How to search file contents in finder?

How do I search for file contents in finder? All I see is the option to search "This Mac" or "Edited."

Under the partial results appearing under the search box is a + icon (next to save). To see it, click on the toolbar somewhere so the results popup clears. Then you can define your search.

Similar Messages

How to search files in the finder in an external NAS disk

If I try to search a file on the NAS disk system does not react although I changed the finder options accordingly

You can check some tools mentioned in this URL : http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/backup-and-sync-tools-for-hard-drives/
Arnav Sharma | http://arnavsharma.net/ Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading
the thread.

Cannot search file content on Word document with embedded Excel table

Cannot search file content on Word document with embedded Excel table. I have Windows 8.1 64-bit and Office 2010 Professional. Only phrases from within Excel tables are not searchable. I have many Word documents with embedded Excel table.
I use it for my invoices. Those invoices are converted to pdf to be sent via mail. Searching the same phrases in related pdf files Works fine. And yes, folders are indexed, searching service is active......... For example I can find all invoices that have
specific address or name, which is located in word document, but cannot find invoices with specific item name or price, being that information is in embedded Excel table. (not linked, embedded). I thought that is a question for Windows forum, but guys directed
me here on Office forum. To clarify, I do not use Ctrl+F inside some document, but Windows Search in my folders. Probably the same happens in Office 2013.
Thank you.

Hi, I have a lot of Word documents (invoices, offers). Main part of those documents is embedded Excel file because it is easier to do mathematics in Excel than in Word. There are columns with description, unit price, quantity, taxes... Now, I need
to find who bought HP switch 2530-24G last year. I open folder with last year invoices and search "2530". Cannot find any. But if that document was converted to pdf for mail, than I can find that phrase. Windows search does not work for content if the content
is in embedded file.

How to search files by wildcard expression

how to search files by wildcard expression,
and list all of them?
for example:
search file as image*.jpg or ima231*.jpg.
please give me some code to study.
thanks in advance.

