It seems the properties on at least some external USB hard disks are not indexed

[Biff]

It seems the properties on at least some external USB hard disks are not indexed. Is there a way to let Everything index them automatically?

How can I show greyed out offline and / or catalog items in black or another color?

[void]

Organizing indexed properties is on my TODO list.

I'll look into adding a command to reindex properties.

For now, please reindex your volume:

• In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
  /reindex e:
  where e: is the external USB drive to reindex.

How can I show greyed out offline and / or catalog items in black or another color?

Everything currently only shows offline files/folders with a slight transparency.
This can be customized with offline_alpha

I will consider the option to customize the colors of offline files/folders.
Thank you for the suggestion.

[Biff]

Organizing indexed properties is on my TODO list.

That sounds very good. What does organizing mean here?

I'll look into adding a command to reindex properties.

So an option to do that manually each time again?

So they are not indexed automatically? Like files / folders are? One had to (re)index the properties manually always? If so, why is it like that?

For now, please reindex your volume:

In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
/reindex e:
where e: is the external USB drive to reindex.

Many thanks! So you have to do it every time new files / folders are added / moved / copied (for online / offline drives)?

Everything currently only shows offline files/folders with a slight transparency.
This can be customized with offline_alpha

Thank you. But how can I show them black instead of grey? And what transparency? There does not seem to be any here.
Sorry, cannot get it to work. I have to enter
offline_alpha=230
or
default: offline_alpha=230
or
default:offline_alpha=230
or so in the search field and press ENTER?

I will consider the option to customize the colors of offline files/folders.

Great, thank you very much!

[void]

That sounds very good. What does organizing mean here?

Rescan properties and set custom values.
Show all property values.

I'll look into adding a command to reindex properties.

So an option to do that manually each time again?

Yes, an option to manually force a rescan of indexed properties.

So they are not indexed automatically? Like files / folders are? One had to (re)index the properties manually always? If so, why is it like that?

Properties are automatically indexed.
You should never have to rescan properties.

So you have to do it every time new files / folders are added / moved / copied (for online / offline drives)?

Everything will rescan properties for moved, copied, renamed or modified files.
You should never have to rescan properties for online files.


Everything will treat the property as empty for files that are offline.
Everything will not regather properties for files that come online.

You will need to rescan properties in this case.
(when the volume is offline during the initial property index)

But how can I show them black instead of grey? And what transparency? There does not seem to be any here.

There's no color customization for offline files yet.

You can set the text transparency of offline files with the offline_alpha ini setting.

The default value is: 160
(the text will appear slightly washed out)

To make this more noticeable, please try the value of: 128

Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/offline_alpha=128
Press ENTER in your Everything search box.
If successful, offline_alpha=128 is shown in the status bar for a few seconds.

[Biff]

Thank you very much!

Sorry for my bad underständing. But how could I achieve that Everything automatically indexes the properties for drives that are plugged in the first time after setting the / new properties? So I add properties to be indexed, plug in a drive (of whom Everything already had indexed the files / folders before and Everything now automatically indexes the (properties of the) items)? Said in other words: how could I achieve that Everythings (re)indexes properties the same way like it does with files / folders (when a drive is plugged in it (re)indexes the filders / folders automatically)?

So transparancy and greyed out are the same here? There is only one function (/offline_alpha) that changes the view of offline items?

[void]

how could I achieve that Everything automatically indexes the properties for drives that are plugged in the first time after setting the / new properties?

Everything should automatically index the specified properties for "brand new" volumes.


It is possible you had the volume in your index some time ago, have since removed the volume, added the property to your index and then re-inserted your volume.
(edit: reading your whole post, this looks like it was the issue)

Everything will think it has already gathered the properties for this volume.
Unfortunately, the volume was offline when you added the property to your index.

Perhaps, in the future, when changing your indexed properties, remove all your offline volumes under Tools -> Options -> FAT/NTFS/ReFS.

I will look into improving the gathering of properties for offline volumes.



If you would like to avoid removing the offline volumes from your index, you'll need to rescan them once they are online again to pickup any changes to your indexed properties:

In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
/reindex e:
where e: is the external USB drive to reindex.

