📋 Summary
Add the ability to exclude files from automatic imports based on filename rules, such as ignoring BIOS files, tools, or other non-game entries.
❗ Problem
Automatic imports currently bring in everything that matches the source folders:
BIOS files and system files are imported as games
Utility programs and non-playable content clutter the library
No way to define rules to ignore certain files
Users must manually clean up unwanted entries after import
This reduces the usefulness of automatic imports, especially with curated sets.
💡 Proposal
Introduce import filtering rules:
Allow users to define ignore rules based on:
Filename text (e.g.
bios,test,program)File patterns or tags
Apply these rules during:
Automatic imports
Manual imports (optional)
Provide a simple UI to:
Add, edit, and remove filters
Optionally include:
Presets for common exclusions (e.g. BIOS files)
🧩 Use Cases
A user excludes BIOS files from No-Intro sets
ROM management tools produce files not intended for LaunchBox
A user filters out utilities or test ROMs
Automatic imports stay clean without manual cleanup
📦 Benefits
Cleaner game libraries
Reduces manual maintenance
Improves accuracy of automatic imports
Better compatibility with ROM management tools
⚠️ Considerations
Rules should be flexible but easy to understand
Must avoid accidentally filtering valid games
Could be expanded to support more advanced filtering in the future
✅ Outcome
Import filtering ensures only relevant games are added to the library, making automatic imports more reliable and efficient.