following code is a filename filter that support '*' and '?', hope it helps.
import java.util.*;
class MyFilenameFilter {
static public void main(String args[]){
    byte[] in2=new byte[255];
    String filter=null,fileName=null;
    try{
      while(1>0){
        System.out.print("filter (ex: abc*def?.do?):");
        in2=new byte[255];
        System.in.read(in2);
        if((new String(in2)).trim().length()>0) filter=(new String(in2)).trim();
        System.out.print("filename (ex: abcerdefi.doc):");
        in2=new byte[255];
        System.in.read(in2);
        if((new String(in2)).trim().length()>0) fileName=(new String(in2)).trim();
        System.out.println("filter="+filter+",filename="+fileName+",result="+(chkfn(filter,fileName)? "Matched":"Not Matched"));
    } catch(Exception e){
         e.printStackTrace();
static boolean chkfn(String chk,String fn) {//ex:chk=*fg?gh fn=tdiekd.exe, or ex:chk=test.csv fn=k.csv
    boolean rtn=false;
    int x3=0,x4=0,x4Head=0,x4Tail=0;
    if(chk.endsWith(".*") && fn.indexOf(".")==-1) chk=chk.substring(0,chk.length()-2);
    if(chk.endsWith(".") && fn.indexOf(".")==-1) chk=chk.substring(0,chk.length()-1);
    if(fn==null || fn.length()<1) return false;
    if(chk==null) return true;
    if(chk.length()<1 || chk.equals("*") || chk.equals(".") || chk.equals("*.*")) return true;
    int chkLength=chk.length();
    int fnLength=fn.length();
    int newx4Head=-1,newx4Tail=-1;
    int last_asterisk=chk.lastIndexOf("*");
    int first_asterisk=chk.indexOf("*");
    int asteriskCount=0,aindex[]=new int[20],tmp[]=null,index1=-1,cCount=0;
    String cString[]=new String[20];
    chk=chk.toUpperCase();
    fn=fn.toUpperCase();
    char c='0';
    boolean found=false;
    String chkString="";
    //replace each '**' with '*' befroe further action
    while(chk.indexOf("**")!=-1){
      chk=replace(chk,"**","*");
    chkLength=chk.length();
    last_asterisk=chk.lastIndexOf("*");
    first_asterisk=chk.indexOf("*");
    //count the '*' count
    x3=0;
    while(x3<chkLength){
      if(chk.charAt(x3)=='*'){aindex[asteriskCount]=x3; asteriskCount++;}
      x3++;
    //to get the cString[], each string next to '*'
    StringTokenizer st=new StringTokenizer(chk,"*");
    while(st.hasMoreElements()){
      cString[cCount]=st.nextToken(); cCount++;
    //first check the head and the tail
    if(first_asterisk>0){//first_asterisk!=-1 && first_asterisk!=0
       chkString=chk.substring(0,first_asterisk);
       if(chkString.indexOf("?")!=-1){
             if(fnLength>first_asterisk-1){
               if(cmp(chkString,fn.substring(0,first_asterisk))==false) return false;
             } else return false;
       } else if(!fn.startsWith(chkString)) return false;
       x4Head=chkString.length()+1;
    } else if(first_asterisk==0) {
         x4Head=findMatch(cString[0],fn);
         if(x4Head==-1) return false;
    if(last_asterisk!=chkLength-1 && last_asterisk!=-1){
       chkString=chk.substring(last_asterisk+1,chkLength);
       if(chkString.indexOf("?")!=-1){
             if(fnLength-(chkLength-last_asterisk)+1>-1){
               if(cmp(chkString,fn.substring(fnLength-(chkLength-last_asterisk)+1,fnLength))==false) return false;
             } else return false;
       } else if(!fn.endsWith(chkString)) return false;
       x4Tail=fnLength-chkString.length();
    } else if(last_asterisk==chkLength-1) {
         newx4Tail=findMatch(cString[cCount-1],fn.substring(x4Head));
         x4Tail=x4Head+newx4Tail+cString[cCount-1].length();
    if(asteriskCount>1){
      int oldx4Head=x4Head;
      if(last_asterisk!=chkLength-1) {
           if(cString[cCount-2].indexOf("?")==-1){
          x4Tail=fn.substring(x4Head,x4Tail).lastIndexOf(cString[cCount-2]);
          if(x4Tail!=-1) x4Tail=x4Tail+cString[cCount-2].length();
      if(first_asterisk!=0){
        if(cString[1].indexOf("?")==-1){
          x4Head=fn.substring(x4Head).indexOf(cString[1]);
          if(x4Head!=-1) x4Head=oldx4Head+x4Head;
      //before of this, x4head and x4tail are adjusted according to '*', and now it will also adjusted according to '?'
      if(x4Head>-1 && x4Tail>x4Head &&
         chk.substring(aindex[0]+1,aindex[asteriskCount-1]).indexOf("*")==-1 &&
         chk.substring(aindex[0]+1,aindex[asteriskCount-1]).length()!=x4Tail-x4Head &&
         chk.substring(aindex[0]+1,aindex[asteriskCount-1]).indexOf("?")!=-1){
           newx4Head=-1;
           newx4Head=findMatch(chk.substring(aindex[0]+1,aindex[asteriskCount-1]),fn.substring(x4Head,x4Tail));
           if(newx4Head>-1) {
             x4Head=x4Head+newx4Head;
             x4Tail=x4Head+aindex[asteriskCount-1]-(aindex[0]+1);
      if(x4Head>-1 && x4Tail>x4Head) return chkfn(chk.substring(aindex[0]+1,aindex[asteriskCount-1]),fn.substring(x4Head,x4Tail));
      else return false;
    } else if(asteriskCount==0){
          if(fnLength==chkLength) return cmp(chk,fn);
            else return false;
    return true;
static public boolean cmp(String chkString,String fnString){//1.no '*', 2.only for two strings having same length 3.two strings are uppercase before call this method
    boolean rtn=false;
    int clength=chkString.length(),flength=fnString.length();
    if(clength!=flength) return false;
    for(int i=0;i<clength;i++){
      if(chkString.charAt(i)!='?' && chkString.charAt(i)!=fnString.charAt(i)) return false;
    return true;
static public int findMatch(String chkString,String fnString){//to find out the correct index postion for the string between two '*'
    int rtn=-1;
    boolean found=false;
    int chkLength=chkString.length();
    int fnLength=fnString.length();
    if(chkLength>fnLength) return -1;
    for(int i=0;i<fnLength-chkLength+1;i++){
      found=true;
      for(int j=0;j<chkLength;j++){
        if(chkString.charAt(j)!='?' && chkString.charAt(j)!=fnString.charAt(j+i)) {found=false; break;}
      if(found) return i;
    return rtn;
public static String replace(String s, String s1, String s2) {
      if(s!=null && s1!=null && s2!=null){
        int i = 0;
        int j = s.length();
        int k = s1.length();
        int l = s2.length();
        do {
            String s3 = "";
            i = s.indexOf(s1, i);
            if(i == -1)
                break;
            StringBuffer stringbuffer = new StringBuffer(s.substring(0, i));
            s3 = s.substring(i + k);
            stringbuffer.append(s2).append(s3);
            s = stringbuffer.toString();
            j = s.length();
            i += l;
        } while(i <= j);
      return s;
}

