MetaScope v1.1.8

MetaScope 1.1.8 (Build 21)

November 2025 — Build 21

This release doubles down on deterministic paging for giant folders, adds granular Snapshot Boost controls, improves scoped-bookmark reliability, and restores full-quality HEIC handling alongside refreshed template manager workflows.

Highlights

• Deterministic paged browsing for massive Include Subfolders runs (Documents, Downloads, archives).
• Advanced controls for Snapshot Boost size plus a near-bottom auto-resume gap.
• Manual versus automatic resume handling with timer back-off telemetry.
• Security-scoped bookmark reliability fixes alongside appearance switching that preserves your current folder session.
• HEIC/HEIF/HIF thumbnails restored to ImageIO quality; alerts respect light/dark mode.
• IPTC + EXIF template managers update their previews instantly and share the same translucent selection highlight.

Paging & Performance

Smart Snapshot Boost

• Snapshot seeding now loads a configurable number of items (default 1,500) instead of dumping every cached result, avoiding surprise jumps while keeping first paint fast.
• Per-folder heuristics ensure windowEnd never overruns the snapshot buffer, so QA counters stay coherent.

Short Filter Auto-Advance

• When filters leave fewer than one page visible, MetaScope runs forceAdvanceVisibleWindow automatically (up to twice) so you still get a usable grid without extra scrolling.
• Debug builds emit FB_FilterShortForceAdvance signposts for trace clarity.

Manual vs. Auto Resume Split

• Resume buttons still advance the window but set a short guard (2 s) before auto resume can fire again; you must scroll to re-arm, preventing resume loops.
• Auto resume now honors a nearBottom gap (slider-controlled) so you can flick-scroll without hitting the absolute last tile.

Timed Back-Off Loop

• Auto resume uses an exponential back-off (0.8 → 1.6 → 3.2 → 5.0 seconds); FB_TimerSkip/FB_TimerBackoff signposts explain every skip.
• Highest-presented-index tracking adds precise visible ≤ windowEnd ≤ discovered counters for telemetry.

iCloud / Remote Guardrails

• File-system monitor notifications pause when backlog hits zero while iCloud downloads placeholders, preventing rebuild thrash.
• Remote-only items show a “Download Required” overlay rather than stalling grids during hydrate cycles.

Security & Appearance

Scoped Bookmark Reliability

• Every deep scan opens the parent security-scoped bookmark before touching child files, so Include Subfolders behaves on iCloud Drive, NAS volumes, and USB drives without “Operation not permitted.”
• Popouts and preview decoders now hold scoped tokens for the entire CGImage pipeline, eliminating intermittent HEIC preview errors.
• Translating child URLs back to their scoped parents fixes cases where Finder hands MetaScope a descendant path without a matching bookmark.

Light/Dark Mode Parity

• Alerts, sheets, and paged-browsing controls inherit the right appearance—light mode no longer spawns dark alerts, and dark mode retains its accent tints.
• Switching between Light, Dark, and Auto keeps your filesystem session intact; Include Subfolders stays enabled and you are not kicked back to “Open Folder.”

Advanced Settings Additions

• Snapshot Boost Size Slider — pick 0–20K items (default 1,500; set 0 for a single page).
• Auto-Resume Near-Bottom Gap Slider — choose how close to the bottom auto resume should fire (default 200 items; set 0 to require the final tile).
• Enable Paging Diagnostics (Debug only) — toggles extra signposts/counters for Instruments traces without exposing the option in release builds.

Template Managers

• IPTC + EXIF template managers now share the same translucent selection highlight in light and dark appearances.
• Editing a template refreshes the detail preview immediately, so new keywords or copyright text show up without reselection.
• Primary “Edit Template” buttons plus overflow actions always target the current selection, making the workflow predictable.

Media Handling

• HEIC/HEIF/HIF assets use ImageIO again, so thumbnails and popouts stay crisp even in dense HEIC folders.
• QuickLook “heavy container” gating is now limited to AVIF/JXL, reducing placeholder churn.

For questions, feedback, or feature requests, contact support via the MetaScope Help menu or visit the Mac App Store listing to download the update.