HoudahSpot as a file tagging solution
HoudahSpot 3 is a full-fledged file tagging solution. It allows you to assign tags to your files and later on may locate files by searching for tags. Tag searches my be narrowed down by adding any number of other criteria. I.e. search for Pages documents created over the last year and tagged with the keyword "Bob".
Tags are non-hierarchical keywords assigned to files. They serve a similar purpose than folders. The crucial difference being that a file may be assigned several tags and be located by any of them.
HoudahSpot's tagging features are based upon the OpenMeta technology. HoudahSpot is thus compatible with many third party tagging solutions. I.e. you may tag your files using Yep, but use HoudahSpot to retrieve them.
The HoudahSpot Tray
The HoudahSpot Tray lists your favorite tags as well as tags recently used by HoudahSpot or another OpenMeta tagging solution.
Drag a file to a tag to assign it that tag. Drag a file to the file well to be presented with a window to enter any number of tags.
Select tags and double-click to start a search. Hold down the option key while double-clicking to match any of the selected tags.
The file well
The lower part of the Tray window acts as a file well. Drop files here to inspect or update their tags.
A balloon window will pop up where you may edit tags. You may also click tags from the Tray window to add them to the list.
Click OK to commit your changes.
The Tray menu
The gear icon in the upper right corner of the Tray reveals a menu.
It allows for pinning the Tray in the open position or for disabling it temporarily.
You may also choose to hide all other applications with the exception of Finder and PathFinder. This may make it easier to access files you want to tag.