How to search the content of TPL files?

Hi. I have a folder with hundreds of template "tpl" files that I'm needing to search the file contents of but using the regular search of that folder is unable to search the content of the tpl files, is it possible to do so?
Thanks!,
Wesley

I assume there's not a "scan all files" with Spotlight?
I don't think that would be possible in the specific case of content searches. Here's my understanding:
EasyFind searches the files themselves when it looks for content, which makes it slow but very flexible.
In contrast, Spotlight searches a pre-existing index when it looks for things - it can be instructed to search the index in various ways, but if the desired information is not in the index in the first place, it won't be found. Indexing the content of every file in the system is not feasible, so only the contents of certain file types get indexed. I found the following in [this Wikipedia article|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_%28software%29]:
Aside from basic information about each file like its name, size and timestamps, the mdimport daemon can also index the content of some files, when it has an Importer plug-in that tells it how the file content is formatted. Spotlight comes with importers for certain types of files, such as Microsoft Word, MP3, and PDF documents. Apple publishes APIs that allow developers to write Spotlight Importer plug-ins for their own file formats.[3]
So unless you'd care to write your own Spotlight Importer plug-in for tpl files, I think you are out of luck!

How to search package contents?

Is there any way to get Finder to search package contents?
I'm trying to find some duplicate audio files that are buried in the Media folders inside some GarageBand files. I know I can use the contextual menu to "Show Package Contents", but I don't want to search each of them manually.
I've tried searching for visible or invisible (even though I don't think package contents actually qualify as invisible files). Anyhow, that didn't work. I also tried searching using the "file exists" criterion, but no dice.
I can see the file right there in the Media folder, and I can't get Finder to even recognize that it's there, let alone find any duplicates. This is pretty frustrating. I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks!

Cool!
I DL'd EasyFind, installed it, and gave it a try. It works like gangbusters, it's dirt simple, completely intuitive, and FAST!! No more dealing with that stupid Finder that forces me to select "Name" as the preferred search criterion every time I want to search for a filename...which accounts for >95% of all my searches.
Problem solved. Thanks!

How 2 Search files in MAC

hi,
im a new user in Mac OS. i have a question on how to search By file types in MAC Os.
in Windows you can do a "ind File" by *.mp3....this will search & list all the .mp3 in the HD.
How can i can like this in OSX.
thnx

