How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Discussion related to "Everything" 1.5 Alpha.
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christophe
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:05 pm

How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Post by christophe »

Hi,
I have a lot of OneDrive files and a PC with limited storage space, how can I search at any time in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having these OneDrive files locally ?

I am asking because I have seen that Everything v1.5a can make a search inside my USB external hard drive when it is not plugged to my PC : Image

Results are nicely displayed in gray color to indicate the file is not currently available. Then I know I just have to plug the USB external hard drive to open the file. Regards
void
Developer
Posts: 16897
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Post by void »

OneDrive uses Place Holder Files.

A Place Holder File is a local copy of the filename and file information. (size, date modified/created and attributes)

File content for Place Holder Files can be stored locally and/or in the cloud.



Everything should index all your OneDrive place holder files by default.
Please make sure Everything is indexing the drive which holds your OneDrive place holder files (typically the C: drive under %userprofile%\OneDrive)
Please make sure you are not excluding your OneDrive folder under Tools -> Options -> Exclude.
christophe
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:05 pm

Re: How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Post by christophe »

Sorry I forgot to mention that I am interested in indexing the file content from my OneDrive. I do have the placeholder files on my hard-drive and Everything v1.5a is indexing them nicely.

When I search for text content in Everything v1.5a :
Image

I can see that some files are being downloaded locally on my hard-drive:
Image

I would like to know if it is possible to index the all files content from my OneDrive by Everything v1.5a ?
I then just want to keep a few files locally, as my hard-drive is not that big.
void
Developer
Posts: 16897
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Post by void »

Everything is not really designed to index file content in the cloud.

You could certainly try content indexing.
Please make sure Tools -> Options -> Content -> Exclude recall on data access is unchecked.

The initial index will download all files from the cloud.
After indexing completes you will need to right-click your OneDrive folder (or right click the desired files) and click Free up space to move files back to the cloud only.

When content indexing is enabled, the content: search function will never touch file content on disk (or the cloud), only content stored in your index.
christophe
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:05 pm

Re: How can I search in my entire OneDrive files without permanently having files locally ?

Post by christophe »

void wrote: Thu Apr 06, 2023 7:50 am You could certainly try content indexing.
Please make sure Tools -> Options -> Content -> Exclude recall on data access is unchecked.

The initial index will download all files from the cloud.
After indexing completes you will need to right-click your OneDrive folder (or right click the desired files) and click Free up space to move files back to the cloud only.

When content indexing is enabled, the content: search function will never touch file content on disk (or the cloud), only content stored in your index.
Thank you for the tip, I have applied it just now.

void wrote: Thu Apr 06, 2023 7:50 am Everything is not really designed to index file content in the cloud.
Is there a tool that is good at indexing the file content in the cloud ?
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