So transparancy and greyed out are the same here? There is only one function (/offline_alpha) that changes the view of offline items?

Transparancy and greyed out are different in Everything.
The offline items are only made transparancy, you can still interact with offline items. (eg: copy full path, if you attempt to open/rename it will fail)

There is only one ini setting (offline_alpha) to control the displaying of offline files at this stage.

[Biff]

Sorry, I meant this:

But how could I achieve that Everything automatically indexes the properties for all / old / new drives that are plugged in the first time after setting the / new properties?

Perhaps, in the future, when changing your indexed properties, remove all your offline volumes under Tools -> Options -> FAT/NTFS/ReFS.

But wouldn't it be extremely uncomfortable to do that every time for each drive? Or am I missing anything or understanding totally wrong? So when a drive is plugged in Everything scans that drive for (new) items (folders, files), each time a drive is plugged in again. So when a drive is plugged in Everything also scans the (new) properties of the new items (folders, files), doesn't it? And it indexes properties set while a drive was offline, doesn't it?

If you would like to avoid removing the offline volumes from your index

Offline volumes are NEVER removed from the index here, that option is deactivated.

What is the transparancy used for?

[void]

But how could I achieve that Everything automatically indexes the properties for all / old / new drives that are plugged in the first time after setting the / new properties?

Can't be done.
Everything can only index the properties when the volume is online.
If the volume is offline when you add the property to your index, the property value for all files on the offline volume will be empty.

You'll need to make sure all your volumes are online when changing your indexed properties.


Once Everything has indexed the properties for your online volumes, then you can remove the volume, make changes externally and then re-insert the volume.
Everything will rescan the properties for the new files in this case.

Perhaps, in the future, when changing your indexed properties, remove all your offline volumes under Tools -> Options -> FAT/NTFS/ReFS.

But wouldn't it be extremely uncomfortable to do that every time for each drive?

Yes, it is not very user friendly.
It only needs to be done once for each volume when the volume was offline during the property scan.
Once Everything has done a complete property scan of the online volume you'll never have to do it again.
Everything is currently designed to index properties when all your drives are online.

So when a drive is plugged in Everything scans that drive for (new) items (folders, files), each time a drive is plugged in again. So when a drive is plugged in Everything also scans the (new) properties of the new items (folders, files), doesn't it? And it indexes properties set while a drive was offline, doesn't it?

Once Everything has the initial property scan of the drive, you can remove the device, make external changes, re-insert the device, Everything will then rescan the properties for all the new files.

What is the transparancy used for?

To make offline files appear slight see through (ghosted).

Offline transparency example:

H:\offline.txt is offline (the H: drive is not plugged in).

[Biff]

Everything can only index the properties when the volume is online.

Yes, I know, of course. That is what I want. How else could it be possible? Sorry for my bad understanding / expressioning. I mean that: I set properties in Everything, here:



And at some point I connect my old drives or / and new ones. And then Everything indexes new files and folders? Correct? And it also indexes the properties of the items it had not indexed before? Correct?

If the volume is offline when you add the property to your index, the property value for all files on the offline volume will be empty.

Yes yes, of course, because the drive is not connected. How else could it be? Or what is the property value? The property in Everything on that tab? Or a value on the offline drives? So that property value would be added when the offline drive gets online (again), I assume. Correct?

You'll need to make sure all your volumes are online when changing your indexed properties.

That wouldn't be possible even if I wanted to. Wouldn't be feasible in practice at all. So each time I wanted to change (not add?) a property ALL of the drives / USB Sticks, etc. had to be online otherwise the property / properties NEVER would be indexed (again)? I assume, that would make any sense, so I guess I am missing anything, but what? Sorry, for my bad understanding.

Once Everything has indexed the properties for your online volumes, then you can remove the volume, make changes externally and readd them.
Everything will rescan the properties for the new files in this case.

Yes, and the properties of all the other drives, I guess.

Everything is currently designed to index properties when all your drives are online.

