Windows Search not searching open files

  • Thread starter Thread starter ALev
  • Start date Start date
A

ALev

I just discovered this after about ten minutes of frustration. I would be
interested to know the reason for this and also if there is a way to change
it.
 
It sort of depends on what program has the file open. For instance if
Word has it open Search won't find it, but Notepad won't prevent that
file from being found.
 
I didn't see the beginning of the thread, and am not sure I'm following what
you all are talking about. I just opened a file in Word, and then searched
for that file name, and it found it. While the file was open in Word, I
tried to open the same file with WordPad, and as expected, got the message:
"The document C:\DOCUME~1\Richard\Desktop\Logbook.txt is in use by another
application and cannot be accessed." OK, I just tried a phrase search for a
word I knew was in Logbook.txt, and the file did not show up in the search
results. That is strange. Is there a purpose for that, or is it a quirk?

OK, while LogBook.txt was still open in Word, I was also able to open it
with NotePad, but when I added some text, and tried to save, I got the
message: "Cannot create the C:\Documents and
Settings\Richard\Desktop\LogBook.txt file. Make sure that the path and
filename are correct." and when I clicked OK, the Save dialog opened.

Again, while still open in Word, I tried a Command Prompt "C:\>dir
LogBook.txt /s" and that search method found it. Again from the Command
Prompt I tried "C:\DOCUME~1\Richard\Desktop>type LogBook.txt" and it
displayed the contents. The phrase "rain gauge" appears a few times in that
file, so I also tried: 'C:\DOCUME~1\Richard\Desktop>find "gauge"
LogBook.txt' and it displayed 4 lines where "gauge" appeared. I typed HELP
at the command prompt, and the list of commands did not include "Edit", but
I entered "Edit /?" at the prompt and got the usual syntax info for Edit.
OK, I tried "Edit LogBook.txt" and it opened in the editor, but I'm not sure
if filesave from that editor would recognize the supposed Word "lock", so I
basically chickened out from trying to save from Edit while open in Word,
and did an exit. What other things does a "lock" affect?

(Curious-er and Curious-er... :)
--Richard
 
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