Hi, F. C.
There are a couple of approaches to this using Find. Find is implemented in Spotlight but permits more precise search criteria to be specified than using the Spotlight icon.
A. Use Find to search for the extension .mp3:1. In Finder, press the Command-F keyboard shortcut to launch Find.
2. In the top "slice" of the Find window, select the search location, e.g. Computer or Home.
3. Click the Kind pop-up button and select Other...
4. Select Name Extension from the list. If you regularly want to use this as a search criterion, also select the Add to Favorites checkbox.
5. Click OK. Note that the Kind criteria selected in step 3 now shows Name Extension as the criteria.
6. Type mp3 in the text input field next to Name Extension.
Spotlight will return all files whose extension matches mp3. Using the Name Extension criteria is the most precise approach to finding files by their extensions.B. Use Find to search for music files containing mp3:1. In Finder, press the Command-F keyboard shortcut to launch Find.
2. In the top "slice" of the Find window, select the search location, e.g. Computer or Home.
3. Click the Kind pop-up button and select Music.
4. In the Search For field, type mp3.
Spotlight will return all music files that in some way match the search term mp3. This is perhaps the fastest approach, but can be a less precise since it could return some files that contain the character string "mp3" in their name or other metadata attributes but have a different actual extensions, e.g. a file named "MP3 Rocks.aiff".Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

How to store file content in BLOB field MySql database using java

Hi!
i want to store the file content in a BLOB field in MySql database using java.
Please help me out..........
thanx in advance...
bye

i stored images in db, and retrieved them. like that cant i store pdf file in db, and retrieve it back using oracle db?
Plz help me out how to put a file in db. i need complete code. thanks in advance.

How to debug file content conversion problems?

Hi,
I'm trying to debug a file content conversion problem. I'm mapping a few nodes in an IDOC to a file of fixed length fields. I'm using the "<Node A>.fieldFixedLengths", "<Node B>.fieldFixedLengths", "<Node C>.fieldFixedLengths", etc. parameters to specify the fixed length records.
However, a certain node (for e.g. Node B) is causing a problem and if it is present in the IDOC, the output file does not get created. Upon checking the XI monitor, I notice that the file gets mapped correctly and thus the problem lies when the file adapter does the file content conversion. How do I debug this because there is no descriptive error in the XI log? If this node is not present, the file gets generated fine.
Thanks,
Basant Gupta

Hi,
If your SXMB_MONI shows, success status, then go to RWB->Message Monitoring->Message display tool and then check Audit log for the analysis,
So it wil help you debug the situation.
If there is no error, then check RWB->Component Monitoring->Adapter Monitoring for you file communciation channel..
/people/michal.krawczyk2/blog/2005/01/02/simple-adapter-and-message-monitoring
Regards,
Moorthy

How to search files, get cells, loop, and save

Howdy Folks, I'm another Applescript newbie in over my head. I'm working on a script to copy xl files into a master xl file. the files is a roster with student and class information. the number of students will vary. WIth help from a friend I have it about 80% where I want it. Need help with the rest. I hope its okay to ask multiple question about the script if not i do apoligize.
when the script runs it asks for the location of the file. the files are titled Houston_Sam_DWI_Jan.xlsx. I have several files in a master folder that i am trying to get data from, but the script goes through one at a time.
I know i need to loop it somehow to go through all of the files containing "DWI" in the title, I just don't know how to do it.
the script is set up to get a range of cells, but there are other individual cells i need to copy like dates(C7), Instructor(H7), and location(C11). How do i get these individual cells and paste them to the master doc: Location(E7), Dates (F7), Instructor(G7) and have them repeat down the column as the number of students from each of the classes populates the list.
finally, i have the master file name as annual report, the script does update the anual report file, but when it goes to save it creates a file named "sheet 1". i just want it to update the annual report file and save all changes.
here is the script i am currently working with:
set master_path to alias "Users:bs:Desktop:master:Annual Report.xlsx"
get_all_files(master_path)
on get_all_files(master_path)
          set example_path to choose file with prompt "Find an example file to work with"
transfer_data(example_path, master_path)
end get_all_files
on transfer_data(child_path, master_path)
          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
                    set child_book to (open workbook workbook file name (child_path as string))
                    set child_doc to worksheet 1 of child_book
                    set master to worksheet 1 of (open workbook workbook file name (master_path as string))
                    set num to 15 --All lists start at index 12 or later, I'm putting 10 to be safe
                    set students to {}
                    tell child_doc --grab values from child document
                              repeat until (value of cell (("A" & num) as string)) is 1
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                              repeat until (value of cell (("B" & num) as string)) is ""
                                        set end of students to {name:(value of cell (("B" & num) as string)), driver_id:(value of cell (("C" & num) as string)), DOB:(value of cell (("D" & num) as string)), pre_test:(value of cell (("J" & num) as string)), post_test:(value of cell (("K" & num) as string)), cert_id:(value of cell (("L" & num) as string))}
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                    end tell
                    tell master
                              set num to 7
                              log (value of cell (("B" & num) as string))
                              repeat until (value of cell (("B" & num) as string)) is ""
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                              repeat with student in students
                                        set value of cell (("B" & num) as string) to name of student
                                        set value of cell (("C" & num) as string) to driver_id of student
                                        set value of cell (("D" & num) as string) to DOB of student
                                        set value of cell (("H" & num) as string) to pre_test of student
                                        set value of cell (("I" & num) as string) to post_test of student
                                        set value of cell (("J" & num) as string) to cert_id of student
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
save master
                    end tell
save child_book
close child_book
save active workbook in master_path
close active workbook
          end tell
end transfer_data
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