Yes, yes, of course. So files / folders / properties cannot be indexed when a drive is offline. That's my understanding too. Absolutely. How else could it be.

Ah, OK, grey is for catalog items, transparent for offline items. Many thanks!

[void]

And at some point I connect my old drives or / and new ones. And then Everything indexes new files and folders? Correct? And it also indexes the properties of the items it had not indexed before? Correct?

If Everything has not seen this inserted volume before, then: Yes.
Everything will find the new files/folders and scan the properties.

If Everything has seen this inserted volume before and this volume is currently in your index, then: No.
Any properties you added while this volume was offline will appear with empty values.

Everything doesn't keep track of what properties failed to be gathered if a volume is offline.
The property values will appear empty until you rescan the volume.

Everything will not rescan properties that is has already attempted to scan while the volume was offline.



Example of Everything missing property values:
You have added the O: drive to your index.
Everything scans all the files on your O: drive.
You remove your O: device from your PC.
You add the Aspect Ratio property to Everything.
Everything will scan all files (including your offline o: drive) for the aspect ratio property.
It will do this once.
If a file is offline, the aspect ratio property value will be set to empty.
You reinsert your O: drive
Everything will not rescan your O: drive for aspect ratio properties.
Everything thinks it has already scanned your O: drive for properties.

I have put on my TODO list to flag properties as offline and in need of rescanning.



Currently, the best way to get your index property values up-to-date is to perform a reindex of your O: drive.
To reindex your O: drive:

• In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
  /reindex o:

This only needs to be done once while the volume is online.

That wouldn't be possible even if I wanted to. Wouldn't be feasible in practice at all. So each time I wanted to change (not add?) a property ALL of the drives / USB Sticks, etc. had to be online otherwise the property / properties NEVER would be indexed (again)? I assume, that would make any sense, so I guess I am missing anything, but what? Sorry, for my bad understanding.

Everything is currently designed for indexing properties of always online volumes.

Everything will not update the property index of offline volumes after you make a change to your properties and when the volume comes online.
I will look into adding support to do this.

[Biff]

If Everything has not seen this inserted volume before, then: Yes.
Everything will find the new files/folders and scan the properties.

If Everything has seen this inserted volume before and this volume is currently in your index, then: No.
Any properties you added while this volume was offline will appear with empty values.

Everything doesn't keep track of what properties failed to be gathered if a volume is offline.
The property values will appear empty until you rescan the volume.

Everything will not rescan properties that is has already attempted to scan while the volume was offline.



Example of Everything missing property values:
You have added the O: drive to your index.
Everything scans all the files on your O: drive.
You remove your O: device from your PC.
You add the Aspect Ratio property to Everything.
Everything will scan all files (including your offline o: drive) for the aspect ratio property.
It will do this once.
If a file is offline, the aspect ratio property value will be set to empty.
You reinsert your O: drive
Everything will not rescan your O: drive for aspect ratio properties.
Everything thinks it has already scanned your O: drive for properties.

Ah, OK, sorry for my incomprehension, actually, I thought I understood that before, but I thought I misunderstood it because it didn't seem to make any sense. So the use of properties with me is not at all (usefully) possible in practice at the moment. But what is the sense of that behaviour? What is it good for? Why does Everything automatically ALWAYS index new / changed files but not (automatically) its properties (as one would expect it)?

I have put on my TODO list to flag properties as offline and in need of rescanning.

Ah, that is great, many thanks.

Currently, the best way to get your index property values up-to-date is to perform a reindex of your O: drive.
To reindex your O: drive:

In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
/reindex o:

This only needs to be done once while the volume is online.

Is it possible to make Everything automatically ONLY ONE TIME do such a reindex if there are (new) properties missing or if there wasn't done such a reindex before?

Everything is currently designed for indexing properties of always online volumes.

OK, I understand, why is this?

I will look into adding support to do this.

Great! Many thanks!

[void]

Property indexing is designed to instantly search properties on always-online volumes.



It sounds like you are using property indexing to store property values for offline volumes.
Everything is currently not designed to do this.

I am working on this making this behave as intended for the next alpha update.
I'll make another post here once this is ready for testing.

