Deterministic Rules Engine
The Deterministic Rules Engine provides a user-configurable automation system where you define exact conditions and actions—same inputs always produce identical outputs, with no AI interpretation.
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What is Deterministic Rules Engine?
While AI sorting handles nuanced organization, sometimes you need precise, predictable control. The Deterministic Rules Engine lets you create IF/THEN rules with exact conditions: if a filename contains "invoice" and the file is a PDF, move it to Finance/Invoices. These rules execute the same way every time, making them ideal for compliance workflows, automated pipelines, and situations where consistency is critical.
How It Works
You build rules using a visual Rule Builder with three components: conditions (what files to match), logic operators (how to combine conditions), and actions (what to do with matches). Conditions support comparators like equals, contains, regex, numeric ranges, and date-based filters. You can nest condition groups with AND/OR/NOT logic for complex matching. Rules run in priority order, and you can preview results with dry-run mode before applying changes.
Key Capabilities
- IF/THEN automation with precise condition matching
- Boolean logic with AND, OR, and NOT operators
- Nested condition groups for complex scenarios
- 20+ comparators: equals, contains, regex, numeric ranges, date filters
- Multiple action types: move, rename, tag, and more
- Priority-based execution order
- Dry-run preview mode to test before applying
- Run rules before AI, after AI, or standalone
Getting Started
Open Sortio and go to the Rules tab
Click "Create Rule" and choose the visual Rule Builder
Set a name and priority for your rule
Add conditions using the condition builder
Combine conditions with AND/OR/NOT as needed
Define actions (move, rename, etc.)
Use dry-run to preview which files would match
Enable the rule to start processing files
Use Cases
Invoice Processing
PDFs containing "invoice" automatically move to Finance/{year}/Invoices
Screenshot Management
Files starting with "Screenshot" go to Screenshots/{date} with timestamp rename
Large File Archival
Files over 100MB modified in the last 30 days move to Archive
Extension-Based Sorting
All .psd files to Design/Source, all .jpg to Design/Exports
Compliance Workflows
Ensure specific file types always land in designated folders
Configuration Options
Condition Builder
Visual interface to build conditions with field, comparator, and value
Logic Operators
Combine conditions with ALL (AND), ANY (OR), or NONE (NOT) logic
Priority
Set execution order—lower numbers run first
Execution Mode
Run rules before AI sorting, after AI sorting, or standalone
Dry-Run Preview
See exactly which files would be affected before applying
Best Practices
- Use dry-run mode to verify rules before enabling
- Start with simple conditions and add complexity as needed
- Set priorities carefully when rules might overlap
- Combine with AI sorting for the best of both worlds
- Use regex comparators for advanced pattern matching
- Review the activity log to verify rules are working as expected
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from AI sorting?
AI sorting interprets your intent and makes intelligent decisions about file organization. Deterministic rules follow exact conditions you specify—same inputs always produce identical outputs. Use AI for flexible, context-aware sorting; use deterministic rules when you need guaranteed, repeatable results.
Can I combine deterministic rules with AI sorting?
Yes. You can configure rules to run before AI sorting (to handle specific files first), after AI sorting (to post-process results), or standalone. This gives you precise control over critical files while letting AI handle everything else.
What comparators are available?
The engine includes 20+ comparators: equals, not equals, contains, starts with, ends with, matches regex, greater than, less than, between, in list, modified within, has tag, exists, and more.
Can I test rules without moving files?
Yes. Dry-run mode shows you exactly which files match your conditions and what actions would be taken—without actually moving or modifying anything. This lets you refine rules safely before enabling them.
Related Glossary Terms
Try Deterministic Rules Engine Today
Experience the power of Deterministic Rules Engine and transform how you organize your files with Sortio.
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