Using the built-in filter technologies, the ayfie connectors can index content and metadata from many different file formats. Common document formats, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), text files, PDF files, and e-mails (with attachments) can be indexed. In addition, ViaWorks can also handle compressed files (ZIP), technical drawings like Visio or AutoCAD, Microsoft Project files, and more. ayfie utilizes proprietary technology called connectors to index content and metadata from many different file formats.
For example, when adding a File Server connection, you can select to index all file types, or select specific file types to include in or to exclude from the index. ayfie provides you with the flexibility to choose what you would like to include, or what you would like to exclude, not only by file type, but also by file name, or by file location (folder).
These options provide the administrator with powerful tools for controlling exactly what data gets indexed. Please see the ViaWorks Administrator's Guide for details.
For those file types that you choose to include in the index, ayfie will, at a minimum, obtain basic information from the file. ayfie converts many file formats into searchable plain text. If ayfie cannot decode a particular file type, it will always index:
- File name
- File location
- File size in bytes
- File creation date
- Last updated date
- Date the file was discovered by ayfie
ayfie will obtain the text and the metadata for most commonly used file types. ayfie can also obtain text and metadata for many file types beyond what can be explicitly included/excluded via the File Server connector.
To extract text from rich text documents (e.g. .docx, .pdf), ayfie utilizes Document Filters from Perceptive Software. With the current release ayfie can index file formats as described in Perceptive Document Filters Supported Formats 11.4.
New connections will only index these most commonly used file formats by default.
.doc
.docm
.docx
.dot
.dotm
.dotx
.msg
.ods
.odt
.odp
.pdf
.pps
.ppsm
.ppsx
.ppt
.pptm
.pptx
.rtf
.tif
.tiff
.txt
.xls
.xlsb
.xlsm
.xlsx
.xlsxm
.xlt
.xltm
.xltx
The ayfie administrator can add additional file formats to be indexed while configuring the connection.
See also
- What data sources can ayfie index?
- What file formats can ayfie index?
- What is a Connection?
- Which Operating Systems are supported for use with ayfie Locator and ayfie Supervisor?
- What Connectors are available?
- What languages does ayfie Locator support?
- How frequent will data sources be indexed?
- What browser versions are supported with the ayfie Locator and ayfie Supervisor search clients?
- For which documents does Locator provide the preview feature?
- Can I access Locator from my iOS device?
- Can I install Locator on a Virtual Machine?
- Can ayfie index scanned files?
- How can I minimize the impact to the network during indexing?
- How does my choice of hardware affect the Locator server performance?
- I encounter The index user does not have a mailbox on the Exchange server error when attempting to add a Microsoft Exchange connection.
- What is the ayfie Document Handler?
- Why can't I find documents from the File Server connection using Locator SharePoint Integration?
- Why can't I find documents in my Microsoft Exchange mailbox when searching in Locator ?
- What happens when multiple connections have the same name?
- Why can't I see a new data source that has been added by the Locator administrator?
- Why does the mobile app fail with a validation error?
- We have heard of security concerns regarding Docker registries. Is any of the Ayfie products affected? As an Ayfie customer, are we at risk due to this?
- What known issues may occur when running Locator with antivirus software on the same host?