The next alpha update will:
Flag offline volumes as out of date when you change your indexed properties.
The next time an offline volume is reinserted it will be automatically reindexed.

[Biff]

It sounds like you are using property indexing to store property values for offline volumes.

Yes, I would think so. I thought Everything stored properties the same way like the information for files / folders. So yes, it would be great, if Everything treated properties the same way as files and folder so to say.

The next alpha update will:
Flag offline volumes as out of date when you change your indexed properties.
The next time an offline volume is reinserted it will be automatically reindexed.

That sounds very great, many thanks!

So this means Everything will behave the same for indexing poperties as for files, folders?

[void]

So this means Everything will behave the same for indexing poperties as for files, folders?

Essentially, yes.

[void]

Everything 1.5.0.1328a fixes an issue with missing indexed properties.

Everything will now reindex inserted volumes that were offline when making a change to your indexed properties.

[Biff]

That's great! Many thanks!

Everything will now reindex inserted volumes that were offline when making a change to your indexed properties.

And it also will index (not only reindex) inserted volumes that never were online before, respectively added the first time (e.g. on a new installed system, device)? So it will index and reindex always when files, folders are indexed / reindexed?

[Biff]

Is there a way to make the update easier?

I always have issues when updating Everything: first I "exit" Everything, then I have to wait some Minutes or more until Everything has finished saving the database, when I try to copy the new Everything64.exe a message is shown that I need admin rights, then an error message is shown

Then I cancel that Everything process with the Task Manager

Then I try again moving the new exe

Then the same message occurrs like before

I again or the first time try to stopp that process

Then it is possible to move the exe.
Then restart Everything, wait until it is usable, some minutes or many more, then I have to reset these settings (which automatically have changed always after that "update" / procedure:


Now theses setting were kept like I had set them before, but usually they aren't.

So is there an easier / more convenient way to update?

[void]

And it also will index (not only reindex) inserted volumes that never were online before, respectively added the first time (e.g. on a new installed system, device)?

Yes, Everything has always done this.

So it will index and reindex always when files, folders are indexed / reindexed?

I'm not sure what you are asking here.
Everything will reindex offline volumes when the come online only if necessary.
(eg: if you made a change to your indexing settings while the volume was offline)

Is there a way to make the update easier?

Please try the Everything installer.

[Biff]

And it also will index (not only reindex) inserted volumes that never were online before, respectively added the first time (e.g. on a new installed system, device)?

Yes, Everything has always done this.

Sorry, I meant this:

And it also will index (not only reindex) ALL OF THE (NEW / CHANGED) PROPERTIES OF the inserted volumes that never were online before, respectively added the first time (e.g. on a new installed system, device)?

So it will index and reindex always when files, folders are indexed / reindexed?

I'm not sure what you are asking here.
Everything will reindex offline volumes when the come online only if necessary.

Sorry again for that drivel. I meant:

So it always will index and reindex ALL OF THE NEW / CHANGED PROPERTIES when files, folders are indexed / reindexed?

Is there a way to make the update easier?

Please try the Everything installer.

Actually, I only want to use the portable version. How could I make the update easier with the portable version?

[void]

And it also will index (not only reindex) ALL OF THE (NEW / CHANGED) PROPERTIES OF the inserted volumes that never were online before, respectively added the first time (e.g. on a new installed system, device)?

Correct, Everything will reindex the properties when inserting the offline volume.
The reindex will only occur if necessary.
eg: when you make a change to your index property settings when the volume was offline.

So it always will index and reindex ALL OF THE NEW / CHANGED PROPERTIES when files, folders are indexed / reindexed?

Yes.
Everything will now invalidate your offline volumes if you make a change to your index property settings.
After making a change to your index property settings, the next time you insert an offline volume it will be reindexed (filenames and properties)

Actually, I only want to use the portable version. How could I make the update easier with the portable version?

Consider enabling stop_service_on_exit:

• Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
  /stop_service_on_exit=1
• Press ENTER in your Everything search box.
• If successful, stop_service_on_exit=1 is shown in the status bar for a few seconds.

