Searching for text within files

[Guest Rick]

I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

(extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

 

'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

What Size Is It = Don't Remember

Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

 

I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

string inside the file itself.

[Guest JS]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

In the All or Part of file name enter: *.*

In the Advanced options, check 'Search Subfolders'

Also do not select 'Case sensitive'

 

JS

http://www.pagestart.com

 

 

"Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

> 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

> (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

> files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

> box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>

> 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

> When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

> What Size Is It = Don't Remember

> Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>

> I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

> other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

> fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

> string inside the file itself.

[Guest Rick]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

Thanks; I did this and I'm still getting the same result -- no files.

 

It seems to ignore files with a .SQL extension when searching, even if I

specify *.SQL in the 'All or part of the filename' box.

 

If I make a copy of my file and give it a .TXT extension, then it is

able to see that string inside the file and return that file in the

results pane.

 

Hmmm...

 

 

In article <ewjBg1TMJHA.5840@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, "JS" <@> says...

> In the All or Part of file name enter: *.*

> In the Advanced options, check 'Search Subfolders'

> Also do not select 'Case sensitive'

>

> JS

> http://www.pagestart.com

>

>

> "Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

> news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

> >I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

> > 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

> > (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

> > files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

> > box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

> >

> > 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

> > When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

> > What Size Is It = Don't Remember

> > Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

> >

> > I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

> > other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

> > fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

> > string inside the file itself.

>

>

>

[Guest Patrick Keenan]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

 

"Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

> 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

> (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

> files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

> box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>

> 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

> When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

> What Size Is It = Don't Remember

> Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>

> I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

> other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

> fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

> string inside the file itself.

 

I use the excellent, fast and free utility, Agent Ransack, on the frequent

occasions when I have to do exactly what you seek. I don't bother with the

Windows search tools as they just don't work nearly as well or as quickly.

 

http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

 

HTH

-pk

[Guest Kelly]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

Hi Rick,

 

You can modify for .sql files. Read below....

 

Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when

you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase

in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all.

 

Download the VBS file below. Double click the file you just saved. You'll

be prompted to enter a file extension. If the PersistentHandler value is

correct, no changes will be made. If the PersistentHandler value exists,

but is different, no changes will be made. If no PersistentHandler value

exists, then it will be created.

 

Enable XP's Search to find text in files:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/xp_persisthandler.vbs

 

Manual Edit:

 

To resolve this problem for other file types, install a program that

registers a filter for the file type that you want to search. If no program

that provides a filter is available, you can use the plain text filter for a

file type.

 

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and add a PersistentHandler key under the file type

key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and set its (Default) string value name to the

following value: {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

 

For example, to use the text filter provider for .pas files, the following

registry setting should exist:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zzz\PersistentHandler\(Default) =

{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

 

After you add this value to the registry, you must log off and then log back

on to make the change take effect.

 

Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309173

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

SupportSpace

http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

 

"Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

> 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

> (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

> files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

> box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>

> 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

> When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

> What Size Is It = Don't Remember

> Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>

> I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

> other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

> fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

> string inside the file itself.

[Guest JS]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

I created a test .sql file and was not able to duplicate your problem.

However there is a new version of Windows Search (Ver 4) which I have not

tried yet but you may want to consider.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/choose/windowssearch4.mspx

 

There are also alternative search tools on the web that might solve your

problem.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=windows+file+and+text+search+utilities&spell=1

 

JS

http://www.pagestart.com

 

 

"Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:MPG.2363e8ce74fbed99899eb@msnews.microsoft.com...

> Thanks; I did this and I'm still getting the same result -- no files.

>

> It seems to ignore files with a .SQL extension when searching, even if I

> specify *.SQL in the 'All or part of the filename' box.

>

> If I make a copy of my file and give it a .TXT extension, then it is

> able to see that string inside the file and return that file in the

> results pane.

>

> Hmmm...

>

>

> In article <ewjBg1TMJHA.5840@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, "JS" <@> says...

>> In the All or Part of file name enter: *.*

>> In the Advanced options, check 'Search Subfolders'

>> Also do not select 'Case sensitive'

>>

>> JS

>> http://www.pagestart.com

>>

>>

>> "Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

>> news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>> >I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

>> > 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

>> > (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

>> > files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

>> > box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>> >

>> > 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

>> > When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

>> > What Size Is It = Don't Remember

>> > Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>> >

>> > I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

>> > other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to

>> > work

>> > fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

>> > string inside the file itself.

>>

>>

>>

[Guest Alan]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

Hello Rick,

 

Kelly has stated quite well the situation in the last sentence of her first

paragraph: "Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File

Types when you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word

or phrase in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types,

but not all."

 

Frankly, it's not worth the time trying to get the native XP search to work

as it should. One of the first things I did when I got my first machine that

had XP on it back in 2001 was to install Agent Ransack as Patrick Keenan has

already suggested., at

http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

 

Alan

 

"Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message

news:ADEA72AD-669A-4643-A999-C26C04512291@microsoft.com...

> Hi Rick,

>

> You can modify for .sql files. Read below....

>

> Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when

> you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase

> in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not

> all.

>

> Download the VBS file below. Double click the file you just saved.

> You'll be prompted to enter a file extension. If the PersistentHandler

> value is correct, no changes will be made. If the PersistentHandler value

> exists, but is different, no changes will be made. If no

> PersistentHandler value exists, then it will be created.

>

> Enable XP's Search to find text in files:

> http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/xp_persisthandler.vbs

>

> Manual Edit:

>

> To resolve this problem for other file types, install a program that

> registers a filter for the file type that you want to search. If no

> program that provides a filter is available, you can use the plain text

> filter for a file type.

>

> Go to Start/Run/Regedit and add a PersistentHandler key under the file

> type key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and set its (Default) string value name to

> the following value: {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

>

> For example, to use the text filter provider for .pas files, the following

> registry setting should exist:

> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zzz\PersistentHandler\(Default) =

> {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

>

> After you add this value to the registry, you must log off and then log

> back on to make the change take effect.

>

> Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work

> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309173

>

> --

>

> All the Best,

> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

>

> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

>

> SupportSpace

> http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

>

> "Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

> news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>>I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

>> 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

>> (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

>> files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

>> box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>>

>> 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

>> When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

>> What Size Is It = Don't Remember

>> Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>>

>> I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

>> other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

>> fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

>> string inside the file itself.

>

[Guest Olórin]

Re: Searching for text within files

 

"Rick" <news-user@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:MPG.2363cc34c42baf549899ea@msnews.microsoft.com...

>I want to find files in a directory that contain the string

> 'syscolumns'. I know for a fact that several ordinary ASCII text files

> (extension .SQL) contain that string. They're not hidden or system

> files. I load up Search and in the 'A word or phrase in the file' edit

> box I enter syscolumns. My other options:

>

> 'All or Part of the File Name' is blank

> When Was It Modified = Don't Remember

> What Size Is It = Don't Remember

> Under 'More Advanced Options', everything is unchecked

>

> I click Search and it doesn't find any files. Same thing with several

> other strings I look for. Am I doing something wrong? It seems to work

> fine when I'm looking for a string in the filename, just not for a

> string inside the file itself.

 

I heartily concur with other posts recommending Agent Ransack, and hardly

ever use XP's own search function.

 

However, if you want to force it to search within all file types (not just

selected ones) and you're happy poking around in the registry, try changing

 

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex\FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions

 

from 0 to 1.

 

Registry editing, so usual caveats apply, E&OE, YMMV. HTH!