More on search hell

[gilmoses]

Hi,

I'm back with another frustrating search problem:
How to find a file by a string in the middle of the filename?

E.g. I'm searching for files with "Persist" in their name, in C:\Windows:

filenameersist

10 items are found, but not this one:
"CbsPersist_20101012145040.cab" (in my C:\Windows\Logs)

That's because "Persist" does not start the filename, and is not after a dot or a hyphen.
I've tried looking in the advanced syntax for search but to no avail.

This is of course an example, I have dozens of log files with a similar naming convention (capital letter for each word start, LikeThisForExample) from which I must find a file.

Please help,

Thanks,
Gil.

 

[Anak]

Hi! gilmoses, welcome to W7F

Just off the top of my head, have you tried *Persist* or %Persist%

 

[gilmoses]

Hi Anak,

Ok, *Persist* found the file. However this is the only way to find it and Windows Help doesn't tell you the file won't be found otherwise.

Thanks for that!

Gil.

 

[Dzomlija]

Hi,

I'm back with another frustrating search problem:
How to find a file by a string in the middle of the filename?

E.g. I'm searching for files with "Persist" in their name, in C:\Windows:

filenameersist

10 items are found, but not this one:
"CbsPersist_20101012145040.cab" (in my C:\Windows\Logs)

That's because "Persist" does not start the filename, and is not after a dot or a hyphen.
I've tried looking in the advanced syntax for search but to no avail.

This is of course an example, I have dozens of log files with a similar naming convention (capital letter for each word start, LikeThisForExample) from which I must find a file.

Please help,

Thanks,
Gil.

You can't find those files, because by default the "C:\Windows" folder, and all it's subfolders, are not included in the search index.

I did a quick test to verify that I had files with "persist" in the filename:


But as you can see, a search in Windows found nothing:


As stated, this is because "C:\Windows" is excluded from the index:


So if you absolutely must find such files, but are not willing to add "C:\Windows" to the index, try this:

1. Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to "C:\Windows"
2. Make sure that there are no files selected.
3. Hold down the <SHIFT> key, and right-click an empty part of the list (anything not containing an icon)
4. Click the "Open command window here" option
5. A Command Prompt should open to "C:\Windows"
6. If you only want to search the LOGS folders, type "CD Logs" (without quotes) and press <ENTER>
7. Type "dir *persist*.* /a /s /p" (without the quotes) and press <ENTER>.

For more information on the parameters of DIR, type "DIR /?" (without quotes) and press <ENTER>

[FONT=Courier New]C:\Windows\Logs>[B]dir *persist*.* /a /s /p
[/B] Volume in drive C is Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 Volume Serial Number is 365F-53AD[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New] Directory of C:\Windows\Logs\CBS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]08/08/2010  16:32           780,937 CbsPersist_20100808161414.cab
06/10/2010  06:12           612,423 CbsPersist_20101006220117.cab
               2 File(s)      1,393,360 bytes[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]     Total Files Listed:
               2 File(s)      1,393,360 bytes
               0 Dir(s)  25,829,761,024 bytes free[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]C:\Windows\Logs>[B]dir *persist*.* /a /s /p /b
[/B]C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20100808161414.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20101006220117.cab[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]C:\Windows\Logs>
[/FONT]

 

[Anak]

Find any one of differently named files

find . \( -name "*jsp" -o -name "*java" \) -type f -ls

The -ls option prints extended information, and the example finds any file whose name ends with either 'jsp' or 'java'. Note that the parentheses are required. Also note that the operator "or" can be abbreviated as "o". The "and" operator is assumed where no operator is given. In many shells the parentheses must be escaped with a backslash, "\(" and "\)", to prevent them from being interpreted as special shell characters. The -ls option and the -or operator are not available on all versions of find.

find - Wiki

Your word would have to be inserted where jsp and java are.

 

[gilmoses]

Dzomlija,
As Anak had pointed out, you WILL find the file if you specify filename:*persist*.

I don't think a folder must be indexed in order to find a file there - that would be ridiculous. The search will just be slower.

Gil.

 

[Anak]

Peter, would the command line work even if the HDD was not Indexed?

 

[Dzomlija]

Peter, would the command line work even if the HDD was not Indexed?

Yes, it would.

 

[Kari]

Peter, would the command line work even if the HDD was not Indexed?

