Comments

1. slimscraggle

   
   Posted on: July 29, 2007 at 1:44PM  

   well, mysteriously, I can now find files with names like "10-med" by searching for "med" but I still can't find files files like "TheMillerGirl" when putting a search in for Miller.  Also even though I can get a results for "med" if I try and do a select all (Ctrl+a) and then delete it doesn't work.  I have no problems doing this in XP.  Are there any solutions to these problems?  Is there any way to switch between the vista style search and the classic XP style search?
2. jhester

   
   Posted on: July 30, 2007 at 8:29AM  

   Although I think someone has already asked this, I don't see an answer.  I cannot figure out how to search for all Word documents that contain a specific word in the contents of the documents.  I have tried typing the word in the search box, but that absolutely does not work for me.  That is, even when I type a word that is in a document that I just saved: no results.  I find it frustrating that the advanced search has no field for this even though XP did.  Very maddening.
3. Nick White

   
   Posted on: August 06, 2007 at 6:02PM  

   Sorry for the delay in the response, slmscraggle and jhester, but we've been checking with the people on the Windows Search team.  I just got this response.  Please see if it helps - WRT the syntax:

   type:document  is a little ambiguous, since it will return “Adobe Acrobat Document”, “XML Document”, “XPS Document”, etc.  in addition to “Microsoft Office Word Document”

   The following would be more precise:

   ext:doc miller     (note that since we auto prefix match, ext:doc will also match on ext:docx)

   *.doc miller

   type:word miller   (this is still ambiguous, but less so.  since, this will also match on “WordPerfect Document” as well)

   type:”word document” miller

   Although we used slimscraggle's search term, it should work with any other one as well.
4. Sunflower34

   
   Posted on: August 15, 2007 at 11:41AM  

   I'm still searching for a way to get Windows Vista search to work.  One the fixes for the flawed Windows XP search (from

   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309173/en-us) was to set the FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions DWORD value to 1 in the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlContentIndex

   Why doesn't this work in Windows Vista?
5. Nick White

   
   Posted on: August 17, 2007 at 12:43PM  

   Hey Sunflower34:  let me address your questions individually, as it seems there is misunderstanding about the use and functional extent of Desktop Search in Windows Vista.

   - white space in Start search dialogue

   Windows Vista search does differ from Windows XP because there is white space in the Start search experience that serves no purpose -- I'll grant you that.  But, being able to find your files in under 2 seconds far outweighs the annoyance of that white space.  In any case, that white space is instantly filled with results, much faster than competitors' products can return data.  But, know that we’re always looking for user experience feedback and that this is something that we’ll be addressing in future development, despite the fact that I'll assert that it doesn’t truly detract from the usability of search within our product.

   - strings as part of a filename file and user span of control

   Our search function searches both the contents of a file and its filename; in most cases, this yields exactly what the user is looking for, and right away.  In some cases a user will want to search for a string in a filename *or* within a doc, and we have provided the ability to do this.  One option is to bring up the Advanced Search pane.  Alternatively, you can learn some of the quick query syntax (like 'name:foo') to help narrow down the search.  In the vast majority of cases, people just want to find their files and don’t want to have to think about whether or not a string is in the filename or within a doc.  They just want to find their document quickly and efficiently.  We are optimizing for that case, rather than presenting the user with a smattering of options before they see the search results.

   In this way, we do not take the control away from the user, but instead we are clearing up the user experience so that every user isn’t presented with a myriad of choices every time they want to find a simple document or email.

   - search for file with 'path' in doc contents

   Here’s one way to resolve your search:

   1) Go to Computer, CD Drive, and open the CD in Explorer view

   2) Type: 'path' into the Instant Search field

   3) Use the Type column control to check '.bat' file type

   If you perform this specific search often -- or even if you want to have a slightly more specific search saved, that you can then progressively filter after executing the initial search --, I'd save the search as a Search Folder and get the habit of executing searches from there to save time.

   - searching for file 'test.R' containing word 'special'

   Window Vista’s search, like any desktop search, can only "crack open" document types for which is has an Ifilter.  .txt has a built in iFilter; have you tried installing an iFilter for .dat and .r files (likely sourced from a third party in the latter case)?

   In the case that there are no 3rd-party filters for these extensions, you can use the text filter, which can be set using the Indexing Options Control Panel | Advanced | .dat (Index Properties and File Contents).  If an extension is not in that list, you can add it via the same dialogue box.

   Hope this helps you in your searching as well as clarifying the extent of the search functionality in Windows Vista.  If you have further questions, I'd suggest taking them offline by sending us an email.
6. Sunflower34

   
   Posted on: August 20, 2007 at 3:04PM  

   It's so frustrating dealing with Microsoft.

