Chapter 3 Main Interface and Basic Operations
This chapter introduces the AIClue main interface and the most common everyday operations. Directory management, search, project workspaces, and function cards are explained in more detail in later chapters.
3.1 Main Interface Areas
AIClue’s main interface is divided into four areas:
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Left sidebar | Switch major feature entries, such as Workbench, Project Workspace, Plugin Market, Duplicate Detection, Directory Management, Account, and Settings |
| Top bar | Enter search keywords, switch search modes from the left side of the search box, use tag or directory filters, and switch theme |
| Main content area | Show the current entry’s content, such as function cards, file lists, search results, file preview, or settings pages |
| Bottom status bar | Show the current search mode and result count, total file count, background processing progress, result update prompts, and the version number |
In everyday use, you will spend most of your time in the Workbench. When there are no search or filter conditions, the Workbench shows enabled function cards. When you start searching, choose filter conditions, or open project content, the main content area automatically switches to file list and preview.
3.2 Left Sidebar
The left sidebar is AIClue’s main navigation. Current visible entries include:
| Entry | Description |
|---|---|
| Workbench | Main everyday entry. Used to view function cards, search results, file lists, and previews |
| Project Workspace | Manage files from different directories by project |
| Plugin Market | Enable or disable function cards that can be placed in the Workbench |
| Duplicate Detection | Find files with duplicate content and help clean up extra copies |
| Directory Management | Add, remove, rescan, or manage scan directories |
| Account | View login status, available features, and related prompts |
| Settings | Adjust app options and maintenance settings |
After you click an entry in the left sidebar, the main content area switches to the corresponding page. The current entry is highlighted.
3.3 Top Bar
The top bar is mainly used to search and filter files.
3.3.1 Search Box
Enter a keyword in the search box and press Enter to search files. The search mode entry is fixed on the left side inside the search box and supports three modes:
- Filename: Search filenames and locations without searching file content. Use this when you remember a name or rough location
- Content: Search within file content. Use this when you only remember a content fragment
- Smart Search: Search filenames, locations, and content together. Suitable for everyday use
Smart Search is the default recommendation. When you select Filename or Content, the mode label uses a reminder color. When you enter a local absolute path or an @ project workspace, the search mode is not used and the entry is temporarily hidden. Your previous choice is kept when you return to keyword search.
The search box also shows recent search history for quick repeat searches.
3.3.2 Filter Entries
You can use tag or directory filters in the top bar. After filtering, the file list only shows files that match the conditions.
Common uses include:
- View only files under a specific directory
- View only files with a certain type of tag
- Continue searching within the filtered scope
3.4 Main Content Area
The main content area automatically shows different content depending on your current action.
3.4.1 Function Cards
When you open the Workbench and there are no search or filter conditions, the main content area shows enabled function cards. To enable, disable, move, or remove cards, see Chapter 8 Workbench and Function Cards.
3.4.2 File List
When you search, filter, or open project content, the main content area shows a file list. The file list usually shows file name, location, type, size, modified time, and other information.
Click a file name, location, created time, modified time, or size header to change the current sort order. Location/Path is sorted by the full path. Keyword results use relevance by default. Clicking a header sorts the currently displayed search results; entering a new keyword, switching search modes, or changing filters restores relevance-first results. Managed file lists, local directories, and project file lists also support header sorting.
Click a file to view its preview or details. Right-click a file to use operations such as opening, locating, or copying the path.
3.4.3 File Preview
Some files can be previewed directly in AIClue. For files that are not suitable for built-in preview, you can still open them with the system default app.
3.5 Bottom Status Bar
The bottom status bar shows AIClue’s current state, including:
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| File count | Keyword search shows the current search mode and result count; total file count is shown as secondary information |
| Background processing progress | Processing progress while scanning directories or reading document content |
| Result update prompt | Prompts you to refresh when background file changes may affect the current results |
| Version number | Current app version |
If you just added many files, background processing may take some time. You can keep browsing and searching during processing, and some new files may appear in results later.
When the status bar shows a result update prompt, click Refresh beside it to reload the list using the current search or filter conditions. Background changes that do not affect the current results do not interrupt the list you are viewing.
3.6 Common Operations
| Operation | Method |
|---|---|
| Search files | Enter a keyword in the top search box and press Enter |
| View a file | Click the file in the file list |
| Open a file | Double-click the file, or choose open from the context menu |
| Locate a file | Choose open file location from the context menu |
| Copy path | Choose copy path from the context menu |
| Switch feature entry | Click the corresponding entry in the left sidebar |
| Change theme | Use the theme button in the top bar |
| Show or hide the window | Press Alt+C to hide the focused foreground window to the tray, or restore and focus it otherwise; an existing window keeps its current page, while a closed window reopens on the main screen |
| Start a search from the tray | Right-click the AIClue tray icon and select Quick Search |
Press Esc to leave one layer at a time: full preview → settings → file details sidebar → clear search → hide to tray. Open text menus or visible search suggestions close first. Holding the key does not dismiss multiple layers. On another feature page, a search retained from the file page is cleared before the next press hides the window.
Close buttons show “Press Esc to close”; the search clear button shows “Press Esc to clear”. Dismissed search suggestions do not reopen merely because the app window is restored.
3.7 Next Steps
After you are familiar with the main interface, continue with:
- Chapter 4 Directory Management and File Scanning: Learn how to add and manage scan directories
- Chapter 5 Search and Filtering: Learn how to find files faster
- Chapter 6 File Viewing and File Operations: Learn preview and file operation methods