Why does XP not find files that I know are there!

[Martin C]

I have noticed on a number of occassions that if I search for a file in a
director (and its sub directories) and I also include a "word or phrase in
the file" criteria, that quite often, no files are found - even though I
know for a fact that the file exists in the directory I have stipulated.

This is particularly noticeable in code files.

For example, when searching through ADA95 files with a ".adb" extension and
ask it to find the word "function" which should find quite a few hits, it
comes up with no files found. I can run this in a directory that I know
should find 10 files, yet it continues to insist that there are no files
with the word found inside it. This is utter nonsense.

If it cannot find these, how do I know that it can ever find anything
correctly?

Any ideas on what I could be doing wrong, or is the search criteria that XP
uses flawed?

TIA
Martin

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I have noticed on a number of occassions that if I search for a file in a
director (and its sub directories) and I also include a "word or phrase in
the file" criteria, that quite often, no files are found - even though I
know for a fact that the file exists in the directory I have stipulated.

This is particularly noticeable in code files.

For example, when searching through ADA95 files with a ".adb" extension
and ask it to find the word "function" which should find quite a few
hits, it comes up with no files found. I can run this in a directory that
I know should find 10 files, yet it continues to insist that there are no
files with the word found inside it. This is utter nonsense.

If it cannot find these, how do I know that it can ever find anything
correctly?

Any ideas on what I could be doing wrong, or is the search criteria that
XP uses flawed?

By default the Windows XP search will only search for text in files that are
registered. This can be changed so that it will behave like previous
versions of Windows and search for text in all files whether the extension
is registered or not.

To configure Windows XP to search all files no matter what the file type,
obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP and then turn on the Index
file types with unknown extensions option.

If you use this method, Windows XP searches all file types for the text that
you specify. This can affect the performance of the search functionality.
To do this:

1.. Click Start, select Run and enter ciadv.msc.
2.. Click OK and Indexing Service settings will be run.
3.. On the menu select Action, Properties. Note that you do not have to
turn on the Index service.
4.. On the Generation tab, click to select the Index files with unknown
extensions check box, and then click OK
5.. Close the Indexing Service console.
Another option is to use a different search tool such as Agent Ransack from
http://www.agentransack.com/.

 

[Dave Cohen]

I have noticed on a number of occassions that if I search for a file in a
director (and its sub directories) and I also include a "word or phrase in
the file" criteria, that quite often, no files are found - even though I
know for a fact that the file exists in the directory I have stipulated.

This is particularly noticeable in code files.

For example, when searching through ADA95 files with a ".adb" extension and
ask it to find the word "function" which should find quite a few hits, it
comes up with no files found. I can run this in a directory that I know
should find 10 files, yet it continues to insist that there are no files
with the word found inside it. This is utter nonsense.

If it cannot find these, how do I know that it can ever find anything
correctly?

Any ideas on what I could be doing wrong, or is the search criteria that XP
uses flawed?

TIA
Martin

Try downloading the free 'Agent Ransack' at
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
It's fast, and very good with more options.
Dave Cohen

 

[Guest]

For performance reasons, XP doesn't automatically search within all file
types. Take a look at this article -
http://www.petri.co.il/windows_xp_search_bug.htm

Also, installing MS Desktop search or some other desktop search program will
do a much better job at searching within files.