Why can't I search and find all locations of a specific file extension ???

[dmac1342]

Why can't I search and find all locations of a specific file extension ???
I used to be able to do that !!!

When I try it now it only allows the search in one directory !!!!:sa:

I'm not new to windows or computers. This is extremely frustrating:sa:

 

[zigzag3143]

Why can't I search and find all locations of a specific file extension ???
I used to be able to do that !!!

When I try it now it only allows the search in one directory !!!!:sa:

I'm not new to windows or computers. This is extremely frustrating:sa:

have you set up search to index all locations? if that doesn't help you can delete the search index and have it rebuilt. that function is in cpanel, indexing.

let us know if you need help with it

ken

 

[dmac1342]

I tried to not use "indexing" because is took too long to "index".
It also seemed (maybe I'm wrong) that every time I changed or created a 'new' file it took a while -- (because it was busy indexing?!?!) - for the system to respond.

 

[Barman58]

Initial Indexing will take a time to complete dependent on how much needs indexing and how much free processing power the systems has available - Index will not run when there is user activity only when the machine is idle.

I always leave a machine idle after setting the indexing options - normally overnight

Once the initial index is complete the indexing of new items will be virtually instantaneous

 

[dmac1342]

The only time I need to search for something, which is not very often, I don't mind waiting -some- for the results.
Is the only way to resolve this problem is by indexing ?

 

[zigzag3143]

The only time I need to search for something, which is not very often, I don't mind waiting -some- for the results.
Is the only way to resolve this problem isw by indexing ?

yep. when windows searches it uses the locations you have previously set and only those to search.

If you have searches off (which I suspect you have) it takes longer because there is no index to use, and still doesn't search all locations unless you specify it in advanced searches

hope this helps

ken

 

[dmac1342]

I used the 'advanced' options - have it search file names -----
*
I finally found out what I'd selected which ke[t it from finding what I wanted it to !!
*


Thanks for all yourtime and effort !!

 

[zigzag3143]

I used the 'advanced' options - have it search file names -----
*
I finally found out what I'd selected which ke[t it from finding what I wanted it to !!
*


Thanks for all yourtime and effort !!

My pleasure glad its working. I do that all the time. I searched for a whole day for a file that had a leading space. It made me crazy till I used wildcards for the search. I just love those "*"s, and "?"s.

ken

 

[dmac1342]

That is the 'godsent' for searches !!!!

Now that I have 801 results from the search -- is there a way to get the search results copied to a txt or spreadsheet file so I can manually sort through them and figure out where they 'belong' ??!?

 

[zigzag3143]

That is the 'godsent' for searches !!!!

Now that I have 801 results from the search -- is there a way to get the search results copied to a txt or spreadsheet file so I can manually sort through them and figure out where they 'belong' ??!?

what was the aha re indexing or search all? let me check on coping the results.

EDIT I cant find a way to output the results to a text file. You can narrow the results by using filters. my search was >1000 hits, with filters it was 48. hope this helps

ken

 

[dmac1342]

I'm working with Bryce and needed to find all the *.obj files so I can place them in the proper directories. Actually, 801 is a little lower thaI might have expected.

 

[Barman58]

See if this helps ....

Print search results in Windows Vista - The Winhelponline Blog

 

[zigzag3143]

the thing with searches is it wont give you the hits if they are misspelled, or other mis naming problems. I regularly do an ooops and have to go find the file right after I have titled it.

If you need to narrow, and I dont think you want to narrow, the search you can do the *.obj, and after date x, or larger than 1K, or any other variable


hope this helps

Ken

 

[dmac1342]

Naw, Is usually end up using a 3rd party pgm which allows me to list ALL files in specific directories and put them in a test file. It is not a easy process to go through ALL the files and sort out the *.obj's from them, but guess IO don't have a choice - -.

 

[zigzag3143]

search is pretty dumb. I often need more comprehensive searching abilities and there are tons of 3rd party apps for that

ken

 

[dmac1342]

"Print search results in Windows Vista - The Winhelponline Blog " Did it's magic !!!!!!!!!!!!

Just before I read that, I'd done my '3rd party thing' and came up with a text file (44,912 kb).

I did the "Copy as Path", I am now the PROUD owner of a 73 kb txt file with JUST the stuff I needed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for all your time and effort !!!

 

[zigzag3143]

dmac

just as an aside. there is a software developer who does the most interesting utilities for things just like this its here if I have got you interested NirSoft - freeware utilities: password recovery, system utilities, desktop utilities

ken

 

[Barman58]

Pleased to help - Microsoft does actually write good software - it's telling people about it they sometimes fail at