What Are Smart Folders?

Smart Folders are declarative, dynamic views built using search expressions.

They update automatically as new articles arrive.

Screenshot

How They Work

  • Each Smart Folder stores a search expression (same syntax as the Search Guide).
  • Results refresh continuously as new items match the query.
  • Limit: each folder returns up to limitCount articles (default 50).
  • Sorting respects the query (sort:trust, sort:recommended, sort:quality, sort:attention, sort:desc|asc).

Create a Smart Folder

  1. Open Smart Folders in the app.
  2. Add a name and a search expression.
  3. (Optional) Set limitCount to cap results (50 by default).
  4. Save. The folder updates itself as content changes.

Use the same tokens as the search bar: status (unread:true, favorite:true), tags (tag:news), dates (@today, @"3 days ago"), quality (quality:>0.7), freshness (freshness:>=0.5), event grouping (event:true, eventCount:>=3), interest-island applicability (island:true, island:false), hot items (hot:true), and sorts.

Recipes

  • Top stories today: @today unread:true sort:recommended limit:100
  • High-quality long reads: quality:>0.75 sort:quality unread:true
  • Engaged items: sort:attention clicked:true limit:80
  • Trusted sources: sort:trust unread:true limit:80
  • Hot right now: hot:true sort:attention
  • Events with broad coverage: event:true eventCount:>=3 sort:recommended
  • Interest-aligned events: event:true island:true sort:recommended
  • Articles outside active interests: island:false sort:desc
  • Topic by tag: tag:ai unread:true sort:recommended
  • Yesterday’s highlights: @yesterday unread:true sort:recommended

Tips

  • Combine status with time to keep the list focused: unread:true @today.
  • Use quality:>=0.7 to filter after fetch; it can shrink the result set even if the limit is higher.
  • Use event:true for a low-noise event view. Add eventCount:>=3 when you only want events with broad coverage.
  • Use island:true when an event must connect through any assigned topic to one of your active interest islands. Archived islands do not count.
  • If you omit status but include text, all statuses are searched; add unread:true or read:true if you want to constrain.

AI Suggestions (Optional)

  • When OPENAI_API_KEY is set on the server, RSSMonster can propose Smart Folders from your reading patterns (feeds, tags, starred items).
  • Suggestions follow the same search syntax and avoid duplicating your existing folders.
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