02-27-2008
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#5 (permalink)
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Re: Microsoft: Please fix Vista's flawed search or give rights to
I just tried your experiment on my Vista Home Premium and it found all three
files.
--
Paul
"Celegans" wrote: Quote:
> "John Barnes" <jbarnes@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:etlCKFXeIHA.1824@xxxxxx Quote:
> > Leave the * out of your argument Used advanced and include non indexed
> > items
>
> Sorry, but the "*" is irrelevant to my argument. And, checking or
> unchecking "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)"
> doesn't change anything.
>
> When searching, Vista only reads certain file extensions -- whether or not
> indexing is being used.
>
> Once you figure out that Vista is not searching a particular file extension
> of interest, the user must figure out how to add a "filter" so Vista
> understands that extension. I'm not sure where the instructions are for
> adding a new filter, but I would need to add dozens and dozens of new
> filters so Vista would understand my files. That is not practical.
>
> Figuring out that Vista is ignoring particular extensions can take quite a
> bit of detective time -- I spent weeks when I was new to Vista trying to use
> search before I concluded Vista's search was flawed. Most people just won't
> know that Vista isn't returning all the hits.
>
> I have told Microsoft developers about scientific data that uses the same
> extensions two different ways, and there are two versions of those two
> different ways. Writing a "filter" so Vista can search that file extension
> with four variants would be futile. Why not provide a way to search all
> files when needed, regardless of whether they are indexed, and regardless of
> their file extensions? Windows 95 could do that, why can't Vista?
>
> Run a controlled experiment yourself of Vista's flawed search:
>
> Create a new directory, say "TestSearch".
> Create a file, say "test.txt" that has the word "Vista" in the file.
> Copy test.txt and rename it to be "test.R".
> Copy test.txt and rename it to be "test.pas".
> The files "test.txt", "test.R" and "test.pas" are now identical.
>
> From Windows Explorer, right click on the TestSearch directory and select
> "Search...".
> Enter "Vista" in the search box.
> Vista finds only the "test.txt" file.
>
> Select Advanced Search.
> Check the "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)".
> Press the search button.
> Vista still finds ONLY the test.txt file. The files test.R and test.pas are
> invisible to Vista's search.
>
> I would welcome any configuration ideas on how to get Vista to search and
> find the files, test.R or test.pas, in the above controlled experiment. I
> have turned indexing on, indexing off. I have re-indexed my whole machine.
> Nothing seems to work, and I've only been looking for a solution since July
> 2007.
>
> If you program in R (.R files) (http://www.r-project.org/), Vista is
> worthless for finding old code snippets. If you code in Delphi (.pas
> files), Vista is worthless in finding old code snippets. There are many
> files that Vista simply ignores. My guess is that Vista refuses to search
> about 15-20% of files important to me.
>
> All I'm asking for is the capability that was in Windows Explorer since
> Windows 95. Why is this too much to expect from Vista or Microsoft?
>
> And if there is no way to do the file search that was available in Windows
> 95, why doesn't Microsoft give me permission to downgrade from Vista
> Ultimate to Windows XP so I can get a search that works?
>
> C.E.
>
>
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