Searching for files(and within) in explorer...

[kisk]

While in explorer, if you hit ctrl+f a find box will come up to the left of the explorer window which you can search the system for files. The filename search works great, but I run into problems when I'm searching for text within files.

The search doesn't seem to want to go inside certain extensions... even if they are just plain text files with a different extension. I know this because I searched a bottom level folder with a file in it... I did a search for text within the file that I knew was there -- it didn't find it. I then changed the extension to .txt and did the search again -- it worked.

Is there a registry key or ini setting that controls what file types the search function treats as txt files?

Thanks!

 

[FROGGYJ]

This is a good question....hrm for fun you could try this in the meantime.

go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ then find the extension you want and add a string value called "PerceivedType" and enter the value as "text".

Again just a shot in the dark, but let me know how it works out.

FROGGYJ
A+,N+,CST,CNCT,MCP

http://www.BackupYourPC.com

 

[bcastner]

From notes by the remrkable Kelly Theriot:

Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all. The cause is the lack of a PersistentHandler value in the Registry for this type of file. Fix:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm

To Add Specific extensions: Copy these lines into Notepad including a blank last line, change where it reads .php to the extension of your choice, save with a .reg extension (ex. php.reg), then double click.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.php\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

 

[kisk]

Thanks for both of your replies. I tried the PerceivedType suggestion first and it came short. I then tried the PersistantHandler fix and it works great. The search companion now searches inside the other extensions. Thanks a lot!