Ignore in Alfred — Exclude files and folders from Alfred’s search results

[vitor]

Usage

Remove or readd files and folders from Alfred’s search results via the Universal Actions.

Alternatively, search for files and folders via the ignore, unignore, and reignore keywords.

⤓ Install on the Alfred Gallery | Source

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by vitor

[vitor]

When reporting issues, please include your exact installed versions of:

• The Workflow.
• Alfred.
• macOS.
  

In addition to:

• The debugger output. Perform the failing action, click “Copy” on the top right and paste it here.
• Details on what you did, what happened, and what you expected to happen. A short video of the steps with the debugger open may help to find the problem faster.
  

Thank you. Accurate and thorough information is crucial for a proper diagnosis which allows me to help you better.

[Peter U]

This is ridiculously good - thank you so much for creating this workflow! 🙏

 

I've been waiting forever for a solution to the 'exclude from search' problem, without having to go via Spotlight.

[vitor]

Updated to 2022.2.

Add configurable keywords.

[gustavopellegrini]

This work flow is not working for me. Can someone help me?

[Stephen_C]

What exactly doesn't work? Please post the output from the debugger you obtain when running the workflow and confirm what macOS and Alfred versions you are using.

 

Stephen

[gustavopellegrini]

1 hour ago, Stephen_C said:

What exactly doesn't work? Please post the output from the debugger you obtain when running the workflow and confirm what macOS and Alfred versions you are using.

 

Stephen

the "teste" folder is not being ignored. Can you help me please??

[vitor]

The Automation Task object tells you the problem, the task is missing. Double-click it and install/update.

[gustavopellegrini]

16 hours ago, vitor said:

The Automation Task object tells you the problem, the task is missing. Double-click it and install/update.

Yess, i saw this after taking  the screenshot. Now there is no error in the debugger but the "teste" folder still doesn't disappear

[vitor]

You may have a problem with your Spotlight indexing. First, try rebooting. Try it also on a single file. If that doesn’t work, paste the output of the File Indexing Troubleshooting.

[gustavopellegrini]

12 minutes ago, vitor said:

You may have a problem with your Spotlight indexing. First, try rebooting. Try it also on a single file. If that doesn’t work, paste the output of the File Indexing Troubleshooting.

with a single file it worked.why are the folders not disappearing?

 

 

[vitor]

They should (and do for me, plus I haven’t gotten other reports like yours). Can’t say why without you rebooting and providing the information requested above.

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by vitor

[gustavopellegrini]

7 minutes ago, vitor said:

They should (and do for me, plus I haven’t gotten other reports like yours). Can’t say why without you rebooting and providing the information requested above.

 

I drag the "teste" folder in the troubleshooting file index:

 

Starting Diagnostics...

File: 'teste'
Path: '/Users/gustavopellegrini'

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file cache database...

✅ File cache integrity is ok

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if file is readable...

✅ Alfred has permissions to read this file.

Unix Permissions: 493
Underlying Type: NSFileTypeDirectory
Extended Attributes: (
    "com.apple.metadata:_kMDItemUserTags"
)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if volume '/' is indexed by macOS...

✅ Indexing is enabled on this drive

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check direct file metadata...

✅ Direct metadata available

Display Name: teste
 Other Names: 
Content Type: public.folder
   Last Used: 2022-11-06 17:35:32 +0000

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check mdls file metadata...

