git - gitignore directory exception not working -

i have following folder structure:

public     media         catalog             product             category         private         tmp         var         test 

i want gitignore in media directory except catalog/category , private

my gitignore trying is:

public/media/* !public/media/catalog/category/ !public/media/private 

but doesn't work. new files added category or private directories not available add.

i git add force done through gitignore if possible

it's simplest put .gitignore @ level starts matter. (this helps if ever split repository or move directories around.) in case need ignore except catalog , private in public/media folder in public/media/.gitignore put:

/* !/catalog/ !/private/ 

and in public/media/catalog/.gitignore put:

/* !/category/ 

it's important (and reason rules not working) not ignore public/media/catalog directory itself, otherwise in ignored, if didn't want ignore specific part of contents.

of course, can combine single ignore @ public/media level if like:

/* !/catalog/ !/private/ /catalog/* !/catalog/category/