Windows Explorer Search function

[Victor]

I have Windows XP professional. For what reason Windows
Explorer couldn't find the files that it is supposed to
find with its search feature. I specified the filter (like
*.asp) and the search string, but it could find the files
that have the string. I downloaded XP SP1 from MS web
site, installed it, and tried again. It didn't work
either. Anyone has any idea what's wrong?

Thanks.

[dev]

Xref: kermit microsoft.public.windowsxp.general:885586

Victor said:

> I have Windows XP professional. For what reason Windows
> Explorer couldn't find the files that it is supposed to
> find with its search feature. I specified the filter (like
> *.asp) and the search string, but it could find the files
> that have the string. I downloaded XP SP1 from MS web
> site, installed it, and tried again. It didn't work
> either. Anyone has any idea what's wrong?

Minimize grief. Forsake XP search, and try Agent Ransack instead...
http://WWW.AGENTRANSACK.COM/index.asp

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[Nada Alwarid [MSFT]]

in case you didn't get an answer yet:

change the following setting:



1.. Click on "Change Preferences"
2.. Select the indexing service setting option (the text for this option
is different depending on whether indexing is enabled or not)
3.. Then click on "Change Indexing service settings (Advanced)". A new
window with name "Indexing Service" is opened.
4.. In the menu of this window, click on "Action" -> "Properties". In the
generation tab, make sure "Index files with unknown extensions" is checked.


This setting needs to be changed irrespective of whether indexing is turned
on or not

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"Victor" > wrote in message
...
> I have Windows XP professional. For what reason Windows
> Explorer couldn't find the files that it is supposed to
> find with its search feature. I specified the filter (like
> *.asp) and the search string, but it could find the files
> that have the string. I downloaded XP SP1 from MS web
> site, installed it, and tried again. It didn't work
> either. Anyone has any idea what's wrong?
>
> Thanks.
>
>

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Victor wrote:

> I have Windows XP professional. For what reason Windows
> Explorer couldn't find the files that it is supposed to
> find with its search feature. I specified the filter (like
> *.asp) and the search string, but it could find the files
> that have the string. I downloaded XP SP1 from MS web
> site, installed it, and tried again. It didn't work
> either. Anyone has any idea what's wrong?

Hi

WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).

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/default.aspx

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