✅ Metadata contains required items

_kMDItemDisplayNameWithExtensions      = "teste"
kMDItemContentCreationDate             = 2022-08-18 07:44:10 +0000
kMDItemContentCreationDate_Ranking     = 2022-08-18 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate         = 2022-11-06 17:35:18 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate_Ranking = 2022-11-06 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentType                     = "public.folder"
kMDItemContentTypeTree                 = (
    "public.folder",
    "public.directory",
    "public.item"
)
kMDItemDateAdded                       = 2022-08-18 07:44:10 +0000
kMDItemDateAdded_Ranking               = 2022-08-18 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemDisplayName                     = "teste"
kMDItemDocumentIdentifier              = 0
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate             = 2022-11-06 17:35:18 +0000
kMDItemFSCreationDate                  = 2022-08-18 07:44:10 +0000
kMDItemFSCreatorCode                   = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags                   = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon                 = (null)
kMDItemFSInvisible                     = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden             = 0
kMDItemFSIsStationery                  = (null)
kMDItemFSLabel                         = 0
kMDItemFSName                          = "teste"
kMDItemFSNodeCount                     = 2
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID                  = 20
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID                   = 501
kMDItemFSSize                          = (null)
kMDItemFSTypeCode                      = ""
kMDItemInterestingDate_Ranking         = 2022-11-06 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemKind                            = "Pasta"
kMDItemLastUsedDate                    = 2022-11-06 17:35:32 +0000
kMDItemLastUsedDate_Ranking            = 2022-11-06 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemUseCount                        = 12
kMDItemUsedDates                       = (
    "2022-08-18 03:00:00 +0000",
    "2022-10-13 23:00:00 +0000",
    "2022-11-04 00:00:00 +0000",
    "2022-11-05 00:00:00 +0000",
    "2022-11-06 00:00:00 +0000"
)
kMDItemUserTags                        = (
    "alfred:ignore"
)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file is in search scope...

⚠️ File isn't within Alfred's default search scope

Add relevant folder to Alfred's Default Search Scope, or if you're using a workflow, add to the File Filter's scope

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check MDQuery file search...

❌ macOS did not return a match for this file in your search scope. Try resetting Alfred's Preferences > Features > Default Results > Search Scope > Reset... to "Reset to Applications and Home"

File Search Results for search scope (
)

File Search Results for ~/ (
    "[0] /System/Volumes/Data/Users/gustavopellegrini/teste"
)

File Search Results for / (
    "[0] /System/Volumes/Data/Users/gustavopellegrini/teste"
)

-----------------------------------------------------------

❌ Troubleshooting failed
 

[vitor]

You’re still seeing the folder because it’s directly under your home and search optimises that. In real usage that won’t happen, because most folders won’t be at the root of your home. In the off chance that is something you truly need instead of being just a test, you can go to Alfred Preferences → Features → Default Results and Reset the Search Scope to Applications and Home.

[Casper]

I have this error:

ERROR:

ERROR: Ignore in Alfred[Automation Task] Task Error: Swift/ErrorType.swift:200: Fatal error: Error raised at top level: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-5000 "afpAccessDenied: Insufficient access privileges for operation " UserInfo={NSURLKeysOfUnsetValuesKey=(
    NSURLTagNamesKey
)}

Any ideas how to fix it?

[vitor]

Welcome @Casper,

 

What are your exact versions of:

• The Workflow.
• Alfred.
• macOS.
  

And what’s the path you’re trying to ignore?

[Casper]

• v2023.1 "Ignore in Alfred" Workflow. 
• Alfred 5.0.6
• macOS Ventura 13.2.1.

I am trying to exclude one of the app in the Applications folder.

Edited March 21, 2023 by Casper

[vitor]

Just now, Casper said:

I am trying to exclude one of the app in the Applications folder.

 

That explains it. See issue #4 on GitHub for the reason and alternative.

[Casper]

I set the tag manually, but that didn't help. I still see the app in Alfred's search results.

[vitor]

Try running reload in Alfred to update the app cache.

[luckman212]

@Casper + @vitor I posted some possibly interesting findings about this over on that github issue #4.

[andy4222]

I tried adding `alfred:ignore` to the application i was trying to ignore but it still shows up. Do I need to reindex the file system?

[Vero]

@andy4222 Type "reload" to refresh the app cache. This should take care of it

[andy4222]

I totally forgot about the reload command, haven't used it in ages. Thanks @Vero

[MichaelD]

On 6/7/2023 at 2:16 AM, Vero said:

@andy4222 Type "reload" to refresh the app cache. This should take care of it

This fixed it for me, instantly.

I'm a bit surprised because I've had this problem for quite a while, i.e. certain files with the Alfred:ignore tab still showed up in Alfred search results.

But what could be better than a solution that is faster and easier than saying thank you!?

Thank you!