Files Searcher lets you find a file or a directory in your computer or in computers on your network
You can search for files by:
◆ | File attribute like file Read Only, Hidden, System etc |
◆ | File size |
◆ | File date like date creation, modification or when the file was last time accessed |
◆ | Audio & video file properties like channel, bitrate or frequency |
◆ | Wildcard position within file name |
◆ | Text in text file contents |
◆ | Or just for a file |
In addition you can perform basic file operations on files you have been found like copy, move or delete those files.
A search result can be exported as playlist to Playlist Editor, Playlists Database, Main Media player or saved to disk
(If you are using our multimedia programs)
To open a File Searcher window click on the Files Searcher button located at Main toolbar > Manager tab > Tools group > Find menu.
The window is divided into a following parts:
• | Toolbar that is grouping all the commands you can use to work with the searcher All buttons are grouped into the following pages: Search | File Attributes | File Size | Date | Media | Other |
• | Files List This list is a list of files that have been found |
• | Folder Tree View On this Tree View you can select the directory from which you want to start the search. |
Only one directory can be selected.
• | Computer Drives A list of you drives on your computer, here you can select one or more drives to search at once. |
Toolbar
Search Group contains buttons for searching for files and files management
Search
Click this button to start the search.
Tip:
You can also start the search by choosing one of previous used search terms from Searches menu.
Also, you can start an another search by double clicking on a folder on a search result list.
Search For
Enter here a phrase or a file extension you want to search for within a selected folder.
For example, to search for all files with the extension .txt, just type .txt in the Search For box.
You do not need to type the * wildcard character.
All your search terms are added to recently used searches list, so you will be able to reuse them at any time.
If you want to search for all files in selected folder leave this text box empty
Stop
Stops the search
Options
Options menu, here you can choose some option that controls the search behavior:
Recursive
When this check mark is checked then folders will be searched in recursive mode. All sub folders within selected folders will be scanned too.
Show results immediately
The search process may be long if you are searching in folders with a lot of files and use many search criteria. When this check mark is checked then
all results are shown immediately on a list. When unchecked then all results are shown after the search process is finished, this may speed up a little the whole process.
Show system files, Show hidden files
When one of this check marks is checked then files that have the System or Hidden attribute will be shown in the search result list.
If unchecked then they will not be shown event they meet your search criteria
This option does not have effect when your specifically search for such files by setting options at File Attribute page.
History Group contains a lists of your recently used search terms and locations
Searches
A list of your recent searches, select a search from menu to repeat a search
Locations
A list of your recent search locations, select a location from menu to select in folders tree view
Manage Files Group contains a buttons for performing basic file operations on a list
Copy
Copies selected files on the search list to a different directory or disk.
A dialog window opens where you can select the destination folder you want to copy your files to
Move
Moves selected files on the search list to a different directory or disk.
A dialog window opens where you can select the destination folder you want to move your files to
Delete
Delete selected files and directories permanently. By selecting multiple files or directories, you can delete them at one time. When you delete a directory, all of its subdirectories and files are deleted.
Warning ! This command does not move files to Recycle Bin. Once you delete files or directories, they cannot be recovered by restore them from Recycle Bin. Files deleted by this command can be recovered only by using special recovery software. |
Recycle
Moves selected files and directories to Recycle Bin.
Tools Group contains a buttons for some other tools
Opens a Print Preview window where from you may print or export data to many external formats like PDF HTM TXT and more.
Search In Results
Opens a window where you can search for specific data within the search results
Use In Search
This a check mark component, you can check it or uncheck by clicking on the button with mouse.
Check to find files that have one or more file attributes matched the attributes selected at next group.
You can search for files that have specific attributes only, you can search for hidden files or for directories only and etc.
File Attributes Group contains a few of check marks for selecting file attributes
Select the attributes you want to search for, you can select one or more attributes with one exception:
File attribute Normal may be used only alone, if selected then other selections will be disregarded.
Use In Search
This a check mark component, you can check it or uncheck by clicking on the button with mouse.
Check to find files by their size. You can specify file size, range and type.
