Searching inside files?

[Bob & Anni]

I can't seem to get the "Search" facility to look INSIDE files.
I have hundreds of .PHP files (text) and I am looking for which one of them has "xyz" in the contents.
I put the string in the box "A word or phrase in the document:" but it only brings up files with this string in the filename.

If this doesn't work in WinXP Home, can anyone suggest a freeware utility that will do the same?

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

I can't seem to get the "Search" facility to look INSIDE files.
I have hundreds of .PHP files (text) and I am looking for which one of them has "xyz" in the contents.
I put the string in the box "A word or phrase in the document:" but it only brings up files with this string in the filename.

If this doesn't work in WinXP Home, can anyone suggest a freeware utility that will do the same?

Hi

WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).

Install the free Agent Ransack, it searches for text strings in *all*
types of files, and not just in a selection of "approved" file extensions
as the built-in search does. It's a *much* better search tool as well...

Download it from here:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/default.aspx

Agent Ransack can save the search result to a file (or clipboard), as text,
comma separated text or tab separated text. E.g. Excel reads comma separated
text (csv) very well.

When searching for text inside files, Agent Ransack is also able to do a
preview of the lines the text was found in (just do a single click on the
found file).
Also, you can use regular expression on both the file name part and the find
text in files part.


If you still want to use the not so good search tool that comes with WinXP to
search for text in files, take a look at this:

Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;309173

Or this:

Add Files to Containing text Searches
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm

 

[Bob & Anni]

Thank you, just what I needed and I have solved my problem using Agent Rucksack
Bob

 

[S Newman]

I use "Salamander File Manager" and it's free.

This is a dual-pane file manager that has an excellent "Find" (search
engine) . In addition, it has all the normal file manager features such as
copy, paste (drag n drop), delete, as well as recognize zip files and more.

More importantly, I like it because it's stand-along app, no installation
needed. Download the free version 1.52 at:

http://www.altap.cz/download.html#salrel

It's a nice free tool.

-----

Thank you, just what I needed and I have solved my problem using Agent Rucksack
-----

Hi

WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).

Install the free Agent Ransack, it searches for text strings in *all*
types of files, and not just in a selection of "approved" file extensions
as the built-in search does. It's a *much* better search tool as well...

Download it from here:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/default.aspx
-------
Bob & Anni wrote:

I can't seem to get the "Search" facility to look INSIDE files.
I have hundreds of .PHP files (text) and I am looking for which one of

them has "xyz" in the contents.

I put the string in the box "A word or phrase in the document:" but it

only brings up files with this string in the filename.