Consider specifying more precisely the ignore pattern mechanism

[oliviercailloux]

What Needs to be Documented?

When using the Ignored files editor, it would be nice to know exactly how my pattern will be used, and what can and can’t be achieved.

Where Does This Need To Be Documented?

Consider specifying this in the Using the Ignored Files Editor section and in the Ignored Files section, or better, remove the details in the first of these links and put everything (including more details) in the second one, to reduce redundancy.

Why Should This Change Be Made?

I have read with care both the links above as well as the Pattern Matching Notation referenced therein, but still can’t answer all my questions.

I want to ignore all folders and files whose full relative names match /target/classes/, thus:

• files contained within a folder named classes, itself within a folder named target, itself not at the root of the sync folder; and
• files contained within folders whose parents include a folder named classes, itself being within a folder named target, itself not at the root of the sync folder.

For this, should I use the pattern /target/classes/, or is this simply impossible? As I understand it, both options are compatible with the documentation, depending on whether the pattern must match the full string or a substring.

Also, if the answer is that it’s impossible, it would be nice to clarify it, perhaps with an example: as the matching rules are quite subtle, it is easy to have a persistent feeling that it must be possible (“there is certainly something I did not understand, let me re-read again”).

Finally, I do not understand the sentence “The pattern is only applied for directory components of filenames selected using the checkbox” in the Ignored Files section: which checkbox is meant here? (I do understand the sentence “Patterns that end with a slash character (/) are applied to only directory components of the path being checked” in the Using the Ignored Files Editor section.)

Which Manual Does This Relate To?

• [ ] Admin Manual
• [ ] Developer Manual
• [ ] User Manual
• [ ] Android
• [ ] iOS
• [ ] Branded Clients
• [x] Desktop Client
• [ ] Other

[voroyam]

@michaelstingl need your input here

or @TheOneRing