Searching files

[wilmon44]

How do I search the contents of multiple documents and spreadsheets using
Vista's search? In previous versions the office Assistant could search the
contents of files for information, providing the user with a list of
documents containing the search term.

 

[Bob]

Folder Options>check Always Search File Names and Contents.

 

[wilmon44]

Great, Thanks Bob.

Folder Options>check Always Search File Names and Contents.

 

[Bob]

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Great, Thanks Bob.

 

[SixSigmaGuy]

That didn't work for me. I've got that option checked, but it still doesn't
find my files. I have several text files in a folder with FRM, BAS, and CTL
extensions (Visual Basic modules). I'm trying to search for all the files
that contain "HandleChange" in their contents. Even though I can open a file
and see that there are 5 occurances of "HandleChange" in it, the search
engine does not find it. I've tried every option I can think of. I've
turned off indexing, I've turned it back on; I've specified to index every
file on my computer and I've set the specific file extensions to search
contents, but no luck.

Also, in Windows XP, I could tell the search engine to search all *.FRM
files for a certain text string, but in Vista, it seems I have to search all
the file for that text string. I don't see anyway to tell it to search on
certain file types for contents. Am I missing something?

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Six

The search in Vista is much more powerful than in previous versions. You
need to look at the syntax options to define your search. Here are a couple
of pages that will get you up to speed.

Windows Vista Team Blog : Advanced search techniques:
http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/pages/advanced-search-techniques.aspx

Windows Vista and Windows Desktop Search Advanced Query Syntax:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx

If you are still haveing problems, take a look at this KB article.

You cannot find files when you search a Windows Vista-based computer even
though the files exist on the computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932989

 

[SixSigmaGuy]

Yes, several times after changing several options. Nothing worked.

I did find something that worked great. I went back to the old FindStr DOS
command. Wow, that was fast and did exactly what I wanted. So much for the
advance in technology.

Have you tried limiting the search to the specific folder by right clicking
the folder and selecting Search?
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

That didn't work for me. I've got that option checked, but it still
doesn't
find my files. I have several text files in a folder with FRM, BAS, and
CTL
extensions (Visual Basic modules). I'm trying to search for all the files
that contain "HandleChange" in their contents. Even though I can open a
file
and see that there are 5 occurances of "HandleChange" in it, the search
engine does not find it. I've tried every option I can think of. I've
turned off indexing, I've turned it back on; I've specified to index every
file on my computer and I've set the specific file extensions to search
contents, but no luck.

Also, in Windows XP, I could tell the search engine to search all *.FRM
files for a certain text string, but in Vista, it seems I have to search
all
the file for that text string. I don't see anyway to tell it to search on
certain file types for contents. Am I missing something?

 

[SixSigmaGuy]

The search in Vista is much more powerful than in previous versions. <<
Sorry, but it's going to take a lot of convincing to get me to believe that.
The FindStr DOS command works a lot better than the new search in Vista, in
my opinion. I visited all the links you listed below long before I posted my
message.

The only advantage I've been able to find with the new Vista Search is that
I can now tell it to not search inside ZIP and CAB files. That used to drive
me crazy in XP.

I don't need indexing; what I need is a foolproof search engine that will
ALWAYS find what I'm looking for. I don't care if it takes an hour instead
of a few seconds, as long as I know it searched everything. I want to do
searches in binaries as well as text files. It used to be so easy in XP.
The XP interface had one field to enter the filespec you wanted to search and
another field to enter the text you wanted to search for in the files that
matched the filespec. Vista only has one field now; so I have to use the
advanced techniques to do what used to be simple searches.

Who decided that people wanted the search to start as soon as I typed in a
character into the search window. I find that incredibly annoying. I'd
rather finish typing what I'm looking for and then click a button to start
the search. Yet, Microsoft triumphs this feature on their website.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, SixSigmaGuy.

Thank you!

I've been using MS-DOS since the mid-1980s - and I never knew about the
FindStr command. When did that come along?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

Yes, several times after changing several options. Nothing worked.

I did find something that worked great. I went back to the old FindStr
DOS
command. Wow, that was fast and did exactly what I wanted. So much for
the
advance in technology.

Have you tried limiting the search to the specific folder by right
clicking
the folder and selecting Search?
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to
so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

That didn't work for me. I've got that option checked, but it still
doesn't
find my files. I have several text files in a folder with FRM, BAS,
and
CTL
extensions (Visual Basic modules). I'm trying to search for all the
files
that contain "HandleChange" in their contents. Even though I can open
a
file
and see that there are 5 occurances of "HandleChange" in it, the search
engine does not find it. I've tried every option I can think of. I've
turned off indexing, I've turned it back on; I've specified to index
every
file on my computer and I've set the specific file extensions to search
contents, but no luck.

Also, in Windows XP, I could tell the search engine to search all *.FRM
files for a certain text string, but in Vista, it seems I have to
search
all
the file for that text string. I don't see anyway to tell it to search
on
certain file types for contents. Am I missing something?

:

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Great, Thanks Bob.

:

Folder Options>check Always Search File Names and Contents.

How do I search the contents of multiple documents and
spreadsheets
using
Vista's search? In previous versions the office Assistant could
search
the
contents of files for information, providing the user with a list
of
documents containing the search term.