Searching for Files and Folders

Sometimes remembering precisely where you stored a file is difficult. Windows provides a Search Companion to help you find files or folders. The Search Companion opens in the Explorer bar and gives you the option to find files or folders by name , location, size, type, and the creation or last modification date. You can also narrow your search by selecting categories, listed in the Search Companion. The Search Companion is accessible from the Start menu or any folder window to help you locate files and folders.

Search for Files and Folders

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Click the Start button, and then click Search, or click the Search button on the toolbar in a folder window.

TIMESAVER Press F3 to open the Search Companion from the desktop.

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Click the green arrow next to the type of file or folder you want to find. Each type contains different search options.

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Select or enter as much search criteria as you can.

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Click Search to retrieve the files or folders that meet the criteria.

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When you're done, click the Close button.

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Did You Know?

You can turn off the animated character . In the Search Companion, click Change Preferences, and then click Without An Animated Screen Character.

You can use wildcards to expand a search . Use the * (asterisk) wildcard symbol in a file name when you're unsure of the entire name. For example, type S*rs to find all files beginning with "S" and ending with "rs," such as Stars and Sports cars .


Use the Results

  • Complete search . Click Yes, Finished Searching to close the Search Companion.

  • Refine this search . Click the green arrow next to the refinement you want to perform.

  • Sort the result by category . Click the column title in Details view, or click the View menu, point to Arrange Icons By, and then click a category.

  • Find out about an item . Point to a file or folder name or location to display pop-up information.

  • Open a file . Double-click the file icon.

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Did You Know?

You can get details about a file or folder . Point to the file or folder to display a pop-up description. If you want more information, right-click the file or folder, and then click Properties.

You can widen the column results to see more details . In Details view, drag the dividing line between two column titles at the top of the column.

You can reduce the search time . When you search all your documents for certain words, the search is painfully long. You can use the indexing service to speed it up. In the Search Companion, click Change Preferences, click With Indexing Service, and then click Yes, Enable Indexing Service. The service creates a file that takes a few megabytes on your hard disk.


For Your Information

Saving a Search

If you perform the same search on a regular basis, you can save time by saving the search criteria. After you complete the search you want to save, click the File menu, click Save Search, navigate to the place where you want to save the .fnd file, name the file, and then click Save. To use the search file, double-click the .fnd file. The Search window opens, displaying the search criteria. Click the Search button to perform the search.




Show Me Microsoft Windows XP
Show Me Microsoft Windows XP (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0789733366
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 391

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