XnView Software

I'm sure this is user error but I don't understand how to filter by categories...

I'm new to XnView MP so I've picked a handful of photos which I've categorised, having added some of my own categories and subcategories.
I then opened the search dialogue while in Browser mode, with the browser looking at the top level of my pictures folders. I'm using Windows 11, so this is the Pictures folder under my user account on the computer.

I click on the "Add >>" button under Conditions, and choose "Categories" from the pop-up list. I now have a line showing "Categories" in bold, followed by "contains" underlined, and a dropdown box whose top entry is "Categories".
When I click on "contains", I get a pop-up box offering me the choice between "contains", "does not contain" and "is".
I opt for "is" and click on the dropdown box. Whatever I click in the drop down box (to select one or more categories), there's no change to what appears when I click outside it but within the dialogue box (to collapse the dropdown list).
When I then click on the "Search" button at the bottom of the dialogue box, I get an almost instantaneous display stating
"Finished: 0 file(s) found." This is the same whether I choose one category, several categories or none.

In the helpful user guide written by Roger Carter, page 9 has some text about the Search dialogue, but doesn't seem to explore selecting categories as search arguments.

I'm sure I'm doing something silly, or not doing something obvious or sensible, but I can't work out what.

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

I'm using similar searches...
I use jpg in "Filename" field to avoid losing time on other files (optional)
I make sure that the right folder is selected in the second field
"Use catalog", "Recursive" options are ticked
... and it works

michel038 wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 2:55 pm I'm using similar searches...
I use jpg in "Filename" field to avoid losing time on other files (optional)
I make sure that the right folder is selected in the second field
"Use catalog", "Recursive" options are ticked
... and it works

Thanks for reading and replying. However, I'm not sure I explained myself properly as that doesn't answer my question.
My problem is that when I click on the Categories drop down box and check a category name, the filter returns zero files

Yes, it was clear, this is a normal method.

And otherwise, does your “Catalog Filter” work? (remember to set the right options in the “match” menu at the top of the “Catalog Filter” panel.)
In this filter you can use many categories with Ctrl key, and exclude categories with Alt key

michel038 wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:04 pm Yes, it was clear, this is a normal method.

And otherwise, does your “Catalog Filter” work? (remember to set the right options in the “match” menu at the top of the “Catalog Filter” panel.)
In this filter you can use many categories with Ctrl key, and exclude categories with Alt key

Thank you! The Catalog Filter does work, and I tried some simple combinations -- one using Ctrl and one using Alt, then varying both those with "AND" vs "OR".

This suggests I'm definitely doing something wrong when I've been trying the "search".

However, I imagine (at least for the time being) using the Catalog Filter panel as you described will be sufficient for me.

Merci beaucoup, Michel!

It's an interesting riddle ...
After closing and reopening the drop-down list, do you find the box still checked?
No error in the folder field ?
Which checkboxes are ticked ?
Does it only concern jpg photos?
Where is located your Xnview.ini file ? ( see Settings>Integaration> Paths > .ini file ...)