Windows Vista Forums

Search for files with parenthesis in name

  1. #1


    Erik Wikström Guest

    Search for files with parenthesis in name

    How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering
    (2) gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred,
    while there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    escape them but no luck.

    --
    Erik Wikström



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Malke Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    Erik Wikström wrote:
    > How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering
    > (2) gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred,
    > while there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    > parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    > escape them but no luck.
    >
    > --
    > Erik Wikström


    What about enclosing the search in quotes, like "(2)"? Does that work?


    Malke
    --
    Elephant Boy Computers
    www.elephantboycomputers.com
    "Don't Panic!"
    MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Erik Wikström Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    On 2007-02-25 16:09, Malke wrote:
    > Erik Wikström wrote:
    >> How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering
    >> (2) gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred,
    >> while there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    >> parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    >> escape them but no luck.
    >>
    >> --
    >> Erik Wikström

    >
    > What about enclosing the search in quotes, like "(2)"? Does that work?


    Nope

    --
    Erik Wikström

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Bob Hallsworth Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    If there are spaces around those, add them withing the quotes. Works for me!
    " (2) "

    Bob

    "Erik Wikström" <Erik-wikstrom@telia.com> wrote in message
    news:OGUx8fNWHHA.3568@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
    > How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering (2)
    > gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred, while
    > there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    > parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    > escape them but no luck.
    >
    > --
    > Erik Wikström



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Erik Wikström Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    On 2007-02-26 11:52, Bob Hallsworth wrote:
    > "Erik Wikström" <Erik-wikstrom@telia.com> wrote in message
    > news:OGUx8fNWHHA.3568@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
    >> How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering (2)
    >> gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred, while
    >> there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    >> parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    >> escape them but no luck.

    >
    > If there are spaces around those, add them withing the quotes. Works
    > for me!
    > " (2) "


    Nope, no such luck, but for some reason the number of files found was
    about halved.

    --
    Erik Wikström

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Wayne Hertz Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    Use XYplorer (or some other good explorer replacement) for searching and say
    bye-bye to such problems.




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Andrew Leigh Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    It's crazy not to allow people to search for the parentheses. The problem
    arose for me as a result of two failed file transfers. In both cases, the new
    files were renamed with a (1) or (2) suffix. So I have thousands of these
    extraneous files on my computer to get rid of. Or I could clean the hard disk
    and do another file transfer, but it would be far simpler if I could simply
    delete all files with a (1) or (2) suffix.

    Oh, and I just tried installing XYplorer on my computer (solely to deal with
    this issue). The program crashed.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    Keith Miller MVP Guest

    Re: Search for files with parenthesis in name

    Finally found out the way:

    In the Search box, type:

    name:~"*(2)*"

    --
    Good Luck,

    Keith
    Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

    "Erik Wikström" <Erik-wikstrom@telia.com> wrote in message
    news:OGUx8fNWHHA.3568@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
    > How do I search for files who's name contains a parenthesis? Entering (2)
    > gives me all files containing 2 (which are a couple of houndred, while
    > there should only be two or three with (2) in the name) since the
    > parentheses have a special meaning when searching. Ive tried to use \ to
    > escape them but no luck.
    >
    > --
    > Erik Wikström



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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