Using the KDE Find Feature

If you are using the graphical user interface (GUI), then you will likely be using KDE. If so, then you can quickly search for files in KDE as well.

By going to the main menu and selecting Find Files, you will open a dialog box.

Once you see the dialog box, it should be self-explanatory. Instead of adding the commands you need (like find, whereis, and which), the Find Files dialog box will ask you what you are looking for (and where) and search that exact location for what you want.

This dialog box contains the same features of the command-line versions of find and grep. KDE has provided a GUI for these functions that make them easier to use. Again, you may prefer to use the shell prompt. The shell prompt helps you learn all the intricacies of the command, and the more commands you know, then the more scripting you will be able to handle when we get to Lesson 14, "Shell Scripting Fundamentals."

Now that you know and understand all the different utilities you can use, we will search for files on your Unix system with KDE. To search in the KDE, do the following:

1.	Consider what file(s) you want to search for, and then click the K toolbar icon to bring up the main KDE menu.
2.	Choose Find Files.
3.	From the tabs you see, select what search criteria you want from three options: Name and Location, Date Modified, and Advanced. Consider using wildcards (*.rpm, for example) if you are unsure what to search for.
4.	Click the small magnifying glass in the Find Files toolbar to locate the matching files.

To search for files, you can specify what file you want and then run your search. You can change where you are searching as well as what criteria you are searching for. Using the shell prompt commands or the KDE GUI, you can search using the following criteria: date, size, location, and name.

Now you should see the file you want. You can select the file and work with it, or you can just close the search. Either way, this concludes our discussion of how to find files within your Unix system.

Searching the Network With Unix, you may be connected to a network (which means you may have access to other systems), or you may just be using the local system where you have your files stored. If that's the case, then you can use every tool/command mentioned here and not worry about searching beyond the walls of your own hard disk or any other storage device directory connected to your Unix system. If you are connected to a network, be aware that when you search, it may take time because your search may be expanded past the local system. If you are unsure of whether the data you need is on your local system, ask your Unix administrator for help.

As we move into the next lesson, please remember what you have learned so far. Lessons build upon each other, so if you have any questions, you should review your work before moving forward. Unix mastery comes from doing things repetitively. Repetition builds memory, and before you know it, you will be rattling off Unix commands and amazing everyone with your shell-scripting skills. In the next lesson, we will cover how to perform basic file maintenance functions such as creating and deleting files and directories.