What is the syntax of Windows 7 file search (wildcards, logical signs...) ?__

Anonymous
2009-11-16T14:40:26+00:00

Hello,

I am looking for it everywhere but I can't find it.

When in Windows search and you are looking for a file, you can type in *.txt to look for a '.txt' file.

But it seems that the syntax of file name to look seems more complex that it looks first.

For instance, the quote character (") and the equal sign (=) seem to have there own significance.

And I think I have heard that it was possible to use 'not' and 'and ' signs.

Please, where can I find the complete syntax of the search paterns?

Thank you a lot

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-12-13T14:15:51+00:00

    Thanks Nikki605

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-13T13:09:52+00:00

    I didn't look at the original link so I'm not sure what was contained there.  I did find this link which has some good information under the Advanced Tips link near the bottom of the page.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/windows-search

    See if that helps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-13T12:27:17+00:00

    Unfortunately this link now displays a commercial for Win 8.  Is MS admitting that win 7 search is useless?  Anyone have an alternative way to find the original material?

    Follow this link:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx

    This should be included in Help and Support.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-10-29T16:28:37+00:00

    The unbelievable worthlessness of Windows 7 file search is astounding. I can not think of a better example to show how out of touch Microsoft is with computer users. Windows XP file search worked just fine. Now if you want to find a file and you do not know the exact file name or location --- you actually have to learn a special search syntax!!! If people are going to have to start learning things like this to do something as SIMPLE AS SEARCHING FILES - there is no reason at all they should not just use something like Linux or FreeBSD.

    Riiiight... grep is so much easier to use than just typing some stuff in a box.

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