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:


➜  add extended attributes

➜  use folder batch mode

➜  search for attributes

➜  SearchKey updates


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