Searching files containing text doesn't work on some file types

[Don]

Hello,

I just discovered that Windows XP does not search inside some file types
(e.g. .cs .jsl .vb .sql). I have tried this with both "Search Companion"
turned on and off. It will find the files if you search by file name but
will not if you search for files "containing text". Oddly enough, it does
find other development files types like .cpp and .vbs.

I searched the web but I couldn't find any mention of this, I double checked
on multiple XP machines and they all have this problem. I also tried this on
a Win2K workstation and it worked correctly. There must be something inside
XP that either cannot or will not open these files types to search.

Anybody know anything about this?

donald.

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

I just discovered that Windows XP does not search inside some file types
(e.g. .cs .jsl .vb .sql). I have tried this with both "Search Companion"
turned on and off. It will find the files if you search by file name but
will not if you search for files "containing text". Oddly enough, it does
find other development files types like .cpp and .vbs.

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...

http://www.agentransack.com/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

 

[Alex Nichol]

I just discovered that Windows XP does not search inside some file types
(e.g. .cs .jsl .vb .sql). I have tried this with both "Search Companion"
turned on and off. It will find the files if you search by file name but
will not if you search for files "containing text". Oddly enough, it does
find other development files types like .cpp and .vbs.

It only searches for text in a very limited number of types - they must
either have registry entries saying they are pure Text (.TXT and not
much else) or have known 'filters' to handle embedded format controls,
so that Search can avoid being confused by thinking those are characters
in 16 bit Unicode (eg .doc, .htm). You can add an additional type as
pure text provided you know that it *is* that, and that it does not
already have a 'PersistentHandler' in the registry. Make the following,
after - - start and before - - end into a file by cut/paste to NotePad.
Make sure there is a blank line at the end. Save as "Patch.reg" then
d-click on this file to enter it into the registry.
This is for .log - modify that for other extensions, with care.

- - start
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.log\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"


- - end

 

[Don]

Thanks! that's a big help! What an odd thing for them to do and not make an
easy way to customize it.