I'm not Peter but please allow me to answer: Yes.

BTW, there's two ways to use Windows search, searching index only and searching all locations.

When you search using Start Menu > Search field, you search indexed locations only. Searching from Explorer window's search field searches also non indexed locations from that location and downwards for instance searching in Explorer window for C:\Windows searches C:\Windows and all its subfolders, searching in My Computer window searches the whole computer, searching Explorer window for drive F: searches the whole drive F:.

Kari

 

[Dzomlija]

Dzomlija,
As Anak had pointed out, you WILL find the file if you specify filename:*persist*.

I don't think a folder must be indexed in order to find a file there - that would be ridiculous. The search will just be slower.

Gil.

Sorry 'bout that, I'm a bit daft this morning [HITTING MYSELF ON THE HEAD], and should've remembered the wildcards.

 

[gilmoses]

Ok, I think the wildcard trick does not work for file contents... try this:

Create a folder, say, 'Gil', in it create a text file with any name.
Edit the file, type in: TryToFindThis - then save.

Navigate to folder Gil, in the search bar type: "Try": the file is found.
Now type: To, or *To* - nothing.

Gil.

 

[Kari]

Ok, I think the wildcard trick does not work for file contents... try this:
Create a folder, say, 'Gil', in it create a text file with any name.
Edit the file, type in: TryToFindThis - then save.
Navigate to folder Gil, in the search bar type: "Try": the file is found.
Now type: To, or *To* - nothing.
Gil.

You find it if you also mark the extension with wildcard(s) for instance *To*.*


Remember:

• wildcard * (asterisk) replaces zero to 255 characters (maximum length of filename)
  • Ka*ri.* = all files starting with Ka and ending with ri, any extension (Kari.txt, Katamaran_ri.jpg, Kalahari.doc etc.)
• wildcard ? (question mark) replaces one character
  • pic???.* = all files with a six character name where three first characters are pic, any extension (picABC.png, pic123.jpg etc.)
  • pic???.j* = as above but extension must start with j (pic777.jpeg, picxyz.jpg, picA93.jpg2 etc.)
  • Memo_2010????.doc = all files where filename starts with Memo_2010, followed by four characters, extension doc

Kari

 

[gilmoses]

Kari I was referring to the file CONTENTS, not name.

Please try out my example as I described...
Thanks!
Gil.

 

[Anak]

Hi Anak,

Ok, *Persist* found the file. However this is the only way to find it and Windows Help doesn't tell you the file won't be found otherwise.

Thanks for that!

Gil.

Your welcome!

Peter, would the command line work even if the HDD was not Indexed?

I'm not Peter but please allow me to answer: Yes.
Kari

That's quite all right Kari, I always felt the more the merrier!
I wonder what size surf board or Skis Dzomlija would need.

Sorry 'bout that, I'm a bit daft this morning [HITTING MYSELF ON THE HEAD], and should've remembered the wildcards.

Dz, don't be so hard on yourself.
I'm a little off my sleep schedule myself.


Gil I would think it would come under this

• wildcard * (asterisk) replaces zero to 255 characters (maximum length of filename)
  • Ka*ri.* = all files starting with Ka and ending with ri, any extension (Kari.txt, Katamaran_ri.jpg, Kalahari.doc etc.)

Kari

Try using a word that you know exists in the file.

 

[gilmoses]

Anak,
Please try it for yourself.
It does not work.
Please use my example above.

 

[Anak]

Okay Gilmoses, I'll give it a try.

In the meantime I was looking at this:
find file containing text inside the file - Vista Forums

 

[Kari]

Kari I was referring to the file CONTENTS, not name.

Please try out my example as I described...
Thanks!
Gil.

My bad, sorry.

Found this: Using the "A word or phrase in the file" search criterion may not work

Kari

 

[Anak]

Here's another one:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/64956-text-search.html

There's also a couple of third-party apps that may interest you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/64956-text-search.html

 

[Kari]

Just a thought:



Check that you have text files (.txt, .doc, .xml etc.) set to index also the contents.

 

[gilmoses]

Kari,
The article is dated 2007, and does not apply in this simple case of a .txt file.

Anak,
It does not say there how to use the Win7 built-in search for the simple case I presented, it mostly praises 3rd party search apps.

Isn't there a way to do this in Win7??

Thanks,
Gil.