Finding files with multiple kMDItemKeywords

[luckman212]

macOS: 10.14.6 (18G87)

Alfred: 4.0.3 b1092

 

I use `xattr -w com.apple.metadata:kMDItemKeywords` to add keywords to certain apps/files/folders to make searching easier. This works, but it seems Alfred has trouble when there are multiple keywords assigned. Take the example below, where I have tagged the "BackupLoupe" app with some keywords:

 

 

The keywords are timemachine, machine and time.

Specifying any SINGLE keyword works, e.g.

 

Even this works, strangely (separating keywords by comma, space):

 

But not this (space only):

 

Or this (comma only)

 

In "regular Spotlight" it works fine:

 

I think this is a bug in how Alfred processes multiple keyword metadata.

 

 

Edited August 20, 2019 by luckman212

[Andrew]

Alfred's built in search works as designed (less noise), so the behaviour you are seeing is correct.

 

You have control over file search behaviour if you use a file filter in a workflow. For example, to arbitrarily search keywords, you would use something similar to this:

You can add in other fields if you want to search by e.g. display name also.

 

Here is more info on using file filters:

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/workflows/inputs/file-filter/

 

Cheers,

Andrew

[luckman212]

Thanks for the reply. Ok, I'll experiment with a custom file filter workflow. This is a minor thing, just thought it might have been a bug is all.