16.2.1.2 Root and Patterns searches

A Root and Patterns search is used to search for a particular regexp in all files whose names match one or more patterns within a directory. Enter the regexp in the Regexp Search String box, the starting directory in the Root Directory box, and a set of filename patterns in the Pattern List box.

You can press Up or Down in the Root Directory box to complete physical directory components, as described in Completion.

Figure 16.2 A Roots and Patterns search

You can search subdirectories by including directory components (including wild components) in the the Pattern List box.

Multiple filename patterns can be entered, separated by semicolons. Spaces before and after each pattern are ignored. Each filename pattern should be a complete filename and can use the following syntax to make it match multiple files:

• Use * within the pattern to match any sequence of characters in a directory or file name.
• Use ** within the the directory part of the pattern to match any number of subdirectories.
• Use {name1,name2,...} to match any one of name1 , name2 and so on. Spaces before and after each name are ignored.

Here are some examples of pattern lists:

Both of these patterns match all files in the root /images and the root /icons directories.

Both of these patterns match all files with the name sunrise.bmp , sunrise.jpg or sunrise.jpeg in a directory named icons or images , anywhere in the root directory.

Each of these three patterns matches all .txt files which are in a directory date or a directory that ends with -name in the major-events or minor-events directories.

See also the Match flat file-namestring option in Search Parameters for additional information.

If a filename pattern is a directory then all files in that directory are searched.

Check Case sensitive to make the search match only the case of letters exactly as entered, as illustrated above.

Check All files to ignore any list of File Types in the Preferences.