Erm... Where is Custom Search in Windows 7?

[c627627]

Where is Windows 7's equivalent of this Windows XP screen:





/EDIT 2/ Two freeware programs with clickable Search options:
• http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html
and the one I use:
• http://mythicsoft.com/page.aspx?type=agentransack&page=home





/EDIT 1/
To save you from reading the whole thread, I'll be editing this as I find out more:

How about just covering the Windows XP basic searches in Windows 7, here's what to type in Windows 7 here:







• Containing text: content:
• Date: date:
• Extension: *.exe [an example for *.exe extension]
• Size: size:
• System Folders: This option appears to be on by default on Windows 7.
• Hidden Files & Folders: This option appears to be on by default on Windows 7.

• Date Modified: modified:
• Date Created: created:
• Date Accessed: accessed:
• Date Before: before:8/25/2009
• Date After: after:8/25/2009
• Date Range: 8/1/09..8/25/09

• Type: kind:

• Size: size:
• Size limit: >50KB [or <50KB]
• Size Range: 50MB..70MB


• Subfolders on/off: This option appears to be on by default on Windows 7.



To look for something specific, be sure to add asterisk * before and after search term and * as an extension.

For example, if searching for a + sign:

Enclose the plus sign(s) within asterisks, for example *+*.*, *++*.*, *+++*.*, etc., and make sure to either add an asterisk as the extension, or include a known extension like *.jpg for example.

/EDIT 2/

Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx



Once you have Windows Search for Windows Vista or Windows XP, you might be wondering how you can be even more efficient when it comes to finding files and e-mail on your PC. Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) can help you do just that. Using AQS, you can quickly define and narrow your searches for even more targeted results.

You can narrow your searches using a variety of keywords, or search parameters, which can restrict your query to specific locations, specific file types or properties within those types, or specific "file kinds." File kinds are displayed at the top of the Windows Search Explorer, accessible by pressing the Windows Logo key + F.

To match a specific string literally, without it being interpreted as a keyword, you can use double quotation marks. Words in a search query entered between quotation marks are matched exactly, in the order they were entered.

The example tables below give you an overview of syntax that can be used with Windows Search 4.0, Windows Vista, or Windows Desktop Search 3.01 for Windows XP, including the properties that can be added to your search terms to narrow and refine your results.

	
author:name
author:patrick
Finds items with patrick in the author property.

	
author:(name)
author:(patrick hines)
Finds items with patrick in the Author property.

	
author:(name OR name)
author:(patrick OR bob)
Finds items with patrick or bob in the Author property.

	
author:name name
author:patrick bob
Finds items with patrick in the Author property and bob anywhere in the document.

	
from:name
from:patrick
Finds items with patrick in either fromName OR fromAddress, since "from" is a property name for both fromName and fromAddress.

	
before:date
before:10/9/2007
Finds items whose PrimaryDate field contains a date before 10/9/2007.

	
after:date
after:10/9/2007
Finds items whose PrimaryDate field contains a date after 10/9/2007.

	
has:attachment
report has:attachment
Finds items containing the word report that have attachments. Same as hasattachment:true

	
is:attachment
report is:attachment
Finds items that have attachments containing the word report. Same as isattachment:true



Numbers and ranges
To specify a date range, type the property followed by two dates. For example, type from:david sent:11/05/06..11/05/07. Windows Search recognizes all Windows date formats and also recognizes the following values:
Relative dates: Today, tomorrow, yesterday
Multi-word relative dates: week, next month, last week, past month, or coming year. The values can also be entered contracted, as follows: thisweek, nextmonth, lastweek, pastmonth, comingyear.
Days: Sunday, Monday ... Saturday
Months: January, February ... December

Size and date ranges
	Syntax	Results	

	
size:>50KB <70KB
Searches for files with a value in the Size between50 KB and 70 KB, excluding the end values.

	
size:>=50KB <=70KB
Searches for files with a value in the Size property between 50 KB and 70 KB, including the end values.

	
size:50KB..70KB
Same as size:>=50KB <=70KB

	
date:>2/7/05<2/10/05
Searches for a date in the Date property between the values 2/7/05 and 2/10/05, excluding the end dates.

	
date:>=2/7/05<=2/10/05
Searches for a date in the Date property between the values 2/7/05 and 2/10/05, including the end dates.

	
date:2/7/05 .. 2/10/05
Same as date:>=2/7/05<=2/10/05


Note: on Windows Vista and higher, search syntax supports dates in the user’s current calendar. A query can use any of the formats defined in their Regional Options.

