Chapter 7 Advanced File Searching

This week's chapter is dedicated to learning to use the various search functions and techniques available in Windows 7. Most of my searches are very basic with an occasional wildcard search where an asterisk is used to indicate an unknown part of the file name. At my job, I use the Boolean method frequently using the company's mainframe interface but have not ever tried this on a windows interface. I can understand how useful this particular search function can be for Windows 7 users. It is more advanced, and requires knowledge of how operators work. Creating a cheat sheet will help speed up the learning curve for all of the searches available.

An example of a boolean search is using the word AND (must be in capital letters for this to work). The text book example is to type koala AND jpg into the search bar, press enter. The file found is a picture file named Koala.

An example of exact phrase search given by the text book: type into the search bar "Microsoft Windows", press enter. The quote marks around the words indicates that this is the exact phrase to be searched.

One of the search functions that I found most useful is complex combining a file property and a range. Your friends will be impressed by your skills if you learn to master this function, lol. The example the text book gives is to search for files between the size of at least 10MB and less than 30 MB. Type into the search box: size: > 10MB AND < 30MB, press enter. The laundry list of files within that range displays.

In the screen that displays search results, scroll down to find a list of options to search again to narrow the scope of your search. These options are Libraries, Homegroup, Computer, Custom, Internet, File Contents. The Custom button allows you to change the search by using the 'choose search location' dialog box to create a custom scope. This allows you to narrow the current search to another location.

If you want to use natural language to search rather than try to remember the fancy schmancy advanced Boolean operators and property names of other searches, Windows 7 has a way to do this too. For example, click the Organize button in the Windows folder, select Folder and search option, click search tab, select Use natural language search, click ok. The text book says to type flower pictures in the search box. A list of files displays with the word flower as part of the file name. Reverse the steps taken to turn on the natural language feature so that you now turn it off. Repeat the search, and the results will be nothing.

Other searches includes filter files using file list headings (pretty handy);  using the file's properties to refine searches such as tag:, date:, authors:, genre: title: and size:. Again, creating a cheat sheet will help speed up the learning process on what filters and properties are available.

I learned how indexing plays a part in the speed of finding files on the computer. Indexing helps keep track of files and folders stored in indexed locations. By default Windows 7 indexes each user's personal folders, which contains the Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video libraries. You can add any folder to the indexing properties at any time, but our text warns that the index will not perform well if it grows too large. It is recommended that locations should only be added that contain personal files. Never add program or system files.

According to my text book, Windows 7 is supposed to have two default searches, one called Everywhere search and the other called Indexed Locations search. Neither one exist on my computer. I don't remember deleting those files, but they're not there. Kinda strange. You can also save your custom searches. Be warned however, deleting search results deletes the files from your computer! Be careful out there!!