Search includes subfolder names


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
       #1

    Search includes subfolder names


    Hi,
    I am trying to use Windows 7 search engine to find all files containing a specific string on their names, on a specific folder and it's subfolders. Let's say I am trying to find files containing the string "link" on their names.
    Having subfolders named "linked" and "netlink", the problem is the results include all the files contained in those 2 subfolders (hundreds), which do not have the string "link" on their names, and therefore I do not want to be shown as results.
    Apparently, the Windows 7 search engine compares the file's full-path instead of the unqualified file name.
    Is there anything I can do to search only file names instead of full-path names?
    I do not have this problem on a Vista machine...
    Thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #2

    Try File Locator Lite (aka Agent Ransack).
    FileLocator Lite - Free File Searching Utility

    It's free, easy to use, works well, etc. ...
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you David.
    I installed Everything and also works well, but before moving to an external search engine I would like to be certain that Win7 doesn't have an option to change the mentioned behavior.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #4

    You're welcome, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    I'm not sure if/how to use Windows search for what you want.
    I never cared for Windows Search and found this utility early on.
    I've been using it for years because it's much easier for me, and I've never had problems with it.

    Many others here know Windows Search a lot better than me.
    Perhaps one of them will see this and post an answer on how to use Windows Search the way you need it.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,346
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #5

    meirea said:
    Thank you David.
    I installed Everything and also works well, but before moving to an external search engine I would like to be certain that Win7 doesn't have an option to change the mentioned behavior.
    I agree with David's assessment of Agent Ransack and only used the built in search feature for a couple of days. MS search may have search criteria that would to what you are attempting, but I have no idea if it does or not.

    HTH
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks to both of you.
    I need to use Win 7 file explorer because I am searching an icon gallery (a folder with many subfolders) and I need to see the images in the results pane instead of plain file name's, so I can see the images and select the appropiate icon.
    Any help with be highly appreciated.
      My Computer


  7. 4wd
    Posts : 337
    W7, W8.1
       #7

    Have had similar trouble with w7 search (am using Agent Ransack aka File Locator).

    Yes, sometimes w7 search results in 1000's of unwanted hits, were Agent Ransack has no problem whatsoever. For very special searches, Agent Ransack accepts " (like "(1)" ) and always returns exact results. W7 should be able to accept " but...
    Windows 7 search exact phrase
    I have investigated this issue, and found this is a known issue. I just reported this to our feedback team.
    Didn't anyone think this one through during the planning stages ?
    I could list many, many occurrences were w7 fails miserably (indexed or not) giving tons of wrong hits, or it may find some of what I search for, after needing some tedious and irritating filter setups to imitate what Agent Ransack (and surely many other dedicated programs) does without any extra work, doubt or hiccups.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #8

    I just did a search for .ico files and i see the icon in the results list.
    Do you see something different for icon files, or this is not what you need?

    Search includes subfolder names-srchsp01.png
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thank you David.
    I installed File Locator Lite and works pretty fine, but does not solve my problem.
    The icon library I need to search and explore contains images with png and gif formats, and File Locator does no have view options to show the actual images.
    File Locator seems to be an excellent tool for other purposes.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:42.
Find Us