Make filters temporary and add folder column

[someothername]

This is what I'm planning to put on the adobe features request page:

Currently filters are attached to the folder or collection to which they were applied and remain persistently attached but basically invisible unless you examine the screen carefully. Please change the behavior of filters so that when you change folders any filter attached to the old folder goes away. Or, put another way, whenever a folder or collection is selected, always open it without filters on. Perhaps provide a context menu item on the folder that will allow "apply last used filter on this folder." But essentially make the default behavior of filters to be a temporary action that lasts only as long as the user is working in a specific folder or collection and that it goes away by default when changing folders or collections.

Add a folder scope column to the library filter bar which displays the scope of the current filter in terms of folders and allows selecting a folder with no pictures but which contains folders that have pictures. Have a drop down that mirrors the current folder and collection structure with check boxes to the left so that the user can select which folders or collections to apply the filter to.

Provide a mechanism to save a filter not only as a preset custom filter, but also to change it into a smart collection. The options provided in the current filter set up are not as flexible as those for building a smart collection, but in the vast majority of cases will get the job done.

This change will prevent newbies from pulling their hair out wondering what happened to their photos when they don't realize that particular folder has a filter on it. It will also allow more advanced users to more quickly create preset filters that perform quick tasks or to generate the most common kinds of smart collections, such as setting up a collection for export, print or web work.

 

[Denis Pagé]

No longer than last night, I was working with images from 5 filtered folders going forth and back between them. Having the filters kept as last used was so useful. Later on I grouped all those in a Smart Collection just going at times to the folder "subsets".

But as long as your suggestion is optional... why not?

 

[someothername]

No longer than last night, I was working with images from 5 filtered folders going forth and back between them. Having the filters kept as last used was so useful. Later on I grouped all those in a Smart Collection just going at times to the folder "subsets".

But as long as your suggestion is optional... why not?

Yes I can see where having the last filter applied to a folder be applied the next time you open that folder. This is generally the behavior of software on things like this. But having that permanent when you have hundreds of folders can be very confusing. Perhaps a popup asking me if I want to keep that filter in place when I change focus from one folder or collection to another might work just as well. But also a menu option to clear all filters, with an option to set the folder to "all photographs". When I'm searching, that's the first thing I want to do.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Hey Brandon - I was thinking something along the lines of a 'Global' checkbox on the Filters bar - turning it off would make the filters local to folders, turning it on would apply the current filter to any folder you're viewing. Is that the sort of thing you mean? Definitely put in an official feature requet on this one!

 

[DJdeRidder]

Good idea! I think there are three settings we should be able to have:

1) Local (current setting as in 2.' & 2.1)
If you switch to another folder the filter will switch, but if you return to the previous folder the original filter is still applied.

2) Local and temporary
Filters disappear as soon as you switch to another folder, if you return to the previous folder the filter is gone.

3) Overall
The filter applies to every folder, if you switch to other folders the filter will stay in place.

I will be using the third setting very often.

 

[stasber]

Must be in the air (or the internet - one or the other )as this was plaguing me over the weekend too!

I would like to see options similar to Dirk's suggestions. That is, being able to apply a filter permanently or temporarily on a folder by folder (local) basis, or globally, again temporary or permanent. Oh yes, a global reset option too.

Hell why not - a local reset option too! As in being able to call up currently applied filters - a filter browser per se - and reset them folder by folder or globally, or go to them in a shortcut kinda way.

That's it - a filter browser!

I was flicking between many folders for some client work and God knows how many of those have various filter setting still applied to them. I'll find out the next time I dive into them.

 

[DJdeRidder]

I would like to see options similar to Dirk's suggestions. That is, being able to apply a filter permanently or temporarily on a folder by folder (local) basis, or globally, again temporary or permanent.

Would it be possible to do it this way? I mean, if you apply a permanent filter to one folder does it make sense to apply a temporary filter to another folder? I think it would be more useful if this is something like a general setting you select which will apply to any filter you create.

 

[stasber]

Would it be possible to do it this way? I mean, if you apply a permanent filter to one folder does it make sense to apply a temporary filter to another folder? I think it would be more useful if this is something like a general setting you select which will apply to any filter you create.

I don't know. But here's my scenario from the weekend. Find suitable images for concert poster and 8 page programme from past performances. Most of my gig folders - some on my working drive, others on my archive drive - have 15'-5'' images and I have quite a lot of stuff for this client. I know exactly where to find them, and find it easier working this way than filtering by keyword for various reasons.

I'm working in two collections (poster and programme) requiring permanent filters. Then I'm flicking between these and many different folders with various filtering criteria to review potential images - I don't want a permanent filter on each one - it's a fly-by visit - and as I'm working at a pace, having to remember to make that step of unselecting the filter every time I'm done with a folder, is a little tedious (candidates get dragged to a collection, or 'B'd over to the target collection). But at the same time both (main) collections need to retain their filters otherwise I'm looking at more stuff than I need to which is a bit of a concentration hog.

And a 'filter browser' kinda thing would be a handy viewing & organization tool - see what folders I have filters on, and what kind of filters, then when I'm done, one click will remove the filter and take it off my list. I see this as a dropdown list under the filter bar at the top of the Library module so that it's wide and contain folder info and filter info and options for the actions like reset.

 

[someothername]

This is what I have submitted to the Adobe feature request:

Make filters smart and indicate presence in folder list; make folders smarter.

Currently filters are attached to the folder or collection to which they were applied and remain persistently attached but basically invisible unless you examine the screen carefully. Please make the default behavior of filters to be a temporary action that lasts only as long as the user is working in a specific folder or collection and that it goes away by default when changing folders or collections. But preserve the last two or three filters applied to each folder and display them in the folder context menu as an option to apply to that folder. Allow setting one of the filters to be persistantly applied to that folder.

Add a folder scope column to the library filter bar which displays the scope of the current filter in terms of folders and allows selecting a folder with no pictures but which contains folders that have pictures. Have a drop down that mirrors the current folder and collection structure with check boxes to the left so that the user can select which folders or collections to apply the filter to.

Provide a search on folder (and parent folder) names and allow a filter to be set on a group of folders.

Provide a mechanism to save a filter not only as a preset custom filter, but also to change it into a smart collection. The options provided in the current filter set up are not as flexible as those for building a smart collection, but in the vast majority of cases will get the job done.

Provide a way to mark folders with stars and labels and display them in the folder list. In the context menu for folders, indicate which filters, if any, have been applied.

It will also allow users to more quickly create preset filters that perform quick tasks or to generate the most common kinds of smart collections, such as setting up a collection for export, print or web work. Plus it will provide a quick and easy way to determine if a folder needs more work.