Mastering Dhito's Search Filters: Finding Files Faster
TL;DR
Semantic search is powerful, but sometimes you know exactly what format or date you are looking for. Learn how to use Dhito's filter tabs to instantly narrow down your AI search results by file type or time range.
Semantic search fundamentally changes how we find information. Instead of relying on exact keyword matches, Dhito understands the *meaning* of your query. However, even with an intelligent vector space, sometimes you have specific constraints in mind. You might remember that the document you need is specifically a PDF, or that you saved it just last week.
To bridge the gap between open-ended semantic exploration and precise retrieval, Dhito offers powerful Search Filters built right into the interface.
Why Filters Matter in an AI Search Engine
When you search for "Q3 revenue projections," a pure semantic search might return: * A spreadsheet containing the actual financial model. * A recorded Zoom meeting where the projections were discussed. * A Slack screenshot where someone mentioned the numbers.
While it is incredible that Dhito can surface all of these across different modalities, you might *only* want to see the spreadsheet. This is where filters come in.
Using the Filter Tabs
Dhito makes filtering intuitive by keeping it visual. You do not need to memorize complex query languages or boolean operators. Instead, just look below the search bar.
1. File Type Filters
Directly below the search input, you will find tabs for different file modalities. Clicking these tabs instantly narrows your search results:
- Documents: Restricts results to PDFs, Word documents (DOCX), Text files, CSVs, and other written formats. Perfect for finding contracts, essays, or spreadsheets.
- Images: Narrows the search to PNGs, JPGs, and other image formats. Since Dhito uses the Florence-2 vision model, it will search the *visual content* and *text inside* these images.
- Audio & Video: Limits results to MP4, MOV, MP3, and WAV files. Because Dhito transcribes these locally with Whisper, your semantic query will match the spoken words inside the media.
By selecting one of these tabs, you tell Dhito: "Find the semantic meaning of my query, but *only* within this specific bucket of files."
2. Date Filters
Sometimes the context of *when* a file was created or modified is just as important as what is inside it. Next to the file type filters, you can access date ranges to refine your search chronologically:
- Past Week: Ideal for finding that recent draft or a meeting recording from a few days ago.
- Past Month: Great for quarterly reviews or finding recent project assets.
- Past Year: Helps filter out legacy documents when you only want relatively recent context.
Combining Filters for Maximum Precision
The true power of Dhito's interface is combining these filters with semantic search.
For example, you can search: `"design feedback for the landing page"` Then, click the Images tab, and select Past Week.
Instantly, Dhito will filter out all text documents and older assets, surfacing only recent screenshots or design mockups related to your landing page feedback.
Conclusion
While Dhito's local AI models do the heavy lifting of understanding your intent, the filter tabs put the final control back in your hands. By combining the intelligence of semantic search with the precision of file type and date filters, you can find the exact file you need faster than ever before.
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