How can I modify Keywords inside filter library AND saving it back ?

Hello,

I know that you can modify and add more keywords to the filter you want going to the filter editor, BUT the problem is that when you want to save the filter, it is not possible to save it back to the Filter library inside FF, the only way I have seen is to save it to the "my filters" folder.

Also I want to add notes to the info inside the filter

You can´t then copy or move the filter to the corresponding category, unless you do it manually, which I think is not the right way to do it.

Please, Is there any way to edit a filter and save it back to the same place inside the Filter library of FF?

Both Save and Save as, saves the filter to the Filter Forge "my filter" and have not seen any other option. I am missing something ?

the same applies to the presets. you cant change the presets that come with a filter from the filter library unless you edit it, which then copies the whole thing to 'my filters'. this always seemed a bit odd to me. i often dont like the presets that come with a given filter and want to change them. the only reason i can think of for not allowing someone to change all these things would be because of possible cloning of a filter by someone else, but you can already do that through the editor, so why lock all these things down in the normal filter categories?

First you need to figure out which filters you want to add the keywords to....MAKE A BACKUP first before anything...When you download a filter fr om the online libarary they have a number associated with them....
For instance Blockyhas the number 208 so we will dig into the FF library and look for this number....You want to look (using windows7)c:\users\%username%\appdata\roaming (using XP c:\documents and settings\%username%\application data) look for the Filter Forge folder....Its where the "My Filter" folder is stored.....Once you are there open the path "System\Library"....
This is the folder wh ere you will find FF filters....Now search for the filter with the number 208 associated with it...Should look something like this..Library_208-2..

Once you find it open it up with an editor or sorts...I use windows default editor "Wordpad" but there are some free xml editors around....The place to edit will be almost at the end of the text....Scroll down until you see...(Information author)....Then on that same line are the keywords....Now put in your keywords in the same order and fashion....Keep these on that same line of text....Once done save it "I click save not save as" then check it in Filter Forge.....Remember to have FF closed when doing this.....

Then the filter changed.....I assume no responsibility..Modify at your own risk and BACKUP before making any changes to your filters...

You can also do this with the filters info but 2 things to remember when editing...Keep the words on the same line when editing and there is a word limit...At least when editing the info in the editor there is a limit..So that may also hold true editing the xml and may end up crashing FF or corrupting the filter..(don't know for sure cause I never tried it)

Although you have made a very good, useful and interesting list of instructions, thanks to your suggestion I have found and realized that there is a better, easier and less risk option to make this.

Here I will explain my own way I have just tried based on your well done suggestions

CFandM and SPACERAY GUIDE TO KEYWORD ADDING TO A FILTER ALREADY IN YOUR OWN FF LIBRARY

1 - MAKE A BACKUP first before anything and then Remember to have FF closed when you are editing the filter file.....

2 - KNOW THE FILTER NUMBER TO BE MODIFIED - You need to figure out which filters you want to add the keywords to.......When you download a filter fr om the online libarary they have a number associated with them....

This number is written in the online filter library page URL or also in the about "window" inside the filter itself at the end where it puts "permanent link". Please see the screenshot I have put at the end of this post

For instance Blocky has the number 208 so we will dig into the FF library and look for this number....

3 - FIND THE FILTER IN YOUR FF LIBRARY

USE KEYBOARD SHORTCUT CTRL + L

The easiest and fastet way to get to the filter you want is to open FF and sel ect it in the filter list on the left side and then use the keyboard shortcut pressing both keys CTRL L (CTRL + L)

Then a new window will open with the FF filter library folder open showing you highlited that filter you want to edit.

Then with the right mouse button (or the combination used for MAC) click over that file to open the contextual menu and select "Edit with...", or "Open with..." and then choose the editor you want.

Please, if you do not like this way and want to use another different to do this read the text after the 9 point:

ANOTHER WAY OF REACHING THE HIDDEN FILTER FORGE LIBRARY

If you want to try another way, you can follow what I have put in my thread called Where are the downloaded Filter Forge filters located physically?

4 - OPEN THIS FILE IN A EDITOR Once you find it open it up with your editor of choice. Be aware that this is an XML file, and not all editors are the same, and there is some excellent, good, average and bad editors.

You could use windows default editor "Wordpad" but there are some better free xml editors around....

USE THE FREE TURTLEBITE XML EDITOR FOR WYSIWYG EDITION AND WITHOUT ERRORS Please see the below screenshot and see WHY I recommend this editor over other plain TEXT editors.

After searching, looking for and trying some editors I found one that is really great for me and is very easy and very clear how to modify the info you want and need.

Go to the officila website http://www.online-xml-editor.com/ and download this application. It is made using Adobe Air do you must have this also installed.

Regretably Turtlebyte does not accept to load any other files than .XML, so you must change the extension of your filter fr om .ffxml to .xml

I use Total Commander (for windows) to change the extension

5 - EDIT THE FILE

USING TURTLEBITE EDITOR

If you have choosen to use the Turtlebite editor, you do not have to search for anything inside the file, it will be already given ready selected and show the exact place wh ere the information is with a box called "information"

Click over the information link and a new window will open at the right letting you change very easily and in a human way the information you want.

To change any of "attributes names" just double click over the corresponding value

You do not have to care to keep the text in the same line, as this is already configured by the editor for you.

NOT USING THIS EDITOR ABOVE

The place to edit will be almost at the end of the text....Scroll down until you see...(Information author)....Then on that same line are the keywords....Now put in your keywords in the same order and fashion....Keep these on that same line of text....

6 - SAVE IT BACK AS "SAVE" NOT AS "SAVE AS" TO KEEP THE FFXML FORMAT -

With Turtlebyte you have to go to File--> Export XML and then the saved file must be changed back to the .ffxml extension.

Using other editors, Once done save it "I click save not save as" then check it in Filter Forge.....

7 - OPEN FF AGAIN AND FILTER IS CHANGED - Then the filter changed.....I assume no responsibility..Modify at your own risk and BACKUP before making any changes to your filters...

8 - ADD WORDS ALSO TO THE DESCRIPTION - You can also do this with the filters info

9 - WARNING - BE AWARE OF THIS - 2 things to remember when editing...

1a - Keep the words on the same line when editing ( this is not important if you are using Turtlebite editor)

2a - There is a word limit...At least when editing the info in the editor there is a limit..So that may also hold true editing the xml and may end up crashing FF or corrupting the filter..(don't know for sure cause I never tried it)

Well, instead of waiting for FF to do something, There is someone that have already decided to do it much easier than all that is explained in this page.

I am very happy to tell that thanks to Morgantao we will be able to have some kind of alternative solution to this problem

Please see the thread I have put about in this link here below

Morgantao´s New tool for custom organizing and managing FF library!!!!