Alex Pankratov :
Aug 16, 2015
Filtering logic varies depending on if the backup is set to include everything by default or if it's set to start with an empty list.
"Include everything" option
If it's set to include everything, then the filtering works as follows. When the app scans source location, it starts by listing all files and folders at the top of it.
For each item - be it a file or a folder - it first goes through the list of *exclude* filters as specified by the middle pane on the configuration dialog. That is, it will look for an exact match on a name, full path and a type of the item (file or folder). If there's a match, the item is excluded and the app simply pretends it doesn't exist. Meaning, that if it's a folder, it's won't be scanned.
If there's no match, then the app proceeds to the custom filters (the bottom pane of the configuration window). Here it matches on name, path and, optionally, on type, attributes, size and timestamps. The first filter that is a match defines the action (include or exclude) and terminates the processing.
If there's no match again, then the item is *included*.
Now, if this is the filtering mode you are using, then you need to override the default from "included" to "excluded" and this is done by adding
exclude file *
rule at the bottom of the filter list.
"Start with an empty list" option
This is a bit more contrived case, but not that much more complicated.
Again, for any item at hand the app first goes through the list of explicit includes as defined by the middle pane of the configuration window. If there's a match then item is included and that's it.
Otherwise it looks through the custom rules and applies the same logic as above - the first matching rule determines the action and terminates the processing.
If there's no match and it's a file, then it is excluded.
If there's no match and it's a folder, then the app checks if there are any custom rules that may potentially match anything in this folder. If there aren't, then the folder is excluded. Otherwise it is included *provisionally*.
For example, if there is "include file *.lib" rule, then all folders will be included provisionally as there's a chance that any of them may contain *.lib files.
Finally, after the scan is done, all provisional folders that didn't end up with explicitly included item are excluded.
Easy-peasy :)
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Now, in your case what you need to do is to use "Start with an empty list" option and just add two rules -
include file PDF\*.pdf
include file POWERPOINT\*.pptx
(I realize that this is different from what I suggested to you over email, but I've reviewed the exact filtering logic after our conversation and the above setup is simpler and it *will* work for your case).