Hazel rule clarification on when a rule is evaluated again
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2025 11:22 pmHi, I couldn't understand a rule behavior despite re-reading the explanation manual multiple times
Suppose I've the following rules in order in my Download folder
1. Tag green if newly added (and continue matching rule)
2. Tag red if date added is not in the last 1 week (Rule 2)
3. Tag orange if date added is not in the last 3 days
Now suppose I add (Rule 4) after them, which is "if date added is not in the last 2 weeks and it's tagged red, move to Review"
- Essentially, move any "old", red tagged files to Review to decide later
What I'm not sure is if this Rule 4 will be blocked by Rule 2 every time due to its order?
My understanding is it will get blocked, and I've to move to the beginning, for Rule 4 to be evaluated again at later time (i.e. due to Hazel's periodic scan, with or without file events) after the initial Rule 2 application.
Below is my interpretation from the manual
---
According to the explanation manual
1. "Only the first matching rule runs on any given file or folder, and it stops there (unless you add the “Continue matching rules”)"
2. "If a rule matches a file or folder, that rule will not reapply its actions on a subsequent pass.", BUT later it states... "if the file or folder matches another rule, later in your list, that rule’s actions will run."
My understanding of the sequence (supposing all rules are in order)
1. Rule 2 gets triggered and the red tag is applied after 1 week
2. (2 weeks passed, Hazel's periodic scan checks the Download folder)
- Rule 2 matches, but no action is applied
- This stops the rule evaluation sequence. Rule 4 can never be matched
If I move Rule 4 to the beginning, this will fix the issue.
Let me know if this is not correct!
Suppose I've the following rules in order in my Download folder
1. Tag green if newly added (and continue matching rule)
2. Tag red if date added is not in the last 1 week (Rule 2)
3. Tag orange if date added is not in the last 3 days
Now suppose I add (Rule 4) after them, which is "if date added is not in the last 2 weeks and it's tagged red, move to Review"
- Essentially, move any "old", red tagged files to Review to decide later
What I'm not sure is if this Rule 4 will be blocked by Rule 2 every time due to its order?
My understanding is it will get blocked, and I've to move to the beginning, for Rule 4 to be evaluated again at later time (i.e. due to Hazel's periodic scan, with or without file events) after the initial Rule 2 application.
Below is my interpretation from the manual
---
According to the explanation manual
1. "Only the first matching rule runs on any given file or folder, and it stops there (unless you add the “Continue matching rules”)"
2. "If a rule matches a file or folder, that rule will not reapply its actions on a subsequent pass.", BUT later it states... "if the file or folder matches another rule, later in your list, that rule’s actions will run."
My understanding of the sequence (supposing all rules are in order)
1. Rule 2 gets triggered and the red tag is applied after 1 week
2. (2 weeks passed, Hazel's periodic scan checks the Download folder)
- Rule 2 matches, but no action is applied
- This stops the rule evaluation sequence. Rule 4 can never be matched
If I move Rule 4 to the beginning, this will fix the issue.
Let me know if this is not correct!