Instant search, sorting, and filters Free & Pro

Every FileDeck library includes an instant search box, click-to-sort columns, and category and tag filter dropdowns — no setup required. Results appear as the visitor types, without a page reload, in all three layouts and in both the free and Pro versions.

What search matches against

The search box filters documents as the visitor types, matching against six fields:

• Title
• Excerpt
• Description
• Categories
• Tags
• Filename

Because the original filename is auto-captured when you attach a file, visitors who know a file’s name — "budget-2026.xlsx" — find it even if the document’s title says something different.

Searching inside documents

Once the content index is built, search also covers the text inside your PDFs, Office documents, and text files — visitors can find a document by a phrase on page 12. Indexing runs on your own server under Documents → Settings → Search Index (FileDeck Pro); see content search.

Click-to-sort columns

In the table layout, every column header is clickable: one click sorts by that column, a second click reverses the direction. This is on top of the initial order you set with the sort attribute (title, date, or size) in the block or shortcode.

Category and tag filter dropdowns

Alongside the search box, each library shows filter dropdowns for document categories and tags. Visitors pick a value to narrow the library to matching documents, and filters combine with search — a visitor can filter to the "Forms" category and then type to search within it. If you have scoped the library to a category in the block or shortcode, the filters operate within that scope.

Category names in the table are clickable too: clicking one filters the library by that category (toggle under Documents → Settings → Features).

Sharing a filtered view

The Copy link button above the library copies a shareable URL of the current view — search term and filters included — so the recipient lands on exactly the same filtered slice of the library.

How search behaves in the folder layout

In the folder layout, typing in the search box automatically opens the folders that contain matching documents, so results are visible without expanding anything by hand. Folders without matches stay closed. Clearing the search collapses the folders back to their normal state.

What happens with large libraries

Nothing you need to configure. Search, sort and filter run in the browser. Libraries with up to about 500 documents get an inlined search index delivered with the page, so search-as-you-type costs zero network round-trips; past that the index is skipped, so scope very large collections by category to keep instant search (or use Pro full-text search). See large libraries and performance.

FAQ

Does search look inside the files themselves?

Yes, once the content index is built under Documents → Settings → Search Index — FileDeck searches the text inside PDFs, Office documents, and text files on your own server. See content search.

Do visitors need to press Enter to search?

No. Results filter live as they type, and clearing the box restores the full library.

Can I turn search on for a specific library?

It is already on. Search, sorting, and the filter dropdowns are built into every library FileDeck renders. If search does not seem to work, see troubleshooting search.

Is instant search a Pro feature?

No, it is included free in every library. Pro adds a standalone search block you can place outside the library, such as in a homepage hero.