Guest Rick Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 18, 2008 Posted October 18, 2008 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 Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 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!
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