Common file properties
The terms listed in the preceding table can be used with any of the following file properties. For example, to find e-mail from "patrick" that was sent in 2008, your query would look like this: kind:email author:patrick after:12/31/2007.
	To restrict by file type	Use	Example	

	
Communications
communications
kind:communications

	
Contacts
contacts
person
kind:person
kind:contacts

	
E-mail
email
kind:email

	
Instant Messenger conversations
im
kind:im

	
Meetings
meetings
kind:meetings

	
Tasks
tasks
kind:tasks

	
Notes
notes
kind:notes

	
Documents
docs
kind:docs

	
Music
music
song
kind:music
kind:song

	
Pictures
pics
pictures
kind:pics
kind:pictures

	
Videos
videos
kind:videos

	
Folders
folders
kind:folders

	
Folder name
foldername
foldername:mydocs

	
Programs
programs
kind:programs

	
Recorded TV
tv
kind:tv

	
Link
link
kind:link

	
Journal entry
journal
kind:journal



To restrict by file store
If you use multiple e-mail accounts and you want to limit a query to either Microsoft Office Outlook or Outlook Express, you can use the store: indicator to narrow your search scope.
	Store	Use	Example	

	
Files
file
store:file

	
Offline Files
csc
store:csc

	
Outlook
mapi
store:mapi

	
Outlook Express
outlookexpress
store:outlookexpress


Properties for file type: All
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Title
title, subject, about
title:manager

	
Status
status
status:active

	
Date
date
date:lastweek

	
Date modified
datemodified, modified
modified:lastweek

	
Importance
importance, priority
importance:high

	
Size
size
size:>50MB

	
Deleted
deleted,isdeleted
isdeleted:true

	
Is attachment
isattachment
isattachment:false

	
To
to, toname
to:johnsmith

	
Cc
cc, ccname
cc:david

	
Company
company
company:adventure-works

	
Category
category
category:business

	
Keywords
keywords
keywords:sports

	
Album
album
album:greatest

	
File name
filename, file
filename:2006hits

	
Genre
genre
genre:jazz

	
Author
author, by
author:david

	
Folder
folder, under, path
folder:adminstration

	
Ext
ext, fileext
ext:.rtf

	
Tags
tag, keyword
tag:personal

	
Type
type
type:image



Properties for file type: Contact
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Job title
jobtitle
jobtitle:manager

	
IM address
imaddress
imaddress:[email protected]

	
Assistant's phone
assistantsphone
assistantsphone:555-1212

	
Assistant name
assistantname
assistantname:roberto

	
Profession
profession
profession:accountant

	
Nickname
nickname
nickname:louis

	
Spouse
spouse
spouse:susana

	
Business city
businesscity
businesscity:redmond

	
Business postal code
businesspostalcode
businesspostalcode:98052

	
Business home page
businesshomepage
businesshomepage:[url]www.adventure-works.com[/url]

	
Callback phone number
callbacknumber
callbacknumber:882-8080

	
Car phone
carphone
carphone:555-1212

	
Children
children
children:anna

	
First name
firstname
firstname:maria

	
Last name
lastname
lastname

	
Home fax
homefax
homefax:555-1212

	
Manager's name
manager
manager:carlos

	
Pager
pager
pager:882-8080

	
Business phone
businessphone
businessphone:555-1212

	
Home phone
homephone
homephone:555-1212

	
Mobile phone
mobilephone
mobilephone:882-8080

	
Office
officelocation
officelocation:red/101

	
Anniversary
anniversary
anniversary:yesterday

	
Birthday
birthday
birthday:tomorrow



Properties for file type: Communications (e-mail, appointments)
	Property	Use	Example	

	
From
from, organizer
from:simon

	
Received
received, sent
sent:yesterday

	
Subject
subject, title
subject:budget

	
Has attachment
hasattachment, hasattachments
hasattachment:true

	
Attachments
attachments, attachment
attachment:presentation.ppt

	
Bcc
bcc, bccname
bcc:michael

	
Bcc address
bccaddress, bcc
bccaddress:[email protected]

