Empty folders are really empty?

If you are experiencing problems with "Everything", post here for assistance.
Post Reply
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

The folders being shown as empty, are they always, without exception, really empty? Or are folders with sub folders and / or 0 byte files considered to be empty:
Image

So could I remove shown folders to be empty without problems?
void
Developer
Posts: 16841
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by void »

The empty: search finds folders that are empty in the Everything index. This may be different to what is actually on disk.

For NTFS volumes with no exclude filters, emtpy: should be very accurate.

Please double check with Right click -> Properties (Alt + Enter) and make sure number of subfolders and files is 0.
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

I have many thounds of emtpy folders, so I could select thousands or 377 ones for example of them and press ALT+ENTER and if it shows 0 files (Dateien) I can delete all of them? But that would not work (correctly) for exFAT volumes?

Image
void
Developer
Posts: 16841
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by void »

I can tell you they are empty if the property page shows 0 files.
It's up to you if you want to delete them.
But that would not work (correctly) for exFAT volumes?
Everything may not be able to detect all changes to exFAT, you can use the same property page to see if the selected folders are truly empty.
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

I can tell you they are empty if the property page shows 0 files.
It's up to you if you want to delete them.
Yes, well, well, I would say so too. I want to remove them if they are really empty, if not I don't.
Everything may not be able to detect all changes to exFAT, you can use the same property page to see if the selected folders are truly empty.
Alright, so the same procedure as above.

Many thanks
therube
Posts: 4985
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by therube »

Note the difference between

empty:

and

size:0 folder:
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

Alright, I will try to, thank you.
NotNull
Posts: 5461
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 9:22 pm

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by NotNull »

I would suggest you expand yor Everything query from I: empty: to

Code: Select all

I: empty: !attributes:L
That way you exclude folders like "C:\Documents and Settings", so you don't accidentally try to delete those (You can recognize reparse point folders like these by the shortcut link symbol in their icon).
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

Alright, I will expand that query, thank you very much!
void
Developer
Posts: 16841
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by void »

Just to clarify, empty: means no subfolders and no files.

If you want to search for folders with no subfolders, search for: childfoldercount:0
If you want to search for folders with no files, search for: childfilecount:0
Biff
Posts: 1159
Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 7:09 am

Re: Empty folders are really empty?

Post by Biff »

Thank you, I will add those to new filters.

By the way, may be a field for notations (may be in "Edit filters") would be good.
Post Reply