Use this table to quickly identify the correct backup content filter pattern based on your goal.
| If you want to… |
Use this pattern |
Why |
| Exclude a folder and everything inside it |
C:\Folder\*** or /data/*** |
Filters the directory and all subcontent |
| Exclude files across all subdirectories |
**\temp\* or /data/**/temp/* |
Matches folder at any level |
| Exclude specific file types |
*.log |
Filters based on file extension |
| Exclude all content |
* |
Filters everything |
| Include specific files from excluded content |
Use exception with full path |
Exceptions override filters |
| Exclude temporary files |
~$* or <WKF,LocalAppData>\Temp |
Targets temp file patterns |
| Exclude system-generated files |
thumbs.db, .DS_Store |
Filters non-essential files |
| Exclude application data (SQL, Exchange) |
<BIF,+SQLServer>, <BIF,+MSExchange> |
Uses built-in application filters |
| Filter large directory structures efficiently |
*** |
Improves performance for deep trees |
Windows file system filters
Common patterns (Windows)
| Filter pattern |
Description |
Example |
Behavior |
* |
Matches any number of characters in file or folder names |
*.log |
Filters all .log files |
** |
Matches any directory level in a path |
C:\**\temp\* |
Filters temp folders at all levels |
*** |
Matches directory and all its contents, including subdirectories |
C:\Temp\*** |
Filters entire directory tree |
? |
Matches exactly one character |
file?.txt |
Matches file1.txt, not file12.txt |
[1-5] |
Matches a single character within a defined range |
file[1-5].txt |
Matches file1–file5 |
<MR>.bak |
Matches files by extension only, not folders |
<MR>.bak |
Filters .bak files only |
Windows path-based filters
| Use case |
Pattern |
Description |
Behavior |
| Filter folder and contents |
C:\Folder\*** |
Excludes a folder and everything under it |
Filters entire folder |
| Filter across all drives |
*:\**\temp\** |
Applies filter to all drives on the client |
Filters all temp folders |
| Filter specific folder globally |
*:\**\MyFolder\** |
Filters a folder wherever it appears |
Filters across all drives |
Windows system filters
| Filter |
Description |
<SF,RecycleBin *> |
Filters all recycle bin directories |
<SF,UsbConnectedDrives> |
Filters data on USB drives |
<WKF,LocalAppData>\Temp |
Filters local temporary files |
<WKF,TemporaryInternetFiles> |
Filters browser cache |
Windows application filters
| Filter |
Description |
<BIF,+MSExchange> |
Excludes Exchange database files |
<BIF,+SQLServer> |
Excludes SQL Server database files |
<BIF,+OracleDatabase> |
Excludes Oracle database files |
<BIF,+HyperV> |
Excludes Hyper-V data |
Windows system file filters
| File type |
Pattern |
Description |
| Temp files |
~$* |
Filters temporary application files |
| Thumbnails |
thumbs.db |
Filters thumbnail cache files |
| Page file |
C:\pagefile.sys |
Filters system paging file |
UNIX and Linux file system filters
Common patterns (UNIX/Linux)
| Filter pattern |
Description |
Example |
Behavior |
* |
Matches any number of characters |
*.log |
Filters log files |
** |
Matches directories across levels |
/data/**/temp/* |
Filters temp folders |
*** |
Matches directory and all contents recursively |
/data/cache/*** |
Filters entire tree |
? |
Matches one character |
file?.log |
Matches file1.log |
[a-z] |
Matches a character range |
file[a-z].log |
Matches alphabet range |
UNIX path-based filters
| Use case |
Pattern |
Description |
Behavior |
| Filter directory |
/data/*** |
Excludes directory and all subcontent |
Filters full directory |
| Filter nested folders |
/data/**/cache/* |
Filters pattern at any level |
Filters cache folders |
| Filter root-level pattern |
/**/*.log |
Filters files across filesystem |
Filters logs anywhere |
UNIX system filters
| Filter |
Description |
/tmp/*** |
Filters temporary system directory |
/var/tmp/*** |
Filters system temp storage |
/proc/*** |
Filters virtual process filesystem |
Include and Exclude logic
| Scenario |
Filter |
Exception |
Description |
Result |
| Exclude all |
* |
— |
Filters all content |
Nothing backed up |
| Include specific files |
* |
[!~]*.7z |
Includes matching files |
Selective backup |
| Override exclusion |
/data/*** |
/data/file.txt |
Includes specific file |
File is backed up |
Filter behavior summary
| Behavior |
Description |
| Case sensitivity |
Filters are not case-sensitive |
| Evaluation order |
Exclude first, then exceptions |
| No match |
Backup still completes |
| Performance |
Use *** for large directory trees |