	
Cc address
ccaddress, cc
ccaddress:[email protected]

	
Follow-up flag
flagstatus
flagstatus:followup
flagstatus:unflagged
flagstatus:completed

	
To address
toaddress, to
toaddress:[email protected]

	
Due date
duedate, due
due:10/15/2008

	
Read
read, isread
isread:false

	
Is completed
iscompleted
iscompleted:true

	
Incomplete
incomplete
incomplete:true

	
Has flag
hasflag, isflagged
hasflag:false

	
Duration
duration
duration:>120



Properties for file type: Calendar
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Recurring
isrecurring
recurring
isrecurring:true
recurring:true

	
Organizer
organizer, by, from
organizer:jonas

	
Location
location
location:calgary



Properties for file type: Documents
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Comments
comments
comments:excellent

	
Last saved by
lastsavedby
lastsavedby:josh

	
Document manager
documentmanager
documentmanager:jonas

	
Revision number
revisionnumber
revisionnumber:4a

	
Date last printed
datelastprinted
datelastprinted:yesterday

	
Slide count
slides
slides:>20



Properties for file type: Music
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Bit rate
bitrate
bitrate:>150kbps

	
Artist
artist, by
artist:U2

	
Year
year
year:1977..1987

	
Album
album
album:"greatest hits"

	
Genre
genre
genre:rock

	
Lyrics
lyrics
lyrics:"happy birthday to you"

	
Track
#, track
track:12

	
Year
year
year:>1980<1990



Properties for file type: Picture
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Camera make
cameramake
cameramake:nikon

	
Camera model
cameramodel
cameramodel:eclipse

	
Dimensions
dimensions
dimensions:8x10

	
Orientation
orientation
orientation:landscape

	
Date taken
taken
datetaken
taken:last
datetaken:6/12/2006

	
Width
width
width:33

	
Height
height
height:66

	
Flash mode
flashmode
flashmode:no flash



Properties for file type: Recorded TV
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Broadcast date
broadcastdate
broadcastdate:2005

	
Channel number
channel
channel:7

	
Closed captioning
closedcaptioning
closedcaptioning:true

	
Date released
datereleased
datereleased:2007

	
Episode name
episodename
episodename:zeppo



Properties for file type: Video
	Property	Use	Example	

	
Name
name
subject
name:vacation
subject:hawaii

	
Ext
Ext
filext
ext:wma	
filext:wma

 

[Super Nade]

Under the start menu, type anything you want and it will be found if indexed. Give that a go and let me know if it works?

You can also search in Explorer:



Image from neowin.net

 

[c627627]

No. Let's say I just connected an unindexed hard drive containing 10 billion various files only two of which are *.txt files, only one of which contains the word 'MyIndexingIsTurnedOff'

What if 9 billion non *.txt files also contain the same term? This is an elementary search, why can't I do this quickly and easily Microsoft?

 

[Super Nade]

Did you try the search screen I linked to?

 

[c627627]

Huh? You can only type a search term there, but then what?


What if I get a 10000 hits... where are the search options to narrow them down??

 

[c627627]

There's a Custom button with no real 'custom' options, look

 

[johnz]

Start typing into the search box. The taskbar will then show an option "Search Tools". Click that, then turn on Search Pane, and you'll have the advanced options.

 

[c627627]

That's Vista. I'm talkin'bout 7.

 

[johnz]

That's Vista. I'm talkin'bout 7.

Sorry 'bout that. I was trying to keep from starting my Win7 VM, and I thought they were setup the same way. I'm in Win7 now trying to find the advanced search. No luck so far... :^/

Edit:
I'm not sure how comprehensive it is, but a dropdown appears when you start your search to add a filter. You can pick Date Modified or Size.

 

[c627627]

No luck so far... :^/

Edit:
I'm not sure how...

Do you see how crazy this is? Why are we having trouble with this... on a major computer forum.

This should be easy to find for someone with much less experience than us, not only that, it should be easy enough to do in 10 seconds or less... even for someone with limited comp experience. What were they thinking!?!