Size Method
Select here a size comparison method, you can find files that equals or falls into a sizes range specified by you.
From, Than, To
There are two text boxes that are used for entering requires size values, these text boxes will appear or hide and that depending on selected size comparison method.
Also they will be named differently.
For example if you select Larger as size comparison method then only one text box named "Than" will be visible, enter there the minimum file size.
If you select Between size comparison method then two text boxes will be visible; "From" and "To", enter there two values of size range.
Size Type
For your convenience you can type file size in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes, just select here the Size Type the type you want to use.
Use In Search
This a check mark component, you can check it or uncheck by clicking on the button with mouse.
Check to find file by its date. You can search for files by the date type and date range.
Time
Select here the date time type. You can select one or more types but for better results is recommended to not use date Modified and Accessed together as they may cancel each other in certain circumstances. The following date time types are available:
Created
If selected and if file's creation date is the same or in range of the dates specified here then file will be included in the search result
Modified
If selected and if file's last modification date is the same or in range of the dates specified here then file will be included in the search result
Accessed
If selected and if file's last access date is the same or in range of the dates specified here then file will be included in the search result
When
Select a date find method, you can search files of which date is the same or falls into a range of dates specified by you
Date, To, From
There are two text boxes that are used for entering requires dates, these text boxes will appear or hide and that depending on selected "When" method.
Also they will be named differently.
For example if you select On Date as "When" method then only one text box named "Date" will be visible, enter there the date.
If you select Between as "When" method then two text boxes will be visible; "From" and "To", enter there two dates.
You can choose the dates from built-in drop down calendar.
The three following components are the check marks, you can check them or uncheck by clicking on the button with mouse.
Use In Search
Check if you want to search for media files attributes
Search Audio
Check if you want to search for audio file attributes.
From the drop down list select an audio file type you want to search for, if you do not want to select specific type select ALL
Search Video
Check if you want to search for video file attributes
From the drop down list select a video file type you want to search for, if you do not want to select specific type select ALL
Channel
Select a channel mode you want to search for, if you do not want to use this option select NONE
Bitrate
Select a bitrate value you want to search for, if you do not want to use this option select NONE
Frequency
Select a frequency value you want to search for, if you do not want to use this option select NONE
Export
Export menu, if you did a search for media files then you can to export the search results as playlist.
To Editor
Export a list of files as playlist to Playlist Editor
To Database
Export a list of files as playlist to Playlists Database
To Media Player
Export a list of files as files to play to Media Player
To Disk
Export a list of files as playlist to disk
Playlist Name
Enter here a file name for playlist when exporting
Use Wildcard Position
Check if you want to find only those files that have the wildcard you are searching for in the specified position within file name.
Normally when you are searching for something the search routine is looking for wildcard into a whole file name including file extension.
Here you can use an alternative search method. Please note that the file extension is excluded from this search.
Wildcard Position
Select here where to look for wildcard within a file name. The following options are available:
Start
If you select this option then only those files will be found of which names starts with the wildcard you are searching for.
Middle
If you select this option then only those files will be found that have the wildcard are searching for in the middle of its names.
End
If you select this option then only those files will be found of which names end with the wildcard you are searching for.
Search Within File
Check if you want to search for a specified text within a text files contents.
Phrase
Enter here a phrase you want to search for within text files.
If you need to search for all text files leave the Search For empty otherwise you may combine this two options are search for some files and for specific text within files as well.
Find Duplicates
Find duplicate files within a search view. If search results list is empty then the search will be performed first on selected folder.
This is a files list where all files that are found during the search are listed
The list has the following columns
Icon
This column displays icons of files
File Name
This column the names if files without their extensions
Ext
Extension of a file, this filed will be empty when file is a folder
Size
Size of a file in bytes, this filed will be empty when file is a folder
Attributes
File attributes in format; first file attributes in numeric system format and then as textual description
Created, Modified , Accessed
These columns will show the date when file was created, modified or last time accessed
Location
This column displays a full path to file location in a drive.
Tips:
You can start an another search by double clicking on a folder on a search result list.
If you double click on a file name in list the you can start the file.