Welcome

SearchKey is a simple tool for adding keywords and other metadata to files, to improve Spotlight local search results.

Spotlight compiles indexes of metadata for use in local searches. For most files, the information used for those indexes is the (data) contents of the file. For text and PDF files, for example, that consists of the words contained within that file. If you search for files containing the word macOS , then Spotlight won’t find any which refer only to OS X . If you search for files containing the word auto , then Spotlight won’t find any which only use the European term of car .

One way to address this is to add keywords and other metadata which ensure that documents about macOS or autos, or whatever, can be found regardless of the words within them. Such metadata are also the only effective way of searching non-verbal content such as images, audio, and video.

Some file formats, particularly those used for non-verbal content, already provide for metadata, which Spotlight uses. macOS also provides a universal system through extended attributes, or xattrs, which can be attached to any file (or folder), and remain attached to the file wherever it goes. The problem with extended attributes is that, with a few exceptions, that cannot ordinarily be seen by the user, nor are they easy to edit.

SearchKey changes that, making it simple for you to add and maintain metadata in the form of extended attributes to any document or other file.

Not all extended attributes are preserved at all times. There are some file systems which strip them, NFS being one, but few users are likely to store their files on them. Transferring files between Macs using iCloud Drive can also strip certain attributes. Those selected for use in SearchKey are those most suitable for containing this type of metadata, which are indexed and used for Spotlight local search, and are preserved in iCloud Drive.

SearchKey currently lets you open any file or folder and add or change the following extended attributes:

- • Headline is stored in the xattr com.apple.metadata:kMDItemHeadline.

- • Description in com.apple.metadata:kMDItemDescription.

- • Creator in com.apple.metadata:kMDItemCreator.

- • Copyright in com.apple.metadata:kMDItemCopyright.

- • Keywords in com.apple.metadata:kMDItemKeywords.

➜ add extended attributes

➜ use folder batch mode

➜ search for attributes

➜ SearchKey updates

The Eclectic Light Company – https://eclecticlight.co