 

[johnz]

Do you see how crazy this is? Why are we having trouble with this... on a major computer forum.

This should be easy to find for someone with much less experience than us, not only that, it should be easy enough to do in 10 seconds or less... for spomeone with limited comp experience. What were they thinking!?!

Well, the basic search with a couple of filters I'd say is easier, and it was a case of the stupids on my part. I don't like the way you can't use more advanced options though. It seems to me a radio button with advanced search would be the way to go. You should be able to click that, and get a box like I have shown for Vista. Maybe there's a way to get that, but I have to do some more poking around.

 

[c627627]

Of course, let's see if we can figure it out, I'll take this to newgroups if we can't here. I'm just having trouble getting past us having to poke around... the mere notion of it...why?!


These search functions were already there. They redisgned them. To achieve what? To prevent us from using them to do what they are supposed to do? Let's say you're doing this for business and you have to go through a million files. This is crucial.

 

[c627627]

EDIT: It can be done but only if you have an advanced degree in Windows 7/8 Search Engine operations and know by heart specific commands to type in.

omg. I did some searching and it looks like we might be looking for something that's not there.

You can't search system files.
You can't search hidden files.
They say you have to turn these on before search, *every* time instead of just hitting a checkbox.

You can't search inside only *.txt or *.doc or other file types specifically. So you can't modify among potentially thousands of returns from different file types.

You can't include/exclude subfolders. Forget about a case sensitive search.


It appears you can do a date search but you can't type in size limitations, only a few size ranges of Microsoft's choice. I am speechless.



They've completely gutted the search engine. As I see it, someone can make a pretty penney by creating a simple search program for Windows 7...

 

[johnz]

Yea, I haven't found much. You get more options if you search from different places. One of them is the Explorer window you get by right clicking the start button. The problem is, I never use that, and the options aren't that great, or easy to manipulate. I really don't search much, but people that do will find it anemic.

 

[c627627]

It appears that this is now about finding a simple third party program that can do a search using Windows XP parameters.\



Edit: Just tried Google Desktop. It does a lot of things... except for searching your desktop using basic, basic parameters...

 

[BoT]

i am mostly missing that you can't search for computers
you used to be able to search for computers and devices and just typ in the name or part of it and it would crawl the network and display them even if they are not in the same domain/ workgroup. no go for this in vista or win7

 

[c627627]

So yet another thing to be added to the list in post 13.


I'd really like to find out what the reason for this decision was. [I know Microsoft couldn't make an OS which would allow you to simply move a file to the left or to the right without crashing the OS so that's why you can't disable file auto-arrange in Windows 7] but what is the reason for disabling search options?

 

[rainless]

So yet another thing to be added to the list in post 13.


I'd really like to find out what the reason for this decision was. [I know Microsoft couldn't make an OS which would allow you to simply move a file to the left or to the right without crashing the OS so that's why you can't disable file auto-arrange in Windows 7] but what is the reason for disabling search options?

I doubt if it was a "decision" per se.

It was probably more like a "cocktail."

 

[splat]

if you ask me, it's because they want people to stop using their OS. *rimshot*

Add "Search..." back to the right-click menu. not a fix, but a nifty hack that worked on vista, worked on my RC 7100:

1. Click Start.
2. Type regedit in the Search Bar and press Enter.
3. Browse to the following registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory\ shell\ find
4. Locate the LegacyDisable subkey. Rename it to LegacyDisabl.bak
5. That’s it. The hack is over. From now on whenever you will right-click on any folder you will see the Search… option again.

I noticed on my RC, also, that as soon as I click in the "search" bar i get a little menu that pops down saying "add a filter" and has "Date Modified" and "Size" options. It's the first time i've actually tried to search bar in win7 so this is all new to me. I never tried the search in vista for that matter too, i keep all of my documents on a linux box.

once "search..." is back in the context menu, that drop down actually gives you "kind: type: date modified: size:"

 

[Jayws]

I'm sorry but this is hilarious, just like the response that you get from people familiarized with Office '03 when you switch them over to Office '07. I know because today is the day where I'm doing a lot of said installs. Just another Microsoft optimization. I can't wait to get home and play with this on my 7 install.