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Question

Can I add a filter to the metadata search in Lightroom Classic?

Forum|Forum|1 month ago
March 19, 2026
3 replies
60 views

I am scanning a significantly large number of 35mm slides. The slides are stored in boxes and individual slide clips. To identify the location of the original slide, I am entering the box number, clip # and slide # of each slide in the source field (IPTC Status section). Example: Box 4 Clip#32 Slide 20. I would like to be able to search for slides by the source field. The metadata filters do not include a search for source. Can I add this field to the metadata filters? I can enter the information in the Label field which is a filter in the metadata search, however it adds a white label icon to the photo which can easily be unchecked and then the search is lost. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Ruth Goodman

johnrellis

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Lots of options:

- Use one of these fields to store the box and clip: Title (*), Alt Text (*), Extended Description (*), Creator, Job. Fields marked (*) can be searched by smart collections but not filters.

- Store the box and clip numbers in hierarchical keywords, e.g. Box > 25 and Clip > 7. Do exact match on the keywords using the Metadata browser’s Keywords column and the magic hidden hover-right-arrow shortcut in the Keyword List panel.

- Put the box clip, and slide numbers in the file names of the scans, e.g. b25c7s19.jpg. Use the “Filename contains” criterion to filter by box, by clip, by box and clip, by slide number, e.g.

Filename contains b25c

Filename contains c7s

Filename contains s19.

Filename contains b25c7s

The delimiters “b”, “c”, “s”, and “.” make up for the weak search operators provided by LR.

I use a variant of this for my 15K scanned slides.

- Use the Any Filter plugin, which can search/filter/sort by 900 metadata fields.

- Use the Search Replace Transfer plugin to search/filter by any IPTC or EXIF field. Or use the custom fields provided by that plugin to store the box and clip numbers (but read this caution).

L

lazmag1Author

Known Participant

Thank you! You gave me some ideas. I was hoping it would be an easy fix to add Source to the metadata filter. I will work with some of your suggestions.

johnrellis

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@lazmag1 was hoping it would be an easy fix to add Source to the metadata filter.

Unfortunately, being able to search, filter, and sort by more metadata fields is one of the oldest categories of feature requests for LR. It’s never been a priority for Adobe.

MassC

Legend

Hey @lazmag1,

That is a great question. To further clarify, you’re not looking to add a custom field in the meta data, you’re just wondering if you can have it as a keyword?

@john beardsworth, your name popped into my mind when I read this questions. Thoughts?

^CMass

L

lazmag1Author

Known Participant

I would like to use Source which is currently a metadata field however is not listed in the metadata filter list. Hope this makes sense.

L

lazmag1Author

Known Participant

Clarification: Slide number would not be included in the source field. I would like to be able to search by box # and clip #. This work if I use the label field, but as previously stated, it is too easy to accidently click on the label box on the photo and remove it. Thank you.

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