How to search for Explorer files that are read-only

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  1. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #11

    First question after trying this for a bit.

    How do I find all files with the Read Only attribute set with or without any other attributes being set. From what I can see, you can't do it using just Windows Explorer and that is what Keith asked for:

    I am trying to search for all Explorer files that have the read-only attribute set.
    Willing to be proven wrong (again I hope).
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #12

    Ztruker said:
    First question after trying this for a bit.

    How do I find all files with the Read Only attribute set with or without any other attributes being set. From what I can see, you can't do it using just Windows Explorer and that is what Keith asked for:

    I am trying to search for all Explorer files that have the read-only attribute set.
    Willing to be proven wrong (again I hope).
    OK, here we go:

    Take the table from Gladson's earlier post:
    Code:
    READ ONLY = 1
    HIDDEN = 2
    SYSTEM = 4
    DIRECTORY = 16
    ARCHIVE = 32
    ENCRYPTED = 64
    NORMAL = 128
    TEMPORARY = 256
    SPARSE_FILE = 512
    REPARSE_POINT = 1024
    COMPRESSED = 2048
    OFFLINE = 4096
    Now combine, add. Searching files with Read Only attribute set, no other attributes:
    Code:
    attributes:1
    (Read Only = 1)

    Search files with both Read Only and Archive attributes set, no other attributes:
    Code:
    attributes:33
    (Read Only 1 + Archive 32 = 33)

    Search files with Hidden attribute set, no other attributes:
    Code:
    attributes:2
    (Hidden = 2)

    Search files with both Read Only, Hidden and Archive attributes set, no other attributes:
    Code:
    attributes:35
    (Read Only 1 + Hidden 2 + Archive 32 = 35)

    Search images with partial filename FIN with both Read Only and Archive attributes set , no other attributes:
    Code:
    kind:image name:FIN attributes:33
    Kari
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Hello again.

    Kari, Thanks for your very detailed and clear explanation, which I read carefully. If I understand you correctly, to find all occurrences of read-only files, you would need to do a number of searches, to cover each combination of read-only and other attributes being set. My goal is to be able to execute one search and find all read-only files.

    Of course, I would love to avoid buying more software, but my current understanding is that that single search is not possible in Explorer. File Locator Pro achieves my goal well, and I am happy with the product so far. (By the way, I have no affiliation whatsoever with that company.)

    Finally, thanks again to everyone for an enlightening (albeit slightly sparky at times...:) discussion.

    Bye for now.

    Keith
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #14

    By the way, I just realised that I fell behind on the threads, and I wrote my immediately previous response before reading Ztruker's and Kari's latest two responses. Sorry about that. However, my understanding remains that you cannot do a single search in Explorer to find all read-only files. Having said that, I would love to be proven wrong.

    Cheers,

    Keith
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #15

    A normal user usually uses only 4 attributes: Read Only, System, Hidden and Archive. You can search any combinations of these with attributes:X using logical operator OR.

    An example:
    Search for files with only Read Only attribute set, Read Only and Archive set, Read Only, Archive and Hidden set:
    Code:
    attributes:1 OR attributes:33 OR attributes:35
    A logical operator (AND, OR, NOT) must always be in capital letters.

    Kari
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Ahhh, of course! That does indeed answer the question.

    Many thanks Kari! Happy Saturday.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #17

    You are welcome.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 881
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #18

    A lot of great information in this thread. I learned a lot thanks everyone.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #19

    That's great Kari, thanks again.

    (tried it and it works perfectly, very cool)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #20

    Thread marked solved, issue handled. Just to finish this topic from my side, a few examples of AND, OR & NOT to complete our advanced search mini-tut .

    Find all images and videos with partial filename Hawaii taken (filmed) on July 2012 but not those taken between July 14th and 21st 2012:
    Code:
    name:Hawaii kind:image OR kind:video datetaken:July 2007 NOT 14/07/2007 .. 21/07/2007
    This would list all image and video files where Hawaii is a part of the filename and which are taken (filmed) in July 2012, leaving out those taken (filmed) between July 14th and July 21st.
    (Notice: date format and separators must match your current input language settings.)

    Find all files with extension .doc which are created 2011 and modified 2013:
    Code:
    ext:doc created:2011 AND modified:2013
    That's about it!

    Kari
      My Computer


 
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