That did it. had to tinker with it but it's doing what i want. Thanks for all of the help. here is the final code
tell application "Finder"
          set master_path to alias "Users:bs:Desktop:master:Annual Report.xlsx"
          set filesWithDWI to get every file of folder ((path to desktop folder) & "master" as string) whose name contains "DWI"
          repeat with f in filesWithDWI
                    my transfer_data(f, master_path)
          end repeat
end tell
on processfile(f)
display dialog f as string
end processfile
on transfer_data(child_path, master_path)
          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
                    set child_book to (open workbook workbook file name (child_path as string))
                    set child_doc to worksheet 1 of child_book
                    set master to worksheet "sheet 1" of (open workbook workbook file name (master_path as string))
                    set num to 15 --All lists start at index 12 or later, I'm putting 10 to be safe
                    set students to {}
                    tell child_doc --grab values from child document
                              repeat until (value of cell (("A" & num) as string)) is 1
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                              repeat until (value of cell (("B" & num) as string)) is ""
                                        set end of students to {namevalue of cell (("B" & num) as string)), driver_idvalue of cell (("C" & num) as string)), DOBvalue of cell (("D" & num) as string)), pre_testvalue of cell (("J" & num) as string)), post_testvalue of cell (("K" & num) as string)), cert_idvalue of cell (("L" & num) as string))}
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                              set startdate to range "C7"
                              set classlocation to range "C11"
                              set instructor to range "H7"
                    end tell
                    tell master
                              set num to 7
                              log (value of cell (("B" & num) as string))
                              repeat until (value of cell (("B" & num) as string)) is ""
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                              repeat with student in students
                                        set value of cell (("B" & num) as string) to name of student
                                        set value of cell (("C" & num) as string) to driver_id of student
                                        set value of cell (("D" & num) as string) to DOB of student
                                        set value of cell (("H" & num) as string) to pre_test of student
                                        set value of cell (("I" & num) as string) to post_test of student
                                        set value of cell (("J" & num) as string) to cert_id of student
                                        set value of cell (("f" & num) as string) to startdate
                                        set value of cell (("E" & num) as string) to classlocation
                                        set value of cell (("G" & num) as string) to instructor
                                        set num to num + 1
                              end repeat
                    end tell
save child_book
close child_book
save active workbook in master_path
close active workbook
          end tell
end transfer_data

How to store file content in database??????

how to store file in database and retrived

How to use Google to search for answers to questions that have been asked literally thousands of times previously??????
How to post into the correct forum???????
How to use less punctuation??????

TREX ABAP Client: How to index file content?

Hello Colleagues,
We have installed TREX search engine and writing own solution by using ABAP Client. Everything is ok except files content like XLS, DOC and so on. When we try to post binary content to the FM TREX_EXT_INDEX it is not processed by TREX and only attributes search is available. I think something wrong with data types.
Test example:
data lt_data type table of char100.
data l_size type i.
data lt_doc type trext_index_docs.
data ls_doc type trexs_index_doc.
call function 'GUI_UPLOAD'
    exporting
      filename   = 'D:test.xls'
      filetype   = 'BIN'
    importing
      filelength = l_size
    tables
      data_tab   = lt_data.
ls_doc-doc_key = '00001'.
ls_doc-doc_langu = 'EN'.
ls_doc-doc_type = 'B'.
ls_doc-mime_type = 'application/excel'.
call function 'SCMS_BINARY_TO_STRING'
    exporting
      input_length = l_size
    importing
      text_buffer = ls_doc-content
    tables
      binary_tab   = lt_data.
append ls_doc to lt_doc.
call function 'TREX_EXT_INDEX'
    exporting
      i_index_id            = me->index_id
      i_rfc_destination     = me->rfc_dest
      i_index_document_list = lt_doc.
Document is indexed without content. Why?

