Windows Vista Forums

Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

  1. #1


    Brad Guest

    Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    I've found that I can't search for a string inside a file using quotes
    and get an accurate result. The search will find all words, even
    though MS documentation indicates that searching in quotes will give
    exact phrase.
    anyone find this and fix it?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Retroman Guest

    Re: Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:37:37 -0700, Brad <Brad@newsgroup> wrote:

    >I've found that I can't search for a string inside a file using quotes
    >and get an accurate result. The search will find all words, even
    >though MS documentation indicates that searching in quotes will give
    >exact phrase.
    >anyone find this and fix it?
    Hello Brad,

    Exact phrase searches work fine for me. What are are your settings in the
    Search tab of the Folder Options dialog? I have these two options
    disabled: "find partial matches" and "use natural language searching".

    Doug M. in NJ

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Brad Guest

    Re: Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    Doug, I also have those two settings disabled.

    This is the test I'm doing
    Create three .txt files, called test1, test2 and test3

    In each, type one of the following phrases

    you are here
    here you are
    are you here

    Now search that directory for "are you here" inside files

    I return all three files.

    Always search fle names and contents (might be slow) = Enabled
    Include subfolders when typing in the search box = Enabled

    Everything else is unchecked.

    I did just find an option in the Indexing box to index properties and
    contents, but I have to rebuild index. I'll retest




    On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:22:25 -0400, Retroman <non@newsgroup> wrote:

    >On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:37:37 -0700, Brad <Brad@newsgroup> wrote:
    >

    >>I've found that I can't search for a string inside a file using quotes
    >>and get an accurate result. The search will find all words, even
    >>though MS documentation indicates that searching in quotes will give
    >>exact phrase.
    >>anyone find this and fix it?
    >
    >Hello Brad,
    >
    >Exact phrase searches work fine for me. What are are your settings in the
    >Search tab of the Folder Options dialog? I have these two options
    >disabled: "find partial matches" and "use natural language searching".
    >
    >Doug M. in NJ

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Retroman Guest

    Re: Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:42:29 -0700, Brad <Brad@newsgroup> wrote:

    >Doug, I also have those two settings disabled.
    >
    >This is the test I'm doing
    > Create three .txt files, called test1, test2 and test3
    >
    >In each, type one of the following phrases
    >
    >you are here
    >here you are
    >are you here
    >
    >Now search that directory for "are you here" inside files
    >
    >I return all three files.
    >
    >Always search fle names and contents (might be slow) = Enabled
    >Include subfolders when typing in the search box = Enabled
    >
    >Everything else is unchecked.
    >
    >I did just find an option in the Indexing box to index properties and
    >contents, but I have to rebuild index. I'll retest
    >
    Brad, the type of query you describe works as it should here. I did a
    similar test before I replied to your first post, just to confirm my
    recollection. I took a short phrase that I knew existed in many files but
    I changed the word order. The twisted phrase was not found.
    This was a search of files indexed for content.

    Keep in mind that when you create files for testing, it may be awhile
    before the indexer gets to them. I tested with old files that I knew had
    been indexed, and I did my test from Windows Explorer.

    Doug M. in NJ

    >On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:22:25 -0400, Retroman <non@newsgroup> wrote:
    >

    >>On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:37:37 -0700, Brad <Brad@newsgroup> wrote:
    >>

    >>>I've found that I can't search for a string inside a file using quotes
    >>>and get an accurate result. The search will find all words, even
    >>>though MS documentation indicates that searching in quotes will give
    >>>exact phrase.
    >>>anyone find this and fix it?
    >>
    >>Hello Brad,
    >>
    >>Exact phrase searches work fine for me. What are are your settings in the
    >>Search tab of the Folder Options dialog? I have these two options
    >>disabled: "find partial matches" and "use natural language searching".
    >>
    >>Doug M. in NJ

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Brad Guest

    Re: Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    Doug, interesting behaviour. I used the add-in to search LAN drives,
    and have set my home drive as an indexed location. I left it, and let
    it re-index.
    Now, I initiate a search from Windows Explorer, and I return all three
    test files containing the words
    However, when I search from the Start menu, I immediately return the
    correct file.
    So, it appears to me that in my environment, the Explorer search box
    is using seach companion, and the Start search is using WDS.
    Someone in the office indicated that they read about this behaviour in
    some Windows Secrets book.
    So your results only work for me from Start, not Explorer.

    Now if only I could move the index file to a network share...



    >>
    >Brad, the type of query you describe works as it should here. I did a
    >similar test before I replied to your first post, just to confirm my
    >recollection. I took a short phrase that I knew existed in many files but
    >I changed the word order. The twisted phrase was not found.
    >This was a search of files indexed for content.
    >
    >Keep in mind that when you create files for testing, it may be awhile
    >before the indexer gets to them. I tested with old files that I knew had
    >been indexed, and I did my test from Windows Explorer.
    >
    >Doug M. in NJ
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Retroman Guest

    Re: Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

    On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:47:16 -0700, Brad <Brad@newsgroup> wrote:

    >Doug, interesting behaviour. I used the add-in to search LAN drives,
    >and have set my home drive as an indexed location. I left it, and let
    >it re-index.
    >Now, I initiate a search from Windows Explorer, and I return all three
    >test files containing the words
    >However, when I search from the Start menu, I immediately return the
    >correct file.
    >So, it appears to me that in my environment, the Explorer search box
    >is using seach companion, and the Start search is using WDS.
    >Someone in the office indicated that they read about this behaviour in
    >some Windows Secrets book.
    >So your results only work for me from Start, not Explorer.
    >
    >Now if only I could move the index file to a network share...
    >
    Brad,
    Although I understand that it is possible to use search companion on
    Vista, you (or someone) had to hack the registry to do it. It is not
    available otherwise. Unfortunately, I can't advise you on how to remove
    it, although it certainly sounds like you should.

    As for using WDS to search LAN drives, that is a subject that I have not
    looked into at all. Good luck!

    Doug M. in NJ

    >>Brad, the type of query you describe works as it should here. I did a
    >>similar test before I replied to your first post, just to confirm my
    >>recollection. I took a short phrase that I knew existed in many files but
    >>I changed the word order. The twisted phrase was not found.
    >>This was a search of files indexed for content.
    >>
    >>Keep in mind that when you create files for testing, it may be awhile
    >>before the indexer gets to them. I tested with old files that I knew had
    >>been indexed, and I did my test from Windows Explorer.
    >>
    >>Doug M. in NJ
    >>

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

Can't search for "exact phrase" with Desktop Search 4.0

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