2.3. Spotlight Search integration

MeVisLab associates itself with several file types, such as Network documents (.mlab), Scripting documents (.script), or Definition documents (.def). To help you organize, MeVisLab contains a Spotlight metadata importer plugin for its document types. In collaboration with the standard macOS Spotlight importers, you may search all files of importance to MeVisLab.

For example, if you would like to list all MeVisLab Network documents in Finder that contain the Module Convolution, type name:.mlab Convolution in the Search field (Figure 2.3, “Searching all Network documents with a Convolution Module in Finder”).

Figure 2.3. Searching all Network documents with a Convolution Module in Finder

Searching all Network documents with a Convolution Module in Finder

A search for all Network documents containing a specific Module can also be initiated from within MeVisLab itself. Activate the context menu item Related Files › Show Network Files Using This Module of a module in a Network Window (Figure 2.4, “Searching all Network documents using the Module Convolution”) or in the Module Search View.

Figure 2.4. Searching all Network documents using the Module Convolution

Searching all Network documents using the Module Convolution

Another option to look for Network documents containing a particular Module is using the Terminal. Type the following command line at the command prompt:

mdfind 'kMDItemContentType == "de.mevis.mevislab.network" && kMDItemTextContent == "Convolution"'

In order to find all occurrences of the string shadow regardless of capitalization in any file associated with MeVisLab, use the example command below:

mdfind 'kMDItemContentType == "de.mevis.mevislab.*" && kMDItemTextContent == "*shadow*"c'