Searching only the desktop folder.

[burgundy]

When I narrow the search down to only the desktop using "folder:desktop" (without quotation marks) plus the search term, Everything shows no hits, despite matching files being there.

If I use "folder:desktop" (without quotation marks) on its own, Everything lists the files on the desktop but when I add a search term I get nothing. This is true in version 1.4 and 1.5.

On the other hand if I use the full path of the desktop "C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop" (including quotation marks) and a search term then Everything gives me correct hits.

It seems "folder:desktop" is not working. However "path:desktop" (without quotation marks) does work. Is this a bug?

PS: I am using WinXP

[void]

folder: is a search modifier that will match folders only.

path: is a search modifier that will match the full path and filename.


Examples:

Find folders only on the desktop:
folder:\desktop

Find files and folders with desktop anywhere in the full path and filename:
path:desktop




Use quotes after the search modifier or function. (otherwise the search modifier is treated as literal text)
For example, find folders only in "C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop":
folder:"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop"


It sounds like you have Match path enabled under the Search menu.
Everything will match the full path and filename when enabled.
This is the same as using path: for each search term.

Everything searches are broken down into 'search terms' when using an operator (space or |).
Each search term can have its own search modifiers.

When I narrow the search down to only the desktop using "folder:desktop" (without quotation marks) plus the search term, Everything shows no hits, despite matching files being there.

folder:desktop will match folders only with desktop in the filename.
It looks like you are using Match Path from the search menu so this will match folders with desktop anywhere in the full path and filename.

With Match Path enabled from the Search menu, search for:
desktop
to match files and folders with desktop anywhere in the full path and filename.

With Match Path disabled from the Search menu, search for:
path:desktop
-or-
\desktop
to match files and folders with desktop anywhere in the full path and filename.

If I use "folder:desktop" (without quotation marks) used its own, Everything lists the files on the desktop but when I add a search term I get nothing. This is true in version 1.4 ad 1.5.

folder:desktop
is the same as:
folder: desktop
(note the space)

Everything sees this as:
folder: AND desktop
(folders only AND desktop in the filename)

Now if you add a search term, for example abc123:
folder:desktop abc123

Everything sees this as:
folder: AND desktop AND abc123
(folders only AND desktop in the filename AND abc123)
because Everything is matching folders only, Everything will not show any files named abc123

With Match Path enabled from the Search menu, search for:
desktop abc123
to match files and folders with desktop AND abc123 anywhere in the full path and filename.

With Match Path disabled from the Search menu, search for:
path:desktop abc123
-or-
\desktop abc123
to match files and folders with desktop anywhere in the full path and filename and abc123 anywhere in the basename.

On the other hand if I use the full path of the desktop "C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop" (including quotation marks) and a search term then Everything gives me correct hits.

when a search term contains a backslash, everything will implicitly match the full path and filename.
searching for "C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop" is the same as:
path:"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop"

Include a trailing backslash if you don't want to match other filenames starting with desktop in MyName:
"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop\"

Similar results can be achieved with shorter searches, for example:
\Deskt
\Desktop
\Desktop\
MyName\Desk
\MyName\Desktop\
Settings\MyName\Desktop
"Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop\"


I Hope this helps explain what Everything is doing with folder: and path:

[NotNull]

You can also use

shell:desktop

See Known Shell Folders for details.

[burgundy]

There a lot of good information in the replies. Thank you. I need to put aside time when I am clear headed to absorb it all and experiment!

[harryray2]

I don't know if this helps, but I use the context menu a lot for searching within folders.

[burgundy]

Phew, I'm struggling with this!

When I search with folder:desktop or folder:\desktop then I get a list of all folders called "desktop" (including the special Windows folder which represents the visible desktop that I am particularly interested in).

(1) I want to search for a file called "metabolic" which I know is on my Windows desktop. So I search with
metabolic folder:desktop but get nothing.

(2) If I search with metabolic folder:\desktop then I get a folder whose name contains the term "metabolic" but I still do not see the file on the Windows desktop with the name "metabolic".

Am I doing something wrong?

Note that "Match Path" is disabled. Also there is no Everything restriction set to show only particular file types.

[NotNull]

Phew, I'm struggling with this!

Maybe this can help you a bit?

(1) I want to search for a file called "metabolic" which I know is on my Windows desktop. So I search with
metabolic folder:desktop but get nothing.

metabolic
This will search for all files and folders with metabolic in their name.

folder:desktop
This will search for all folders with desktop in their name.

Your search will find files and folders that match BOTH criteria, so you are searching for folders with metabolic as well as desktop in their name, like "c:\path\this is a metabolic desktop folder".
It will not find "c:\path\just metabolic" or "c:\path\desktop\metabolic.txt"


Try one of the following (untetsed, btw):

Code: Select all

metabolic   \desktop\
\desktop\   metabolic
shell:desktop   metabolic

\desktop\   file:metabolic
shell:desktop   file:metabolic

(there are more possibilities)

[Mizufluffy]

Try one of the following (untetsed, btw):

Code: Select all

metabolic   \desktop\
\desktop\   metabolic
shell:desktop   metabolic

\desktop\   file:metabolic
shell:desktop   file:metabolic

(there are more possibilities)

I tested these for you. I created a metabolic.txt file in two different locations.

Code: Select all

metabolic   \desktop\
\desktop\   metabolic
\desktop\   file:metabolic

Finds:
C:\Users\<user>\Desktop\metabolic.txt
C:\temp\desktop\metabolic.txt

Code: Select all

shell:desktop   metabolic
shell:desktop   file:metabolic

Finds:
C:\Users\<user>\Desktop\metabolic.txt

As you can see,
shell:desktop metabolic or shell:desktop file:metabolic are better because \desktop\ finds all desktop folders, not just the desktop of the user but shell:desktop finds only the desktop of the user.

[void]

(1) I want to search for a file called "metabolic" which I know is on my Windows desktop. So I search with
metabolic folder:desktop but get nothing.

Use path: instead of folder:

For example:
metabolic path:desktop

(2) If I search with metabolic folder:\desktop then I get a folder whose name contains the term "metabolic" but I still do not see the file on the Windows desktop with the name "metabolic".

Don't use folder:

Please search for:
metabolic \desktop

[burgundy]

I don't know if this helps, but I use the context menu a lot for searching within folders.

I am re-reading this thread and saw your post. I am intrigued to know what you do because my context menu (on either path or filename in the results list) gives me very little that's useful.

Thank you for any information.

[void]

To install the 'Search Everything...' context menu item:

• In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
• Click the General tab on the left.
• Check Show Search Everything folder context menu item.
• Click OK.

Now you can right click the Desktop and click Search Everything....