Advanced Metadata Filtering Techniques

Master structured filters and raw metadata queries

What You'll Learn
  • Using structured filters (duration, dimensions, etc.)
  • Combining multiple filters
  • Using comparison operators
  • Raw metadata queries with --meta
  • Real-world filtering examples

Structured Filters

Structured filters provide easy-to-use syntax for common metadata fields. They're the recommended way to filter files.

Duration Filters

# Videos under 1 minute
filefortress search --filter "duration:<60"

# Videos between 5-10 minutes
filefortress search --filter "duration:>=300 AND duration:<=600"

# Videos over 1 hour
filefortress search --filter "duration:>3600"

Dimension Filters

# 4K videos (3840px width or higher)
filefortress search --filter "width:>=3840"

# HD videos (1080p)
filefortress search --filter "height:1080"

# Portrait orientation
filefortress search --filter "height:>width"

Storage Class Filters (S3)

# Files in Glacier
filefortress search --filter "storageClass:GLACIER*"

# Files in standard storage
filefortress search --filter "storageClass:STANDARD"

# Files in Intelligent-Tiering
filefortress search --filter "storageClass:INTELLIGENT_TIERING"

Camera Filters

# Photos from Canon cameras
filefortress search --filter "cameraMake:Canon"

# Specific camera model
filefortress search --filter "cameraModel:*5D*Mark*IV*"

# Photos with GPS data
filefortress search --filter "gpsLatitude:*"

Comparison Operators

Operator Meaning Example
: Equals / Contains duration:<60
:> Greater than duration:>60
:>= Greater than or equal duration:>=60
:< Less than duration:<60
:<= Less than or equal duration:<=60

Combining Filters

# AND - Both conditions must match
filefortress search --filter "duration:>300 AND width:>=1920"

# OR - Either condition can match
filefortress search --filter "extension:mp4 OR extension:mov"

# Complex combinations
filefortress search --filter "(duration:>3600 AND width:>=3840) OR (cameraMake:Canon AND rating:5)"
Pro Tip

Use parentheses to group conditions and control precedence in complex filters.

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