Explorer Search not working as desired

Xirix · 13 May 2014

So I've just noticed something very inefficient about the Windows 7 search bar, it seems to only be checking the beginning of the filename and ignoring anything that has the search criteria elsewhere.

Example, I have some video files called 'ManLaughter' and some called 'LaughterOfMen' (Don't ask), if I do a search on my drive, or the folder they're in for just 'laughter', it finds LaughterOfMen and ignores Manlaughter.

Are there any settings to make it search the entire filename like windows XP did?

Kari · 13 May 2014

Use wildcards. For instance the "*" (asterisk) wildcard substitutes zero or more characters which may or may not belong to search string.

Some examples.

Search string:

Code:

*laughter*

This would find for instance following files:

Laughter.doc
ManLaughter.jpg
LaughterOfMen.mp3
I_heard_some_Laughter_when_walking_by.avi
According_to_a_saying_Laughter_makes_you_live_longer.png

Kari

Layback Bear · 13 May 2014

I think this Tutorial by Brink will be helpful.

Search in Windows 7

Xirix · 13 May 2014

Ah thank you Kari, using the word inbetween asterixes worked... but now I'm a tad more confused, I tried searching in another folder, this time searching for "desktop", without the airquotes, as I have a screenshot of my desktop organisation should it ever unorganise itself due to resolution changes, the image is called "The Desktop" and it found it without using a wildcard, it also found a load of files that don't have desktop in the name and I have no idea why it would show them in the search.

Are the customise folder options a factor in searching at all? My Laughter search was in a folder full of video files so Windows has it customised for video files, the search I did for Desktop the folder is customised for pictures and contains many different filetypes.

Doing Desktop inbetween Asterixes had the same result, so I'm just confused now.

Ranger4 · 13 May 2014

What Kari explained to you about using asterisks works for words that are part of a combination of words, without any separation, such as your Manlaughter. Words that are on their own such as The Desktop will be picked up in the search as the word Desktop is in the search criteria.
The search will look for whole words that match the search criteria. You use asterisks for finding a part of a whole word that would not be found in a whole word search, if that word in a combination of 2 or more joined together.
Does this explain it for you.

Kari · 13 May 2014

Your search for string Desktop shows by default all files where one of the following conditions apply:

The name of the file is Desktop
The filename contains the word Desktop with a leading space
The content of the file contains word Desktop

The above search would find files Desktop.png, The Desktop.jpg and a Microsoft Office Word document (whatever name) where the text contains word Desktop. This search would not find file TheDesktop.bmp (no leading space before string Desktop).

Search for string *Desktop* shows by default all files where one of the following conditions apply:

The name of the file is Desktop
The filename contains the word Desktop anywhere in the filename, with or without any leading and / or following characters
The content of the file contains word Desktop

The above search would find files Desktop.png, The Desktop.jpg and a Microsoft Office Word document (whatever name) where the text contains word Desktop. It would also find file TheDesktop.bmp.

If you want to search only filenames, not file content, use search filter name: as follows:

Code:

name:Desktop

-- OR --

name:*Desktop*

These searches would only look for search string in filename, not in file contents. To search only from file content, not filenames, use search filter content::

Code:

content:Desktop

-- OR --

content:*Desktop*

This tutorial might give you some new ideas: Search - Find More with Filters and Operators

Kari

Xirix · 14 May 2014

Ah I think I get it now, I'll have to note all this down until I get used to it, thanks guys. :)

UsernameIssues · 14 May 2014

Xirix said:

...I have a screenshot of my desktop organisation should it ever unorganise itself due to resolution changes,...

You might want to check out Desktop Restore:
http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm

Layback Bear · 14 May 2014

That is a great turorial Kari.
Search - Find More with Filters and Operators