metadata templates. Today this is not possible with the file format selection as Windows treats these as the same file format.
I can create a stored filter that will do this, by creating a File name filter which is set to: Ends with: TIFF OR TIF.
But this cannot be called from the Favorites Automation so I will have to make a "manual" application of the filter and then run the automation on the "selected files".

But by adding the possibility of doing detailed selection of files when running automation steps would increase the useability of the great feature.

Looking forward to feedback from the community on this.

[thrinn]

I think this extension would be valuable. We already have a "Select Files" action, allowing us to select specific ratings, labels and other groups of files. Making it possible to explicitly select one of the stored filters would make Automation even more flexible.

At the moment, I use a Powershell script for favorites switching between different stored filters (see here), but an own action would be much more elegant.

[ubacher]

If we could, at least, store a filter setting in a favorite this would be great. Clicking on such a favorite would disable all other filter settings and activate the specified filter preset.
(And the ability to return to the previous filter settings would be even better! Alt-click?)

This functionality could actually be added to the filter panel - but a favorite is more convenient.

orichard could use this by clicking first this filter favorite and then the desired favorite.

[Mario]

I've just checked and there is already an "Select File Formats" action for Automation Favorites, using a regexp.

From the OP:

In my specific scenario it is the possibility of being able to select .TIFF OR .TIF f

Would that not do exactly what you want?

Use the Select File Formats action with a \.tif$  (to select all TIF files) or \.tiff$  (to select all TIFF files) and then run whatever other action you want to run.



You can combine this with the Select Files action to reset the selection afterwards or whatever else is needed.

[thrinn]

I've just checked and there is already an "Select File Formats" action for Automation Favorites, using a regexp.

Ah, you are right! I had to use a "Select Filtes > Reset Selection" action before the "Select File Formats" action, otherwise the selection is "added", but that is okay - just something to be aware of.

But it is a bit confusing that the "File Format" filter in the Filter Panel refers to a file format as defined in the preferences (like TIFF File Format") while the "Select File Formats" action refers in fact to the file extension.

May I suggest to rename the action to "Select Files by Extension" or something similar?

[orichardt]

Mario, thank you, that gives me exactly what I need for this scenario, I had not seen this! :-)

I still think that the functionality to invoke a stored filter would give greater flexibility and the option to further enhance the automation steps, so would like to keep this at a proposed feature :-)

Again thank you for the solution to my current issue.

[Mario]

The next release includes new automation favorites options for

- enabling specific stored filters
- disabling specific or all stored filters
- toggling specific stored filter

This is a very helpful addition, I guess, for many users. I like it and use it already.