The File Browser shows you files that meet certain criteria you specify in a query. Unlike a traditional directory listing, the files are not normally organized by where they are on your hard drive, but by more useful properties such as file type, name, or date. The file browser is more like a search engine than the Finder or Windows Explorer.
Searching for files
When searching for a file by name, start your search from any Patcher window (locked or unlocked), from the File Browser, or in the Search window of a Documentation window.
Searching from a Patcher window
- Type all or part of the name you're looking for in the Search text field at the right of the top Patcher window toolbar.
When you type a return, a Max Documentation window containing the results of your search will open.
Searching from the Documentation window
- Type all or part of the name you're looking for in the Search text field in the Documentation window. As you type, results will appear that contain all or part of what you've typed.
When you type a return, the results of the search will be displayed. You can refine your search further by clicking in the Documentation window sidebar to choose the kind of documents you're looking for.
Searching from the File Browser
- Type all or part of the name you're looking for in the Search text field in the File Browser. As you type, results will appear that contain all or part of what you've typed.
When you type a return, the results of the search will be displayed. You can refine your search further by clicking in the Documentation window sidebar to choose the kind of documents you're looking for. Clicking on a sidebar entry will highlight it, display the search results that match the sidebar entry, and also display a search query lozenge in the search window itself to indicate the search refinement.
- To add multiple queries to your search, command-click (Macintosh) or control-click (Windows) on a listing in the File Browser sidebar. An additional search query lozenge will be displayed in the search window. As you type, results will appear that match all of the search criteria you have added as you type.
Advanced Searches
The File Browser search window provides you tools to do advanced file searching. You can combine multiple search refinements to accurately zero in on the resources you're looking for.
Advanced file searches from the File Browser
- Choose one of the tab listings in the File Browser toolbar. Clicking on a sidebar entry will highlight it, display all of the results that match the sidebar entry, and also display a search query lozenge in the search window itself to indicate the search refinement.
- Click on the search query lozenge.
The search query lozenge will convert to text, and the Document Window homepage will be displayed.
- Scroll down to the Advanced Search tab and click on the arrow to expand it.
The Advanced Search tab window contains a list of other text-format searches you can use.