Using the search box? Rules?

[W. eWatson]

I find the search box a terrific addition over my old XP PC. However,
it's some times very mysterious. For example, yesterday I typed in the
word meteor to find a file containing the word. It found several, but
not the one I had created several days ago. Through playing around with
different combos using *, it finally showed up. So what are the rules?

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

Finally there are a whole slew of items like date. I've seen them
listed, but with virtually no explanation how to use them.

Is there a source that gives examples and details?

 

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

There are many variables if you right click and customize the
properties but I have not managed to work out how to retain old
searches. Perhaps you will have more success.

Steve

--
Neural network software applications, help and support.

Neural Network Software. www.npsl1.com
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. www.justnn.com

 

[James Silverton]

I find the search box a terrific addition over my old XP PC. However,
it's some times very mysterious. For example, yesterday I typed in the
word meteor to find a file containing the word. It found several, but
not the one I had created several days ago. Through playing around with
different combos using *, it finally showed up. So what are the rules?

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

Finally there are a whole slew of items like date. I've seen them
listed, but with virtually no explanation how to use them.

Is there a source that gives examples and details?

Could you tell me what is the "search box"? I use Google desktop but it
is not always immediately up to date.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not* (e-mail address removed)

 

[...winston]

"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

There are many variables if you right click and customize the
properties but I have not managed to work out how to retain old
searches. Perhaps you will have more success.

Steve

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Save-a-search

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5316/how-to-save-searches-in-windows-7/

 

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message



There are many variables if you right click and customize the
properties but I have not managed to work out how to retain old
searches. Perhaps you will have more success.

Steve


http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Save-a-search

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5316/how-to-save-searches-in-windows-7/

Wrong search box. We were both talking about the one on the start
menu.

Steve

--
Neural network software applications, help and support.

Neural Network Software. www.npsl1.com
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. www.justnn.com

 

[Bob Henson]

I find the search box a terrific addition over my old XP PC. However,
it's some times very mysterious. For example, yesterday I typed in the
word meteor to find a file containing the word. It found several, but
not the one I had created several days ago. Through playing around with
different combos using *, it finally showed up. So what are the rules?

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

Finally there are a whole slew of items like date. I've seen them
listed, but with virtually no explanation how to use them.

Is there a source that gives examples and details?

You might like to try Everything search from

http://www.voidtools.com/

It will index quite a large system in no time at all (seconds), and has a
simple search box which will stay on screen and let you change you search
criteria easily. It's very small and very fast.

 

[Jeff Layman]

You might like to try Everything search from

http://www.voidtools.com/

It will index quite a large system in no time at all (seconds), and has a
simple search box which will stay on screen and let you change you search
criteria easily. It's very small and very fast.

Everything is very good, but note that (unlike Windows Explorer Search),
it only indexes folder and file names, not contents. It also has an
issue with hardlinks
(http://forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=459&p=1024&hilit=junction#p1024
and
http://forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=301&p=3293&hilit=hardlinks#p3293).


If those things don't bother you, and you like speed, then go for
Everything .

 

[W. eWatson]

in message



There are many variables if you right click and customize the
properties but I have not managed to work out how to retain old
searches. Perhaps you will have more success.

Steve


http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Save-a-search

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5316/how-to-save-searches-in-windows-7/

Thanks. I'll look into it.

 

[W. eWatson]

Everything is very good, but note that (unlike Windows Explorer Search),
it only indexes folder and file names, not contents. It also has an
issue with hardlinks
(http://forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=459&p=1024&hilit=junction#p1024
and
http://forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=301&p=3293&hilit=hardlinks#p3293).


If those things don't bother you, and you like speed, then go for
Everything .

There's got to b something out there that explains search. Google?
Next, I think. Here's one choice
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-tips-for-searching-in-Windows>.

 

[W. eWatson]

Could you tell me what is the "search box"? I use Google desktop but it
is not always immediately up to date.

In the lower left corner it's in the circle with four colored flags on
it. Just click on it and you will see a search box at the bottom. Enter,
for example, notepad, and you will see the executable notepad at the
top, and file references that contain notepad in them.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, James.

There are many search boxes in Windows. The one being discussed here is the
"main one" , if there is such a thing.

Remember "Start Me Up!", which Microsoft used to introduce Windows 95 back
in 1995? There was a box in the left end of the Task Bar that was labeled
"Start". We used it for just about everything - including Shut Down. Many
pointed out the irony in that, so WinXP, Vista and Win7 have deleted the
"Start" label but kept the button. Now it's round, with the 4-color-flag
Windows logo. Since it's a round disk, many call it "The Orb"; others still
call it the Start button. I'm not sure it has an official name; probably
just "the Windows button". (In the meantime, most keyboard makers have
added a key between the left Ctrl and Alt keys with the Windows logo on it;
we usually call that the Windows Key or just the WinKey. Pressing that key
does the same thing as clicking on the Orb.)

Click/Press that button/key - by whatever name - and the main menu appears.
At the bottom of that menu, below "All Programs" and above the Taskbar, is a
box containing a short line of light text that says, "Search programs and
files". Don't bother to erase that text, or even to click in the box. Just
start typing and it will appear in the box. Even before you press Enter,
you should see a list of Hits appear; pick the one you want and then press
Enter. (Sadly, Win7 won't remember your search, so if the first hit is not
right, you'll have to start over and type your search term again. There are
ways to save searches for re-use, but that's another topic for another
time.) This could also be called the "Run" box because if you type in the
name of an executable program, pressing Enter starts that program. And if
you start typing the name of an app - or in some cases a search term that
finds an app - you might not even have to finish typing the name; just type
"expl" and press Enter to start Internet Explorer. ;<)

But I think you already knew all of this, didn't you?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"James Silverton" wrote in message

I find the search box a terrific addition over my old XP PC. However,
it's some times very mysterious. For example, yesterday I typed in the
word meteor to find a file containing the word. It found several, but
not the one I had created several days ago. Through playing around with
different combos using *, it finally showed up. So what are the rules?

I find it odd that when I type in something like *.pdf date:>10/28/2011,
and find something that if I later want to change say the date by a few
days, there's no way to retrieve what I typed earlier.

Finally there are a whole slew of items like date. I've seen them
listed, but with virtually no explanation how to use them.

Is there a source that gives examples and details?

Could you tell me what is the "search box"? I use Google desktop but it
is not always immediately up to date.