Click this button, which appears next to the File(s) edit box in the main window, to pop up a dialog with two lists of file extensions, from which you may choose the types of files that you want to search in Finders or index in Keepers. The two lists are labeled “Associated extensions” and “Custom extensions & file masks.”
Associated extensions
The list of associated file extensions is compiled automatically according to the associated extensions that Windows recognizes, that is, extensions that Windows associates with particular applications. Windows refers to files that have these extensions as “Associated Files.” Each entry in this list contains a file extension, or file mask, such as “*.doc”, an icon for the application (program) that handles files with that extension, a description of the file extension, and a check-mark box for selecting the extension.
Custom extensions & file masks
The list of custom extensions and file masks is a list that you make. Usually, you add a file extension to this list because it is not available in associated extensions, or it is, but you often use it in your searches and you wish to have it handy in your custom list. In addition to simple extensions, you may add to the custom list any file masks that you commonly search or index, for example, “chap??.doc”, “fk*.cpp”, “*.*”, “*.c??”, or “auntmaryletters*.txt”.
NOTE that some check mark boxes may be grayed and disabled. This occurs when the file extension has been excluded from searches by your settings in the section Always Skip Extensions under Options - Exclude.
How to use
Select one or more file extensions from the lists to add to File(s). Select the desired extensions by clicking on the check boxes next to them. As you add or remove check marks in the lists, your selections are created as text in the edit box at the bottom of the dialog. When you have finished selecting extensions and file masks, click on the Apply button to put your selections into the File(s) edit box. If you want the dialog to close after applying your selections, click on the OK button instead.
Include: The dialog has radio-button selections labeled “Include” and “Exclude.” Click on “Include” if you want to build in the edit box a string of selected extensions to be searched. The selections will be joined with a right angle bracket ( > ).
Exclude: Click on “Exclude” if you want to build a string of selected extensions to be excluded from the searching. Excluded selections will be joined with a left angle bracket ( < ).
Replace File(s): Click on “Replace File(s)” if you want the selected extensions to replace any text that is in the File(s) edit box.
Add to File(s): Click on “Add to File(s)” if you want the selected extensions to be added to any text already in the File(s) edit box.
Click on this button to clear all check marks and the edit box.
Click on this button to show or hide the following helpers.
Helpers for the Associated extensions
Add Below: Add the highlighted associated extensions to the list of custom extensions. You might want to do this for your most frequently used associated extensions.
Toggle All: Toggle all associated extensions on or off, that is, checked or unchecked.
Helpers for the Custom extensions
Edit box: This is the small edit box that appears to the right of the custom extensions. Type in any file extension or mask that you want to add to the custom list.
Click on this button to pop up a dialog for file selection. In the dialog, choose a file and click the Ok button: the chosen file will then appear in the small edit box above this button.
Click on this button to extract the file extension from the text in the small edit box above this button. For example, if “mydocuments.mdc” is in the edit box, clicking this button will produce “*.mdc” in the edit box.
Add: Click on this button to add the extension or file mask in the small edit box to the list of custom extensions.
Remove: Click on this button to remove the highlighted item in the custom extensions.
Toggle All: Toggle all custom extensions on or off, checked or unchecked.
See also: Select Folder(s)