XP Search Problem

[ab]

I am trying to use the search feature to find a word
within a group of files. This does not seem to work for
me. The old W98 FIND did a great job at this.
I have been through the preference options with no luck.
Any suggestions, or has MS altered the functionality.

thanks
ab

[Mark L. Ferguson]

It has. You are expecting the search to search for text in files that have on
file association for those file extensions.



--
Mark L. Ferguson TabletPC MVP
Email address : Subject: "QZ" + anything
All email without "QZ" in the subject line will be automatically deleted.
marfer's notes for XP > http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/xp_notes.htm
..

"ab" > wrote in message
...
> I am trying to use the search feature to find a word
> within a group of files. This does not seem to work for
> me. The old W98 FIND did a great job at this.
> I have been through the preference options with no luck.
> Any suggestions, or has MS altered the functionality.
>
> thanks
> ab

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

ab wrote:

> I am trying to use the search feature to find a word
> within a group of files. This does not seem to work for
> me. The old W98 FIND did a great job at this.
> I have been through the preference options with no luck.
> Any suggestions, or has MS altered the functionality.

Hi

This is because WinXP's search function filters out files to search
in based on file extensions.

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/index.asp

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


--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

[ab]

The reg fix works but,
Ransack agent works better (actually great!).
Many Thanks
ab



>-----Original Message-----
>ab wrote:
>
>> I am trying to use the search feature to find a word
>> within a group of files. This does not seem to work for
>> me. The old W98 FIND did a great job at this.
>> I have been through the preference options with no
luck.
>> Any suggestions, or has MS altered the functionality.
>
>Hi
>
>This is because WinXP's search function filters out
files to search
>in based on file extensions.
>
>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/index.asp
>
>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
>
>
>--
>torgeir
>Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
>Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version
of the 1328 page
>Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter
>
>
>.
>