Hi Evgeni,
I realise this is a little late, but just in case you are still interested - or anyone else out there is:
Basically somewhere internally the FM 'TREX_EXT_INDEX' does the following with your ls_doc-content:
l_xstring = p_content_in. "(p_content_in == ls_doc-content)
If you look at the conversion rules in ABAP the xstring then expects the string to contain only the characters '0-9A-F'. Which your string does not have after calling the FM SCMS_BINARY_TO_STRING.
Thus you have to format your ls_doc-content differently. Basically you need to move the hex characters in your xstring into 'real characters'. Which will expand the string massively.
We solved the problem using the following Form:
form conv_content using value(raw_content) type string
               changing content            type string.
data: lv_char   type c,
        lv_string type string.
field-symbols: type x.
clear content. " init output.
while raw_content is not initial.
    lv_char = raw_content(1).
    assign lv_char to casting.
    lv_string = .
    concatenate content lv_string into content in character mode respecting blanks.
    shift raw_content left.
endwhile.
endform.
Not exactly efficient, but you can call it just as you would call the FM SCMS_BINARY_TO_STRING (except you don't need the filesize). Then the TREX will index your MS-Office documents as long as they are not of type Office 2007 or newer. In that case there is another bug, where the mime_type you pass in the interface is only 50 Chars long - which is too short to fit the full docx mime type for example.
Regards,
Robin

WebDynpro: How to read file content?

Hi,
My business scenario requires:
1, The file name is passed in through inbound plug parameter
2, I need to read the file content and then attach it to my CRM transaction
Please share with me how to read the file content.
The following approaches do not fit my scenario:
1, UI element: FileUpload
The reason is obvious: there is only file name parameter instead of any UI interface
2, Function Module: GUI_UPLOAD
The reason is that dump will happen in WebDynpro environment
Thanks & Best Regards,
David

HI,
Refer these links -
Get content document in WD abap
Excel File to Internal Table

How to search the content in a Table

Hi all,
    How can i search the content in a table. is there any UI Element is there to do this? Can any body give me any sample code for this
regards,
VJR

Hi,
you gotta do that programmatically,
here is a sample code:
int sizeOfstudent = wdContext.nodeCtx_vn_student().size();
//Ctx_vn_student is the node associated with the table ie its dataSource property
String filtername = wdcontext.currentContextElement.getSName();
//sName is the name to be searched , it is a context attribute
          for(int i = sizeOfstudent-1;i>=0;i--)
               String matchValue = recNode.getElementAt(i).getAttributeAsText("Name");
//get the name of 1st record(in table) or 1st elememnt in node, "Name" here is value attribute of that node
//so we are fetching its value and comparing it like..
               if(matchValue.equalsIgnoreCase(filtername))
                    //here you can add the action to be taken on mathing name                }
hope it helps
regards

How to search files on a windows configured external hard disk on macbook air

I am trying to search files on my passport Ultra Western Digital, which is configured for windows and has read only permissions for my macbook air, i am unable to instant search results through finder or spotlight. Is there a way to search them?

Well, to clarify:
I want to find all user text files and mail messages on a Time Machine backup disk that contain the word "escalator".
By user files I mean those in
/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/<username>iMac/*/Macintosh HD/Users
and subdirectories thereof.
I was trying to use the find command, but it was taking a very long time, so I aborted it. I then realized that most of the files have many hard links, and therefore will be searched many times. That, of course, is a great waste.
Is there some way to search each file only once?
Thanks.

How to search file contents in finder?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for