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Searching Metadata

MetaVox integrates with Nextcloud's Unified Search (the magnifier / Ctrl/Cmd + K), so you can find files by their metadata from anywhere in Nextcloud — not just inside a Team folder.

There are two ways to search:

  1. Free text — type any value and MetaVox returns files whose metadata contains it.
  2. Filter by field — pick a specific field and value through the MetaVox · Filter by field action.

Filter by metadata picker and a MetaVox search result


Open search (Ctrl/Cmd + K), type a term, and look under the MetaVox section in the results. Each result shows the file, with the matching field first in its subline (e.g. searching Mercedes-Benz shows Make: Mercedes-Benz).

You can also type a precise field:value query directly in the search box, for example:

archive_category:Permanent retention

Filter by field

For a guided, exact filter, use the MetaVox · Filter by field action in the search bar. It opens a picker:

  1. Team folder — choose the folder to search in.
  2. Field — choose one of that folder's metadata fields.
  3. Value — pick from the values that actually occur in the folder (so a filter never lands on an empty result), or type one for free-text fields.

Confirm with Apply filter. A filter chip appears in the search bar and the matching files are listed under MetaVox.

File Link fields are not offered in the picker: their stored value is an internal file reference, not a value you would filter on.


What you see and what stays private

  • Results are limited to the Team folders you can access — you never see files from folders you're not a member of.
  • The subline respects per-field view permissions: a field you're not allowed to see is omitted from the result, even if it matched.
  • Files with the same name are disambiguated by showing their folder in the result title.

See Also

  • Field Types - The fields you can search and filter on
  • Views - Preset filters and columns inside a Team folder
  • Overview - Getting started with metadata