Category Filter with Subcategories

[FrankE]

Hi,

I'm not sure if I'm overlooking a setting or if this is a limitation (or maybe even a bug), so I'd like to ask.

I have organized thousands of images using hierarchical categories.

Example:

- Models
- Laura
- Sabrina
- Julia

- Published
- Instagram
- PICTRS
- Facebook

What I would like to do is use the Category Filter to display images that belong to multiple categories at the same time, for example:

- Models > Laura
- Published > Instagram

or

- Sketches
- Published > PICTRS
- Published > Instagram

However, this only seems to work reliably when the selected categories are top-level categories without subcategories.

As soon as I select categories that are located inside a category tree, the filter no longer behaves as expected and I cannot combine them in the way I need.

Am I missing a setting, or is the Category Filter currently limited to top-level categories?

If this is the expected behavior, is there another recommended way to filter images that belong to multiple subcategories simultaneously?

Thanks!

[jkm]

First off, I assume you mean "Catalog Filter" and not "Category Filter" like you said. There is no pane labeled "Category Filter". There is a "Categories" pane, which is used to set categories, not filter by them.

I just tried this, and it seems to be working properly. (IF the Category Filter is used)

Are you sure you have your match mode set correctly? There is a little button right next to the Scope drop-down-selector (Global/Current Folder/Current Folder (Recursive).

You say in general terms what you want, but you don't describe exactly what you do, nor do you report the actual results; you just say it "no longer behaves as expected" which is not really helpful. I can't tell you if what you're seeing is expected behavior, because you don't actually say what you see.

If you want to show images that have both the tag "Laura" AND also the tag "Instragram" (on the same image) then you would set your mode to AND, then you would click on Laura, and then CTRL-Click on Instagram. That works for me, even when both are subcategories.

If you want to show all images tagged Laura and also all images tagged Instagram, regardless of whether both tags are set on the same image, you use match mode OR.

If this doesn't sort you out, please be more specific about exactly what you're doing, and exactly what results you get.

And yes, there is an alternative to using the Catalog Filter: you can also use the advanced Search (Tools->Search). You can search for any combination of categories in that dialog, in whatever folder or globally, and you can use grouped boolean operators to achieve whatever you need. You can save frequently used searches as presets, or as a Smart Album. See my documentation post (New Features in XnViewMP) pinned at the top of this board to learn more if you're not familiar with the search capabilities. If you're not familiar with boolean operators, a google search will find articles that will explain them.

Hopefully this helps...

[FrankE]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation!

And yes, you're absolutely right – I meant the Catalog Filter, not the Categories pane.

I tested it again last night, following your explanation, and to my surprise it actually works as expected. I honestly don't know what I did wrong during my previous tests, but I obviously must have missed something.

I was already familiar with the Advanced Search, but I was hoping to achieve the same result directly with the Catalog Filter. Now that I know it works, that's exactly what I wanted.

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a detailed and helpful reply. I really appreciate it!

Best regards,
Frank