Vista Search: Finding Terms in HTML and XML Files

Hi everyone,

I wanted to find a paritclar .xsl file (from within a group of other .xsl
files in an unindexed location) that I know has a particular text value, so I
pressed Windows Key+E, browsed to the folder that contains the file, and
ensured that the following Index Options were enabled: "Always search file
names and contents"; "Include subfolders when typing..."; "Find partial
matches". (I even tried checking "Don't use the Index when searching" once
or twice). But it just doesn't work.

When I searched for, "namespace" it found the file I was looking for, but I
really wanted to search for, "namespaceNameHeader", however, Vista's search
does not find the file then. "namespaceNameHeader" actually appears inside
of an attribute: item="namespaceNameHeader"/> and I know it's actually there
because I'm looking at it right now

I did some research and discovered that there is a File Types tab in the
advanced Index Options (Control Panel) screen. XSL in the Extension column
was checked, but neither of the two radio buttons below were checked (e.g.,
Index Properties Only & Index Properties and File Contents), so I checked
"Index Properties and File Contents" and the value in the Filter Description
column changed to, "XML Filter". I rebuilt the index, although it doens't
matter because I'm searching in an unindexed location anyway.

I waited for a bit and then tried again - Vista still did not find the file.

Just to be clear, here's the exact order of steps that I took to prove to
myself that the file should be found, but isn't:

1. I searched for the term, namespace - found a few XSL files and one XML
file.
2. I see the file that I'm looking for.
3. Open the file in notepad.
3. Search in notepad using Ctrl+F for, namespaceNameHeader - and it's found.
4. Back in Explorer I complete the search term (i.e., I type in, NameHeader).
5. The search results are cleared, including the file that I expect to be
found.

So my question is, do the HTML filter and XML filters search for all textual
content in a file or just inner XML/HTML text (i.e., only the stuff between
markup)? This is not acceptable for me since I'm a developer and would like
the search to find everything these types of documents. Is there any way I
can change the filter for these file types to use a text-only search? Will
that even help at all?

RANT: I've never really had a decent experience yet with Vista's search. On
several occasions I've searched for text in files that I _know_ exist, yet it
doesn't find anything, as is the case here. At first I just assumed that it
was me and Vista was right - the file doesn't actually exist - but then I
smartened up and realized that the search just isn't reliable at all. Until
now I've just used alternate means to find files but I'm fed up with that and
I would just like Vista's search to work! I don't care if I have to
manipulate the registry or whatever - I just want to be able to search for
text files, something that I _never_ had a problem with on XP, even without
an index.

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog

"Dave Sexton" <dave@xxxxxx_remove_this_sexton.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:7CDA0EDA-F7B8-4C78-B989-0FB6E258BB1C@xxxxxx It's remarkable how many users express frustration with Vista's new search.
My advice is to check out an alternative file manager. XYplorer's search
(not index based) works as you know it from XP.
See http://www.xyplorer.com/product.htm#8

30-day free trial, portable (no install, just copy and run!). Download
no-install archive
(http://www.xyplorer.com/download/xyp..._noinstall.zip), extract
application, run application, run a search -- it will take you less than 45
seconds.

http://www.xyplorer.com

Don

Thanks Don, but as I stated I'm looking for help with the built-in Vista
search. I don't care if I have to manipulate the registry, files, etc., I
just want it to work the way I expect it to, or at least I want to know if it
_can_ or if I'm just doing something wrong.

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog


"Donald Lessau" wrote:

I'm with you Dave !! And personally I think Vista Search is buggy - it's not
just us that seem to be having issues with it -

"Dave Sexton" wrote: