Solved Windos Explorer SEARCH - strange behaviour

powerdrome

New Member
Messages
22
Hi all,
i just read some tutorials on the search function:
Windows Search - Configure and Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21310-search-find-more-filters-operators.html

because, even if i extensively used it and quite master it i thought i am missing something,
the new windows 8.1 windows serach is giving me strange results, or no results sometimes.

This is the example: in a directory i have severl video (mp4) file that are numbered like gopr00xx.mp4
I tried a search with two numbers (eg.69) it finds nothing, the file gopr0069.mp4 is there but it cannot ind it.
I tried with system.filename:~=69, and it found it

How couldit be? Why it doesn't find a file with a simple partial part of the file name?

It seems that it doesn't find partial matches and here:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4595-search-windows-8-a.html
brink suggest to set the folder options, but i don't have the partial matche s box

Thanks for your help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 / 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus N550JV
I'm not an expert for this problem but try to look for 69 with the asterisk in front of the number like this *69 or even like this *69.* Will it find something ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Mac OS X
I'm not an expert for this problem but try to look for 69 with the asterisk in front of the number like this *69 or even like this *69.* Will it find something ?

Yes! Thanks... i feel... dummy.
I knew about jolly carachters like *, but i thought the search box just instructs explorer to find the searched terms in anyplace in the filename, that is NOT.

What i undesrtood, if it is of any help:
it finds the search term if it is in the beginning of the filename, if the search term is in the middle we have to add *.
eg: searching for eightforums.doc
if i search for eight, it finds the file
if i search for forums, i have t serach for *forum

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 / 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus N550JV
This is the example: in a directory i have severl video (mp4) file that are numbered like gopr00xx.mp4
I tried a search with two numbers (eg.69) it finds nothing, the file gopr0069.mp4 is there but it cannot ind it.
I tried with system.filename:~=69, and it found it

I have noticed something similar when searching very short strings. For instance when searching with simple 05 in a photo folder where all filenames are dates, it returns not only the files I was searching (taken 05, May) but also all files where the number 5 without leading zero appears in the filename.

The solution is simple and you seem to have already at least partially found it, using the tilde character (~):
  • Tilde + < (~<) = exact match at the beginning of the filename
  • Tilde + > (~>) = exact match at the end of the filename
  • Tilde + = (~=) = exact match anywhere in the filename
  • Tilde + ! (~!) = excluding search, returns all files except those where the string 69 appears anywhere in the filename
You also need to use a search filter filename: or shortly name: in your search. Examples:
  • name:~<69
    • Returns all files where the string 69 appears at the very beginning of the filename
  • name:~>69
    • Returns all files where the string 69 appears at the very end of the filename
  • name:~=69
    • Returns all files where the string 69 appears anywhere in the filename
  • name:~!69
    • Returns all files except those where the string 69 appears anywhere in the filename
Notice that when the filter is a compound consisting of two words you do not need to use complete filter name but can instead leave the first word of the compound out, as well as you can leave the leading "system" always out. Some examples:
  • Instead of system.filename: you can use filter name:
  • Instead of system.datemodified: you can use modified:
  • Instead of system.datecreated: you can use created:
Kari
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 17-1150eg
    CPU
    1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
    Cooling
    As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
    Keyboard
    Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    50 MB VDSL
    Browser
    Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
    Other Info
    Windows in English, additional user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish.
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