Windows 8 - Search Contents of Folder

RiderOnTheStorm

i really really hope this is a stupid question, but I have searched for over an hour and I still cant find the answer

In Windows 8 , how do I search a folder to find any/all docs that contain a certain string? ie search the content, not search for files/docs of a certain name.

thanks in advance

mp22

When you open the folder the top right hand side of the open window will have a search box.It will search in the open folder only.

RiderOnTheStorm

No, that field is used for searching the folder for files with names like your entry in that field.

I am looking for a search function that looks within files / docs for a search string, ie it searches the contents of the file, not the file-name.

Alun

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

No, that field is used for searching the folder for files with names like your entry in that field.

By default if a folder is not indexed, then you can only search on the file name or other attributes of the file (creation / modification date, size, author etc.). If a folder is indexed you can search on content also.

So, you need to either ensure that the folder you want to search is being indexed, and everything will work as you want, or else (and this may take a looong time depending on the size of the folder) open up the ribbon, and you'll see an option under "Advanced options" to search on file content in non-indexed locations. Lots of other search related options there too.

RiderOnTheStorm

saw something about indexing folders (on one of my many searches) but there had to be some way to search any & every folder without having to do that first ..... and lo .... Advanced Options in Search ribbon! Cheers Alun .... many many thanks .... :-)

Alun

If you're going to be doing a lot of searching on that folder, it still might be best to add it to the list of indexed folders. It'll speed up the searches a lot.