   From your response it seems that Microsoft does not care that they are taking away a needed capability for use with scientific files, and that a third party search tool is my only hope to search my files. For now, I'll run Windows 2000 on a VMWare box to be able to find files that Vista cannot find -- what an incredible, unnecessary pain because of a flawed Vista design.  I don't need this search feature every day, but now I cannot run it at all with Vista.

   I'll eventually have to pay the $100 or so for a 3rd party search tool since Windows Vista Ultimate is not very "Ultimate." The "Simple Search Scanner" will cost me about $100 -- http://www.kryltech.com/scanner.htm. You guys refuse to even let Windows Explorer for Windows 2000 work under Vista.  This wasn't a technical decision, rather a marketing stiff arm, because you are taking choices/capabilities away from customers needlessly.

   I am tired of paying Microsoft for screwing up things that worked as an excuse to take more of my money. The few improvements in Vista that I like are more than offset by the grief and lost productivity that Vista/Office 2007 provides.  

   Did your software engineers learn this in school?  "Premature optimization is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming."  Donald Knuth

   Microsoft optimized search so much, that it sometimes doesn't work -- but you're blind to that reality.  Why am I paying money for a defective Vista Ultimate earch, so Microsoft can try to compete with Google?  The benefits of a fast indexed search are lost on me when I cannot find simple files that I know exist on my PC. Google is never going to index the files on my machine, and Microsoft isn't going to index most of them either.  I still need to occasionally search some of these files that are not indexed, however. You could give your customers either search option as needed, but in a condescending way, you've taken away the options I need.

   Linux and OpenOffice look better everyday especially when one is not respected as a paying customer.  
7. jhester

   
   Posted on: August 21, 2007 at 8:46AM  

   Thanks Nick for the syntax for searches.  That helped some, but I am still experiencing recently saved *.doc files that are not showing up.  They are saved to a flash drive that remains connected, but still no show.
8. bpfh

   
   Posted on: August 22, 2007 at 4:26PM  

   I completly agree with you sunflower34.

   2000 and XP allowed the user to display a plain or advanced search once and for all, now you have to play with the search each and every time...

   Be default, you are only allowed to see what Microsoft wants you to see (by directory and extension filtering).

   I do not want a Google or MS index based search system, I want the good old search facility that worked so well from Windows 98 to XP.

   I have PHP files from a customer: I have to play with search just to find them... and it is impossible "out of the box" to search for a function defined in an include file... This is making me waste - literally - hours. 6 to be precise, and MS is not going to reimburse me $300 (and counting) in lost productivity.

   Is there a way to delete this search system?

   Is there a way to install a plain and simple search system that is not a ressource hog, like the search system in XP?

   Is there a way of removing this search other than reinstalling XP?
9. Nick White

   
   Posted on: August 22, 2007 at 9:24PM  

   Hey bpfh:  Sorry to hear of your toubles, but I'm nevertheless convinced that you can consistently find the search results you need using the search function built into Windows Vista.  It may be worth your time to familiarize yourself with the nuances of search syntax (see above), optimizing the Indexer (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/68dd14f2-a9cb-4134-a076-b8abb011a1f61033.mspx), and the use of Search Folders (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/50fdc72f-3274-4a53-ad84-c82c71a320cf1033.mspx) to shorten the time it takes to conduct routine searches.

   FWIW, it's currently not possible to turn off the search indexer in Windows Vista:  http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/58bc79b0-6b79-411d-9e95-629e9904f0581033.mspx.  

   I hope this information helps.
10. Sunflower34

    
    Posted on: August 24, 2007 at 11:54AM  

    Nick,

    Please listen.

    You and Microsoft are forgetting who the customer is.  Your attitude is arrogant and condescending.  We know exactly what we need to do and Microsoft is not helping and needlessly making an easy task difficult – actually impossible without a 3rd party tool now in Vista.  

    I'm not sure why anyone should trust the new Vista search since it cannot find all the "hits" by design.  You won't give users the option to do a search that is 100% correct and 100% complete.  But your flawed solution is fast, which apparently is the only thing that is important.

    Give us a choice, and give us a choice that works. Don't force a flawed "improvement" as the only way.  Use a carrot (something that works and works well) instead of a stick (do it our way because we know better than you).  

    Why does Microsoft refuse to listen and give us a quick solution?  Just let us run Windows Explorer from Windows 2000 in Vista.  Why do you refuse to provide that solution?  It's not impossible technically (at least with some trivial changes).  Microsoft freely chooses to take away the search ability from paying customers that has worked since Windows 95.  Why is Microsoft forcing us to look for some other solution that works in Vista instead of listening and addressing the real problem?