How to exclude a file extension from IntelliJ IDEA search?

Question

Is there a way to exclude particular file extension from the results in IntelliJ IDEA's " Find in Path " dialog (invoked by CTRL + SHIFT + F )? I want to exclude all .css files.

Answer 1

In intellij 16 there is a section "File name Filter" to exclude an extension use !*.java . You can give more detailed patterns as well for example I use the pattern below to only return .java files except those with a name starting or ending with test. Pattern: !*test.java,*.java,!Test*.java

In recent versions of Intellij the GUI has been updated a bit but the same still applies see the "File mask" on the top right hand corner see image below:

Answer 2

You can create custom scope there: In 'Find in Path' dialog you can check radio button 'Custom' and open scopes window. There you can customize path and search pattern.

Examples of Patterns for Pattern field:

• !file:*.css - exclude CSS files
• file[MyMod]:src/main/java/com/example/my_package//* - include files from the directory in a project.
• src[MyMod]:com.example.my_package..* - recursively include all files in a package.
• file:*.js||file:*.coffee - include all JavaScript and CoffeeScript files.
• file:*js&&!file:*.min.* - include all JavaScript files except those that were generated through minification, which is indicated by the min extension.

Or check the official documentation.

Good luck!

Answer 3

This would exclude all js, css and twig for example:

!*.js, !*.css, !*.twig

Answer 4

If you are like me that don't want to use the File Mask option or create a custom scope, etc. but just wanted to be able to add it to project settings one time and be done with it, then here's a solution for you.

I wanted my Find in Path to not search in lock files (auto-generated manifest file by package managers), here's what I had to do for that:

Goto File >> Project Structure (or just press Command+;)

Select Modules under Project Settings

Add a pattern or file names to the Exclude files text-box, in this case: *.lock;package-lock.json and hit Apply, and then ok.

Note The above option is available in IntelliJ 2019 and versions after that, not sure about older versions. For more info, https://www.jetbrains.com/help/phpstorm/excluding-files-from-project.html

Answer 5

For 2019.2, the pattern is not set in scope but in the right top windows "File mask" in Find in path dialog. You must tick it.

The syntax I tested are:

• exclude files with extension css : !*.css
• exclude all under out dir: !out/*

Patterns are separated by comma.

Reference: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/finding-and-replacing-text-in-project.html

Answer 6

WebStorm 2021

CTRL+SHIFT+F and follow the pictures