Tools/Search...


Click or Hover on an item for more ...

 

Search Directory:

This field should contain the folder in which to perform the search, or the parent folder, if the Search Subfolders box is checked.  The button beside the field opens a Windows Browse For Folder dialog (see tip), allowing the user to navigate to and set the Search Directory.  A pulldown list is available with quick access to previous search directories.

The Search Directory defaults to the folder/directory of the currently active tab.

 

Named:

This field contains the partial file name  (or search pattern) to search for.  Although wildcard patterns may be used, it is not strictly necessary to do so; the search implemented here will match a partial filename (similar to the built-in Windows search tool) without using wildcard characters.  A pulldown list is available with quick access to previous search patterns.

 

Attributes

Checking any attributes provides a filtering mechanism; files searched must satisfy the name pattern AND the attributes if they are to be included in the results.

 

Search Subfolders

Normally, the search would be done only in the scope of the folder shown as the Search Directory.  However, if this box is checked, all subfolders (and subfolders of subfolders, etc.) will be included in the search.  Results can be from either the Search Directory, or any subfolder.

 

Results pane

When the search is completed, this list shows the name and path (ie. location) of all files found which matched the criteria for (partial) name and attributes.  In the current version of Explorer++, the Name and Path columns are resizable, but not sortable; results are displayed in the order they are found.

   

Tip: Each file in the Results pane has a context (ie. right-click) menu.  Two items on this menu are of particular interest:

  • Open - this opens the file in any application registered to that file type or presents a dialog if the type is not registered.  This may also be accomplished by double-clicking on the file.
  • Open file location - this opens a new tab at the folder which houses the file.
 
    Info: The Microsoft .NET framework, when present on a system, creates a subfolder in the Windows folder called "assembly".  The nature of the .NET installation prevents Explorer++ (Windows Explorer's exploration is modified) from successfully browsing this folder.  If this folder is included in your search (usually by virtue of using the Search Subfolders option), some results unusual results (eg. incorrect file names, locations) may be expected, but these erroneous results are usually obvious.

 

Status

This area shows