Explorer Search files containing certain text

[rhamilton]

When I right click on start and select search, then type
in a file name such as *.txt

and in the word of phrase box type in a some text such as
E26A, and in the look in box browse to a specific folder
that I know has a file that contains the text, and press
enter or search the results comes back with all the files
that contain this text.

But, if I use a different file name, such as *.lsa, and
using all the other parameters as set above. I get search
is complete. There are no results to display. I know
there are files containing the text E26A that have the
file extension .lsa

So why doesn't this work? It should have found several
files containing this text 'E26A'

Is there a bug, or am I missing a critical step?

Thanks for your reply.

Ron H.

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"rhamilton" > wrote in message
...
> When I right click on start and select search, then type
> in a file name such as *.txt
>
> and in the word of phrase box type in a some text such as
> E26A, and in the look in box browse to a specific folder
> that I know has a file that contains the text, and press
> enter or search the results comes back with all the files
> that contain this text.
>
> But, if I use a different file name, such as *.lsa, and
> using all the other parameters as set above. I get search
> is complete. There are no results to display. I know
> there are files containing the text E26A that have the
> file extension .lsa
>
> So why doesn't this work? It should have found several
> files containing this text 'E26A'
>
> Is there a bug, or am I missing a critical step?
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> Ron H.

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"rhamilton" > wrote in message
...
> When I right click on start and select search, then type
> in a file name such as *.txt
>
> and in the word of phrase box type in a some text such as
> E26A, and in the look in box browse to a specific folder
> that I know has a file that contains the text, and press
> enter or search the results comes back with all the files
> that contain this text.
>
> But, if I use a different file name, such as *.lsa, and
> using all the other parameters as set above. I get search
> is complete. There are no results to display. I know
> there are files containing the text E26A that have the
> file extension .lsa
>
> So why doesn't this work? It should have found several
> files containing this text 'E26A'
>
> Is there a bug, or am I missing a critical step?
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> Ron H.

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

rhamilton wrote:

> (snip)
> But, if I use a different file name, such as *.lsa, and
> using all the other parameters as set above. I get search
> is complete. There are no results to display. I know
> there are files containing the text E26A that have the
> file extension .lsa
>
> So why doesn't this work? It should have found several
> files containing this text 'E26A'

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

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

rhamilton wrote:

> (snip)
> But, if I use a different file name, such as *.lsa, and
> using all the other parameters as set above. I get search
> is complete. There are no results to display. I know
> there are files containing the text E26A that have the
> file extension .lsa
>
> So why doesn't this work? It should have found several
> files containing this text 'E26A'

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