File Kind

License: PRO+ (Professional Edition or higher)
Plugin Type: Index Plugin
Author: Diskover Data, Inc.

Overview

The File Kind plugin automatically categorizes files into logical groups based on their file extensions during Diskover indexing. Instead of searching through hundreds of individual file extensions, you can simply search for "Video" or "Document" to find what you need.

The plugin adds a filekind field to each indexed file, making it easy to:

• Generate storage reports by file category

• Build targeted cleanup policies for specific file types

• Create Smart Searches for quick access to common file groups

• Understand your storage composition at a glance

Use Cases

Storage Administrators

• Generate reports showing storage consumption by file type to identify what's consuming disk space

• Target specific categories (e.g., Trash, Compressed) for archival or deletion policies

• Monitor growth trends across different file categories

Compliance & Governance Teams

• Track document distribution across storage systems for GDPR and data classification initiatives

• Identify and classify data sets based on file type categories

• Support data retention policy enforcement

Media & Creative Teams

• Quickly locate video, audio, and image assets across storage

• Manage media asset libraries with category-based organization

• Track creative file distribution across projects

Development Teams

• Analyze code file distribution across projects

• Monitor programming and application file sprawl

• Identify temporary and system files consuming developer storage

Understanding File Categories

The File Kind plugin works by matching file extensions to predefined categories. When a file is indexed, the plugin examines its extension and assigns it to the appropriate category. Files without extensions or with unrecognized extensions are assigned to "Other."

Default File Categories

The plugin includes 12 predefined categories covering common file types:

How Categories Are Assigned

The plugin processes files using the following logic:

1. Extracts the file extension (case-insensitive)

2. Searches through configured categories for a match

3. Assigns the first matching category found

4. Defaults to "Other" if no match or no extension exists

Requirements

Python Dependencies

This plugin has no external Python dependencies. All required functionality is provided by Python's standard library, making it lightweight and fast.

System Requirements

• Python 3.9 or higher

• Diskover indexer with plugin support enabled

Installation

Step 1: Configure the Plugin

1. Navigate to Diskover Admin Panel > Plugins > Index Plugins > File Kind

2. Enable the plugin

3. Review and customize the file categories if needed (see Configuration section)

4. Save the configuration

Step 2: Enable in Index Task Configuration

1. Navigate to Diskover > Configurations > select your configuration (e.g., Default)

2. Scroll to the bottom to find Index Plugins Enablement

3. Enable the File Kind plugin

4. Save the configuration

The plugin will now run automatically during any scan using this configuration.

Configuration

Configuration Parameters

Creating Custom Categories

You can customize the file categories to match your organization's needs. This is particularly useful for industry-specific file types that aren't covered by the defaults.

To add a new category:

Add a new entry to the filekinds configuration with your category name and associated extensions:

'CAD': ['dwg', 'dxf', 'step', 'stp', 'iges', 'igs', 'stl', 'obj', 'fbx', '3ds']

To modify an existing category:

Update the extension list for any existing category to add or remove file types.

Industry-Specific Examples

Life Sciences Configuration

'Genomics': ['fastq', 'fasta', 'fa', 'fq', 'bam', 'sam', 'vcf', 'bed', 'gff', 'gtf']
'Microscopy': ['nd2', 'czi', 'lif', 'oib', 'oif', 'ims', 'vsi']
'Analysis': ['r', 'rmd', 'ipynb', 'py', 'mat']

Media & Entertainment Configuration

'Video': ['mov', 'mp4', 'mxf', 'avi', 'mkv', 'prores', 'dnxhd']
'Image': ['exr', 'dpx', 'tiff', 'png', 'jpg', 'psd', 'ai']
'Audio': ['wav', 'aiff', 'mp3', 'aac', 'flac']
'Project': ['aep', 'prproj', 'nk', 'hip', 'blend', 'ma', 'mb']

Architecture & Engineering Configuration

'CAD': ['dwg', 'dxf', 'rvt', 'rfa', 'ifc', 'pln', 'skp']
'3DModels': ['step', 'stp', 'iges', 'stl', 'obj', '3ds', 'fbx']
'GIS': ['shp', 'geojson', 'kml', 'kmz', 'gpx', 'gdb']

Indexed Fields

Elasticsearch Field Mapping

Example Document

{
  "name": "quarterly_report.pdf",
  "extension": "pdf",
  "filekind": "Document"
}

{
  "name": "project_render.mov",
  "extension": "mov",
  "filekind": "Video"
}

Searching in Diskover

The filekind field enables simple, intuitive searches by file category.

Basic Search Examples

Building Smart Searches and Reports

One of the most powerful ways to leverage the File Kind plugin is by creating Smart Searches and Reports in Diskover. This allows you and your team to quickly access commonly needed file category views without typing queries each time.

Smart Searches

Create saved Smart Searches for frequently accessed file categories:

• All Media Files — Combine Video, Audio, and Image categories

• Cleanup Candidates — Target Trash and Compressed categories for storage reclamation

• Code Review — Find Programming files modified recently

• Document Audit — Locate all documents for compliance review

Reports

Build scheduled reports using File Kind classifications to:

• Track storage consumption trends by file category over time

• Identify growth in specific file types (e.g., video storage increasing)

• Monitor cleanup policy effectiveness by tracking Trash category reduction

• Support compliance reporting with document distribution analysis

Troubleshooting

Debug Logging

To enable verbose logging for troubleshooting:

Linux:
Check logs at /var/log/diskover/diskover.log

Windows:
Check Diskover service logs or your configured log location

Support

• Diskover Documentation

• Diskover Support Portal

Last Updated: January 2026
Diskover Data, Inc.