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Vista - Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

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Old 02-05-2008   #1 (permalink)
Tammy


 
 

Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

Hi,

I'm finding this a little strange...

We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search for
a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found. When I
use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
spelling issue.

Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based on
one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think case
is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
"quiz" or "Quiz."

Thanks for any help with this mystery!

My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-05-2008   #2 (permalink)
john


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another


"Tammy" <Tammy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:EE7DBCAA-6B4E-4820-9AAA-8F08DF97F2C7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm finding this a little strange...
>
> We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search
> for
> a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found.
> When I
> use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
> spelling issue.
>
> Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based
> on
> one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think
> case
> is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
> "quiz" or "Quiz."
>
> Thanks for any help with this mystery!
>
here's your answer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY


My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-05-2008   #3 (permalink)
Jon


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

"john" <john@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:euNhyTEaIHA.4712@xxxxxx
Quote:

>
> here's your answer
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY
>

He forgot the quotes ....

Start >
"windows calendar"
"windows photo"
"windows mail"

Otherwise certain keywords trigger other responses eg calendar for calendar
(.ics) files etc

--
Jon



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-05-2008   #4 (permalink)
Jon


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

"Tammy" <Tammy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:EE7DBCAA-6B4E-4820-9AAA-8F08DF97F2C7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm finding this a little strange...
>
> We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search
> for
> a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found.
> When I
> use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
> spelling issue.
>
> Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based
> on
> one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think
> case
> is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
> "quiz" or "Quiz."
>
> Thanks for any help with this mystery!



Yeah, that is a strange one. Can't reproduce it here.


What's the extension for the file eg .doc. .txt. pdf rtf etc ? Or if you
don't know that one, which application is used to open it? This will affect
the the particular 'IFilter' used by Search to process the file.

Also are there any characters adjacent to the text that is not found, or any
other anomalies like missing spaces (post a portion of text that isn't found
if you like)? For example Jedi wouldn't be found in the first of these
sentences, but should be in the second

I can't find theJedi
The Jedi was very happy when found.

--
Jon



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-05-2008   #5 (permalink)
Dave


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another


"Jon" <Email_Address@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23OQrzvEaIHA.2268@xxxxxx
Quote:

> "john" <john@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:euNhyTEaIHA.4712@xxxxxx
Quote:

>>
>> here's your answer
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY
>>
>
>
> He forgot the quotes ....
>
> Start >
> "windows calendar"
> "windows photo"
> "windows mail"
>
> Otherwise certain keywords trigger other responses eg calendar for
> calendar (.ics) files etc
>
> --
> Jon
>
>
>

Search works just fine even without quotes. This video is a prime example
of what happens when people start messing with their computer settings then
blame the OS for not working right.

It's like changing two sparkplug wires around on your Ford, then saying
"Ford is a piece of crap because the engine doesn't run smooth".

My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-05-2008   #6 (permalink)
Brian Bradley


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

John: On *my* Vista installation, not a single example from the YouTube
video worked the "wrong" way, as shown in the video. (Gee, that sentence was
difficult to construct clearly. Kind of like trying to prove a negative,
with words.) I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the video, and my heart
was pounding as I immediately raced to try to reproduce the issue. My Search
Companion/Vista Search* worked flawlessly on Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1
(RC). (Maybe the SP solved that anomaly, but I sure don't recall seeing
anything quite like that behavior pre-SP1.) Enough about the sidetrack.

Tammy: I could not reproduce the OP's problem finding a document with quiz,
Jedi, and variations of those words contained in the document. The only
thing I can offer is another question to the OP: Did you by chance include
the word q-u-i-z in the filename but not the word j-e-d-i? If so, and if
your index is not set to search by content but only by filename, then
perhaps that's why you're finding the file using q-u-i-z but not j-e-d-i.

*What's its official and/or proper name? Is it "Search Companion?" If not,
what is it? (Same for the "orb" or "Start button." What's its *real* name?)

Brian

"john" <john@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:euNhyTEaIHA.4712@xxxxxx
Quote:

>
> "Tammy" <Tammy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:EE7DBCAA-6B4E-4820-9AAA-8F08DF97F2C7@xxxxxx
Quote:

>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm finding this a little strange...
>>
>> We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search
>> for
>> a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found.
>> When I
>> use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
>> spelling issue.
>>
>> Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based
>> on
>> one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think
>> case
>> is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
>> "quiz" or "Quiz."
>>
>> Thanks for any help with this mystery!
>>
>
> here's your answer
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-06-2008   #7 (permalink)
Jon


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using another

"Dave" <dcox1961@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:er1A6EFaIHA.4284@xxxxxx
Quote:

>
>
> Search works just fine even without quotes. This video is a prime example
> of what happens when people start messing with their computer settings
> then blame the OS for not working right.
>
> It's like changing two sparkplug wires around on your Ford, then saying
> "Ford is a piece of crap because the engine doesn't run smooth".
>

You hit the nail on the head with that one.

This particular "bug" I believe is caused by checking the 'Use Natural
Language Search' option at

(explorer window) > Organize > Folder and Search Options > Search

which allows you enter phrases like

photo taken last week
mail from Bill

etc

but which will also affect the nature of other searches.

