How to find a file with the exact name?

[gilmoses]

Hi,
Seen this question posted several times, but no good answer yet.

I'm trying to locate a file on my disk named "gm". Is that seemingly simple task possible on Windows 7? When I search for 'name:gm' or 'name:"gm"' I get hundreds of files, all of them contain 'gm' in their name and to find my file I need to go over the list one by one.

Please help!!
Thanks,
Gil.

 

[Dzomlija]

Hi,
Seen this question posted several times, but no good answer yet.

I'm trying to locate a file on my disk named "gm". Is that seemingly simple task possible on Windows 7? When I search for 'name:gm' or 'name:"gm"' I get hundreds of files, all of them contain 'gm' in their name and to find my file I need to go over the list one by one.

Please help!!
Thanks,
Gil.

Have you tried using filename:"gm.*"?

I ran a quick test on my system, and searched my pictures library using filename:"obelix", and got the following results:

_asterix_obelix_idefix_1_.jpg
Obelix.jpg

When I changed the search to filename:"obelix.*", thenI only got "Obelix.jpg"

The key therefore is to enclude the filename you are searching for in quotes, and include a period and star wildcard at the end of the filename.

 

[gilmoses]

Re: How to find a file with the exact name

No go. Try this: create a file named "a" on your disk (no extension), then try to locate it...

Gil.

 

[Dzomlija]

No go. Try this: create a file named "a" on your disk (no extension), then try to locate it...

Gil.

Works like a charm for me:

​

Is it possible that the drive/s you are searching are not in your index?:

​

Try the following:

1. Click the Start Orb rb:
2. Type "index" without quotes
3. Click "Indexing Options"
4. Click "Modify"
5. Are all you drives checked for indexing?

Are you or have you recently run utilities such as registry cleaners and/or system optimizers other than disk defrag programs? Registry Cleaners have a tendency to make more problems than they solve. "RegVac" has been known to interfere with the Windows Search Index...

 

[pacinitaly]

try these


Locate32 - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Super Finder - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

 

[mckillwashere]

Or this :0
Everything Search Engine

 

[gilmoses]

Dzomlija,
I can see that your search found 180+ files of a certain type, then 9 of another.
You got lucky.. for me (and for the general case) there are 400+ files...

Thanks to the others for the links, I'll check them out.

Gil.

 

[mborner]

When you search for "name:GM" Windows is not searching for a file called "GM", it is searching for all files with the letters GM in the name. To prevent this, use "filename:GM", instead.

 

[gilmoses]

mborner,
'filename' does not work. try this: create a file named "a" on your disk (no extension), then try to create a search query that displays all the files that are named 'a' and THESE FILES ONLY, NOTHING MORE.
None of the suggestions above (excluding external apps) succeeded in displaying ONLY the filename requested.

If this is a Windows 7 deficiency I'll be happy to report it if I knew where

Thanks,
Gil.

 

[mborner]

I can assure you, "filename" is a legitemate seach query.



I apologize if I'm just not understanding your search problem, I'm trying. In your example above, why would anybody have several files on their PC with the exact same name? I'm just not following. First, If I create a file named "A" on my disk and then query "filename:a", I get the file instantly in my results window. If I create 100 files named "A" in 100 different folders on my disk and query "filename:a" I will get the top 100 results for the file located in 100 different folders.
You'll get other files with the letter "a" in the name but the exact file you are searching for will always be the first one on the list. For example, if I searched my entire drive for "filename:a" I may get 6,000 results, but the file, "a", that I'm looking for will be the first item of those 6,000 results. It always works this way. Again, I have to ask, why would you have several hundred files named "GM" on your disk? If you only have 1 file named "GM" and you search for "filename:GM" and you get 25,000 results but the file you are looking for is the very first file, what is the issue? You found your file, who cares about the rest of the results.

 

[gilmoses]

'filename' is indeed legitimate, no argument here. I meant to say that it didn't work in trying to reduce the search results.
And, it's not that I have hundreds of 'GM' files or 'a' files, I simply generalized the problem I was having.

Now, using filename:a I get the following:




Using filename:"a" (added quotes) I get:




Better, however I got lucky this time and my file is second. But who guarantees I'll get lucky next time?
And why can't Windows simply display only the files I'm looking for?

Thanks,
Gil.

 

[Kari]

First, an important thing to remember is that when searching from Start menu's search box, it searches only the indexed locations. To search whole computer, also non-indexed locations, use search box in Computer's Explorer-window.


Then the search principles.

• filename:gm
  • finds files where gm is filename or a part of it
  • gm_1.jpg, test_gm.txt, gm.doc, myGMfile.pdf etc.
• filename:gm AND type:image
  • finds all image files where gm is filename or a part of it
  • gm_1.jpg, test_gm.png, gm.gif, myGMfile.bmp etc.
• filename:gm.*
  • finds files with exact filename gm, with any extension
  • gm.doc, GM.png etc.
• filename:gm*.*
  • finds files where the name starts with gm, followed by none or any number of characters, with any extension
  • gm_testfile.pdf, gm1.doc, gmreallylongfilename.txt, gm.jpg etc.
• filename:gm????.*
  • finds files with a 6 character name beginning with gm, any extension
  • gmtest.txt, gmimag.jpg etc.
• filename:gm*.doc
  • finds files where the name starts with gm, followed by none or any number of characters, with extension .doc
  • gmtest.doc, gmfollowedbyalotofcharacters1.doc etc.

So, an asterisk (*) replaces any number of characters, a question mark (?) one character. When using search parameters AND, OR & NOT, these must always be written in caps, otherwise searchs thinks they are just words to search.

Hope this helps.

Kari

 

[gilmoses]

Hi Kari, but how do you find a file without an extension, say, 'a'?
Here's what I get when I use 'filename:a.*' :



As you can see, my 'a' file was not found!

Gil.

 

[Kari]

That's difficult. I would like to think I'm quite experienced Windows Search user, but I really have not a clue how to pinpoint a search to find a certain file if that file has no extension. Made some tests just now, was unable to find a way.

The only way I can think of is to search filename:a, which of course is not good because it shows all the files where letter a appears in filename.

A good example why it's important to use extensions?

Kari

 

[gilmoses]

It looks to me just like a simple deficiency in Windows 7 implementation...
No Microsoft moderator here to defend Win 7?

Gil.

 

[Kari]

This might work, I know for sure when my laptop has finished re-indexing:

- Open Control Panel > Indexing options
- Click Advanced
- Choose File Types tab
- Ad an empty extension by typing a dot to Add a new extension to list, click Add
- Click OK, click Close



Kari

 

[mitchell65]

I'm feeling a bit thick this evening but I have never created a file without an extension. Can someone explain how to achieve this and more importantly why should anyone want to create a file with no extension?

 

[Kari]

I'm feeling a bit thick this evening but I have never created a file without an extension. Can someone explain how to achieve this and more importantly why should anyone want to create a file with no extension?

Exactly. As I said earlier:

A good example why it's important to use extensions?

 

[mitchell65]

Thank Kari but I would just like to know how its done, just curious really!

 

[Kari]

For instance in Notepad:
- File > Save As
- Type the name you want to without extension or with an extension of your choice
- Choose Save as type: All files (*.*)
- Click Save

This example would save the file with the name Test, with no extension:



This would save the the file with the name Test, with extension .zzz:



Kari