Improve filtering by filetype (exclude a filetype, or allow multiple filetypes to be specified)

[rlue]

Currently, fd offers the -t command line option to view only files of a single type (regular files, directories, symbolic links).

However, there is no way (that I can see) to view all files except those of a single type (in other words, to exclude a given filetype from the results). Perhaps a syntax like +td or -Td to exclude directories, or -tfl to do the same?

Hopefully, I've missed something, and this feature is already available!

Workaround

The best I can think to do is

$ rg -FNxvf <(fd -td) <(fd)

• rg <(fd) searches the output of fd
• -f <(fd -td) searches against patterns contained in the "file" <(fd -td) (the output of that command), rather than patterns given on the command line
• -F treats search patterns as fixed strings (not regular expressions)
• -x requires a whole like match (like wrapping each line in ^$)
• -v inverts the results (gives non-matches, rather than matches).
• -N suppresses line numbers

[sharkdp]

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Hopefully, I've missed something, and this feature is already available!

Unfortunately - no. However, consider the following:

▶ tree
.
├── dir
├── file
├── symlink_to_dir -> dir
└── symlink_to_file -> file

• We can search for dir only (-td)
• We can search for file only (-tf`)
• We can search for both symlinks (-tl)
• We can also search for dir and symlink_to_dir (-L -td)
• as well as for file and symlink_to_file (-L -tf)

What is missing is:

1. search for dir and both symlinks
2. search for file and both symlinks
3. search for dir and file

For now, I would propose to allow for multiple occurrences of the --type/-t option in a union-like fashion ("or" instead of "and"). Since there are only three types of entries, I think this would still be acceptable (having to specify --type file --type directory instead of --exclude-type symlink).

I'm open for other ideas, though. What do you think?

[septatrix]

For now, I would propose to allow for multiple occurrences of the --type/-t option in a union-like fashion ("or" instead of "and"). Since there are only three types of entries, I think this would still be acceptable (having to specify --type file --type directory instead of --exclude-type symlink).

Now there are 7+2 file types (the latter two being the executable and empty dir). A negated filetype seems like a reasonable addition now. Should I create a new issue for that?

[tavianator]

A negated filetype seems like a reasonable addition now. Should I create a new issue for that?

There is already #632