To be fair there's not alot of documentation on it (I wish there was more).
My suspicion there is that it's going to feature more heavily in Windows 7
(from the brief snippets I've seen thus far), but it would be good if there
was more information available so that Vista users could also take advantage
of it.


--
Jon



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-06-2008   #8 (permalink)
Tammy


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using anot

Hi Brian,

Thanks so much for your reply. No, the word q-u-i-z is not in the filename.
I tried this search from a home computer and had no problem at all finding
the file using
j-e-d-i or q-u-i-z. The system found the file every time. I realized I was
using the C: drive at home, so thought that maybe this was a network issue,
since the file at the office is stored on a network drive. However, when I
tried to search today using a folder stored on the C: drive, I had the same
problem. Would find the file using
q-u-i-z, but not j-e-d-i.

I think the "official" name for the actual search window is "Search Results
folder." The "orb" is called "The Microsoft Office Button," and the "start
button" is called the "Start button."

Thanks, again for taking the time to respond!

"Brian Bradley" wrote:
Quote:

> John: On *my* Vista installation, not a single example from the YouTube
> video worked the "wrong" way, as shown in the video. (Gee, that sentence was
> difficult to construct clearly. Kind of like trying to prove a negative,
> with words.) I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the video, and my heart
> was pounding as I immediately raced to try to reproduce the issue. My Search
> Companion/Vista Search* worked flawlessly on Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1
> (RC). (Maybe the SP solved that anomaly, but I sure don't recall seeing
> anything quite like that behavior pre-SP1.) Enough about the sidetrack.
>
> Tammy: I could not reproduce the OP's problem finding a document with quiz,
> Jedi, and variations of those words contained in the document. The only
> thing I can offer is another question to the OP: Did you by chance include
> the word q-u-i-z in the filename but not the word j-e-d-i? If so, and if
> your index is not set to search by content but only by filename, then
> perhaps that's why you're finding the file using q-u-i-z but not j-e-d-i.
>
> *What's its official and/or proper name? Is it "Search Companion?" If not,
> what is it? (Same for the "orb" or "Start button." What's its *real* name?)
>
> Brian
>
> "john" <john@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:euNhyTEaIHA.4712@xxxxxx
Quote:

> >
> > "Tammy" <Tammy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:EE7DBCAA-6B4E-4820-9AAA-8F08DF97F2C7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I'm finding this a little strange...
> >>
> >> We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search
> >> for
> >> a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found.
> >> When I
> >> use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
> >> spelling issue.
> >>
> >> Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based
> >> on
> >> one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think
> >> case
> >> is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
> >> "quiz" or "Quiz."
> >>
> >> Thanks for any help with this mystery!
> >>
> >
> > here's your answer
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY
> >
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-06-2008   #9 (permalink)
Tammy


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using anot

Hi John,

Thanks for posting the link. When I saw the subject, though, I did think it
was just going to be another "Bash Vista and I hate Microsoft" type thing and
actually closed it without playing the video. After reading a couple more
posts, I went back to it and watched. It was pretty interesting, and made me
immediately try some more experimenting. However, i did not run into the same
issues that you did using the search field in the Start menu. I tried
removing a character from the search field in the Search Results window, but
had the same problem. Can't find the file based on that word, but will find
it using other words!

Thanks for answering my post!

"john" wrote:
Quote:

>
> "Tammy" <Tammy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:EE7DBCAA-6B4E-4820-9AAA-8F08DF97F2C7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm finding this a little strange...
> >
> > We use Vista, love it, but found something strange when trying to search
> > for
> > a file. When we type a specific word ("Jedi") - the file is not found.
> > When I
> > use another word from the document ("quiz") the file is found. It's not a
> > spelling issue.
> >
> > Does anyone have any idea why the system would return a found file based
> > on
> > one word, but not another? The words are in the same file. I don't think
> > case
> > is an issue because the file was found regardless of whether we spelled
> > "quiz" or "Quiz."
> >
> > Thanks for any help with this mystery!
> >
>
> here's your answer
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrH-7GPGWY
>
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 02-06-2008   #10 (permalink)
Tammy


 
 

Re: Search not finding file using 1 word, but will find using anot

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the suggestion on checking the "Use Natural Language Search"
option. I double checked it, and the option is not checked....onto your next
post....

"Jon" wrote:
Quote:

> "Dave" <dcox1961@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:er1A6EFaIHA.4284@xxxxxx
Quote:

> >
> >
> > Search works just fine even without quotes. This video is a prime example
> > of what happens when people start messing with their computer settings
> > then blame the OS for not working right.
> >
> > It's like changing two sparkplug wires around on your Ford, then saying
> > "Ford is a piece of crap because the engine doesn't run smooth".
> >
>
>
> You hit the nail on the head with that one.
>
> This particular "bug" I believe is caused by checking the 'Use Natural
> Language Search' option at
>
> (explorer window) > Organize > Folder and Search Options > Search
>
> which allows you enter phrases like
>
> photo taken last week
> mail from Bill
>
> etc
>
> but which will also affect the nature of other searches.
>
> To be fair there's not alot of documentation on it (I wish there was more).
> My suspicion there is that it's going to feature more heavily in Windows 7
> (from the brief snippets I've seen thus far), but it would be good if there
> was more information available so that Vista users could also take advantage
> of it.
>
>
> --
> Jon
>
>
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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