Searching for Files Using Tags

A [tag]{.dfn} is bit of information, or metadata, that is associated with a data file. Specifically, tags are texts, keywords or terms that have some relevance to a particular sound file. Ardour can store these tags in a searchable [database]{.dfn} so that they can quickly be searched for to retrieve sounds based on the tags that have been assigned to them.

For example if the term [120bpm]{.kbd .input} has been assigned to a sound, search later for this tag will make the file appear in the search list. Tags are independent of the filename or anything else about the file. Tags, and the file paths that they are associated with, are stored in a file called sfdb{.sample} in the Ardour user folder.

Creating and adding tags

Adding tags to a given file is done by opening the [Session > Import]{.kbd .menu} dialog, selecting the file in the browser, and typing new tags into the tag area in the soundfile information box on the right.

Tags are stored when the input box loses focus, there is no need to explicitly save them.

To have more than one tag for a file, new tags can either be added on new lines (meaning the [Enter]{.kbd} key is pressed between two tags) or they can be separated from the previous ones by a comma ([,]{.kbd .input}), with or without spaces.

Searching for files by tag

Searching for specific tags is done in the [Search Tags]{.kbd .menu} tab of the same dialog. Files which have been tagged with the relevant terms will appear in the results window. Selected files can be auditioned and marked with additional tags if required.