Total Commander

When searching for files in C:\test using this search text: (traverse filter: \dir1\dir2\dir3\, search for files named "test.txt")

The results correctly show:

C:\test\test.txt
C:\test\dir1\dir2\dir3\test.txt

However, when selecting all files and folders in C:\test and copying them to D:\test with "Only files of this type" set to the same filter: Only C:\test\test.txt is copied. The file in the subdirectory (C:\test\dir1\dir2\dir3\test.txt) is excluded, unlike the search behavior. I expect the copy operation to match the search results and include both files.

To make copy work as intended, I need to use a more verbose expression like:
(It is necessary to include all intermediate directories, and to exclude all files in those intermediate directories)


Another inconsistency:

In search, if a traverse filter starts with a backslash, it applies to subdirectories directly in the search location only, not to subdirectories of them. For example:
1. subdir1\ or subdir1\subdir2\ are matched against subdirectories anywhere below the search location.
2. \subdir1\ or \subdir1\subdir2\ or \ are matched against subdirectories directly in the search location only, not in its subdirectories.

But in copy, when specifying a traverse filter in "Only files of this type", there is no difference. Using subdir1\ or \**\subdir1\ does the same as \subdir1\. This inconsistency makes the copy behavior less predictable.

Sorry, these special filters are NOT supported when copying. At the moment it's not planned to support them, sorry.

Moderator message from: ghisler(Author) » 2025-04-06, 07:07 UTC

ghisler(Author) wrote: 2025-04-06, 07:07 UTC Sorry, these special filters are NOT supported when copying. At the moment it's not planned to support them, sorry.

Then the bug is that this is not mentioned in the Help. Help page "F5: Copy" says:

In the field Only files of this type, you can define that only specific files should be copied.
Examples:
*.txt *.doc will copy only text and doc files (also applies to files in subdirs!)
*.* | *.bak *.old will copy everything except for bak and old files
*.* | somedir1\ somedir2\ will not copy files in subdirs named somedir1 and somedir2

The button "+ F8" allows you to define search filters, which offer more options which files should be copied, e.g. by size, date/time or via content plugins. You can also copy related files. For example, you would want to copy all jpg files, plus all RAW image files (.cr2), but only if there is a jpg file in the same directory. This can be done with the following selection string: *.jpg>*.cr2 . Note: The copy filter will only be applied to selected files, and to files in selected folders. Append |**\ to skip copying of empty folders.

It says you can use "+ F8" to define search filters and an example is included to show you can use traverse filters in the exclude part. This suggests that using traverse filters are supported. If traverse filters are not supported other than in the exclude section, it should say so.

I will try adding the same traverse filters in F5 copy and regular search, or if this doesn't work, document the differences.

Moderator message from: ghisler(Author) » 2025-04-09, 09:50 UTC