File Search

The File Search extension is a powerful tool officially provided by Sliprail that integrates file search functionality directly into Sliprail's shortcut command system. No need to open file browsers or navigate complex search interfaces—just a few keystrokes to quickly find the files you need.

Core Features

Smart Search

Searches file and directory names by keyword or glob pattern, helping you locate documents, photos, and other local items without browsing folders manually.

Wildcard Support

The extension supports rich glob wildcard syntax for more flexible searching:

• *: Matches any number of characters (e.g., *.jpg finds all jpg images).
• ?: Matches a single character (e.g., photo?.jpg matches photo1.jpg or photoA.jpg).
• {a,b}: Matches one of multiple options (e.g., {vacation,family}.jpg matches vacation.jpg or family.jpg).

How to Use

Basic Search

1. Press Sliprail's global hotkey to open the launcher
2. Enter the file search command: SearchFiles
3. Press the spacebar
4. Type the filename or pattern you want to search for (optional - if no input is provided, the file search window will open directly)
5. Press Enter to execute the search

Wildcard Search Examples

Find all image files:

*.jpg

This will find all files with the .jpg extension.

Find files with specific naming patterns:

photo?.jpg

This will match files like photo1.jpg, photoA.jpg, etc.

Find multiple possible files:

{vacation,family}.jpg

This will simultaneously search for vacation.jpg and family.jpg.

Exclusion list

To improve performance and reduce noise, configure an exclusion list for File Search with .gitignore syntax.

• Location: Settings > Extensions > File Search > Exclusion list
• The rules apply independently to each search root selected in the File Search window

Common examples:

node_modules/
dist/
*.log
.env
**/build/
!keep.log

Rule notes:

• A trailing / denotes a directory
• A leading ! re-includes an item excluded by an earlier rule
• ** matches across directory levels, * matches characters within a path segment, and ? matches one character
• Patterns are evaluated relative to the current search root

A focused exclusion list can significantly improve search speed and relevance.

Tips

1. Use wildcards to improve efficiency: Mastering *, ?, {} can significantly boost search efficiency
2. Combine search patterns: Different wildcards can be combined for more precise matching
3. Memorize common patterns: Keep frequently used search patterns in mind to form your own search habits
4. Quick location: Using key parts of filenames for searching is often more efficient than complete filenames
5. Direct search window access: If you don't input any filename or pattern, simply press Enter to open the file search window directly, allowing you to perform search operations more flexibly.