Why doesn't File Search work with non .txt files?

[jsteph]

Hi all,
I'm using the file search, and I've created files in which exists a particular word. This file is a simple text file, but it has an .sql extension. I've specified *.sql in the "All or part of the filename" box, and put the word in the "A word or phrase in the file" box.

Yet search returns nothing. I have the subfolders checked, as well has hidden and system files. I even pasted the exact filename in the "All or part of fielname" box and it still did not find the file which most definitely contains this word. But if I rename the extension to .txt, it will find it.

What's up with that? When you put something in that 'a word or phrase...' box, does it just look at only .txt files even though you *specifically* put an extension and even a full filename in the search box? Is there a switch, registry setting, or something where I could make this search thing actually usefull? Thanks,
--Jim

 

[guitarzan]

Pretty annoying, huh? Try "Method 2" from this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309173

 

[linney]

Windows search behaving very very strange regarding asp files and <%
thread779-954523

 

[HughLerwill]

I use this;

http://www.sellsbrothers.com/tools/#Filter_Files_With_Unknown_Extensions_For_XP

 

[thefourthwall]

I remember experiencing this when first deploying XP to replace W2K, which had no such limitation (built-in).

Isn't it nice that MS was helpful by believing no one who used XP would actually search for anything other than Office file types? </sarcasm>

 

[jsteph]

Thanks very much everyone.

I read the kb article, and I can get by now. Yet I thought this was interesting:

Windows XP does not search all file to enhance the performance of searching and to avoid extraneous results.

The extraneous results thing (my bold) is what got me--is this why, when you search for a single file it shows FOUR times?

1. In the docs&settings\username\recent folder

2. In the docs&settings\username\appdata\microsoft\recent

3. In the in the 'my computer' folder (??)

4. The actual file.

So I guess they don't consider that "extraneous" results!!??
--Jim

 

[thefourthwall]

Jim,

it [strong]is[/strong] frustrating to (attempt to) figure out the logic built into some of Microsoft's products ...

 

[Welshbird]

I use the 'search in files' option from Ultraedit, and frankly, I wouldn't be without it now.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[snorkel]

Use this to search within all files. I had this same problem once and I KNEW that the text I was looking for was within a folder full of log files.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex]
"FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions"=dword:00000001

and this to turn off the stupid search assistant. I do both of these with every XP installation I touch.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"Use Search Asst"="no

 

[HughLerwill]

>[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex]
"FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions"=dword:00000001

as in

http://www.sellsbrothers.com/tools/#Filter_Files_With_Unknown_Extensions_For_XP

previously suggested

 

[guitarzan]

... not to mention "Method 2" from this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309173

;-)

 

[iandoreeninvan]

ta muchley for this you blokes!

i find pspad ( free ) useful for working with
txt files & others say that eventually will become
bat files.

Ian C