Now when you exit Everything, the Everything Service is stopped automatically.
Simply replace your Everything.exe and restart Everything.


-or-


Maybe a BAT file to manually stop and restart the service?

For example:

Code: Select all

NET STOP "Everything (1.5a)"
pause
NET START "Everything (1.5a)"

This will stop your Everything service and wait.
Replace your Everything.exe and press any key to restart the new Everything Service.

[Biff]

OK, great, many thanks!

Consider enabling stop_service_on_exit:

Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/stop_service_on_exit=1
Press ENTER in your Everything search box.

I did:

If successful, stop_service_on_exit=1 is shown in the status bar for a few seconds.

I did a few times, but there is shown nothing like that.

What sense does it make to not stop the Everything service when exiting?

Maybe a BAT file to manually stop and restart the service?

For example:

Code: Select all

NET STOP "Everything (1.5a)"
pause
NET START "Everything (1.5a)"

This will stop your Everything service and wait.
Replace your Everything.exe and press any key to restart the new Everything Service.

Thank you, yes, a good idea. Actually I would prefer doing this by simply exiting Everything. Some clicks less, not special file / action needed. So it seems to be just simpler.

[Biff]

That value in the ini file still is:

[Everything]
app_data=0
run_as_admin=0
index_as_admin=0
exit_indexing_process_on_exit=1
stop_service_on_exit=0

I assume I can change it there as well (a bit more laboriously): exit Everything, change the value, restart Everything?

[void]

What sense does it make to not stop the Everything service when exiting?

Stopping the Everything Service on exit may cause issues if you are using multiple instances.
(nothing severe, but it might cause Everything to not show changes for a minute)

When restarting Everything, Everything may have to wait a second or two for the Everything Service to start.

I assume I can change it there as well (a bit more laboriously): exit Everything, change the value, restart Everything?

Please try changing the ini setting if setting from the search box is not working.
Please make sure Everything is not running when modifying your Everything.ini

[Biff]

Stopping the Everything Service on exit may cause issues if you are using multiple instances.

Is use multiple instances. What issues are these?

(nothing severe, but it might cause Everything to not show changes for a minute)

Sorry, what changes? Everything does not act here as an instant search program anyway, I mostly always have to wait for the resultlist to appear.

When restarting Everything, Everything may have to wait a second or two for the Everything Service to start.

That would be OK, I assume,I am waiting all the time for everything here anyway.

Please try changing the ini setting if setting from the search box is not working.
Please make sure Everything is not running when modifying your Everything.ini

Thank you, I did. So there is no need to find the cause of why it is not working from the search box?

[void]

Is use multiple instances. What issues are these?

Multiple instances will share one Everything Service.
If you stop the service from one instance, the other instance will be unable to monitor file system changes.

The other instance will eventually restart the Service after 1 minute and pickup any missed file system changes.

Sorry, what changes? Everything does not act here as an instant search program anyway, I mostly always have to wait for the resultlist to appear.

File system changes.
eg: newly created files/folders, renamed files/folders, deleted files/folders etc...

Changes won't be missed, they just wont be detected until the service is restarted.
Everything will automatically restart the Everything service after one minute if it is stopped.



Everything should load instantly, how big is your Everything.db?
Please try putting your Everything.db on a faster drive. (Tools -> Options -> Indexes -> Database location)
Please try removing all indexed properties and reducing the number of indexed files/folders for the best performance.

Thank you, I did. So there is no need to find the cause of why it is not working from the search box?

No.
Everything cannot change "machine" ini settings from the search box if you store settings and data in %APPDATA%\Everything.

[Biff]

If you stop the service from one instance, the other instance will be unable to monitor file system changes.

The other instance will eventually restart the Service after 1 minute and pickup any missed file system changes.

OK, I thought exiting Everything means to close it completely (and one had to to edit the ini file), ALL of its instances when clicking "exit". So exiting would close just one single instance? And one would have to close all of the other instances before exiting Everything to completely close it?

File system changes.
eg: newly created files/folders, renamed files/folders, deleted files/folders etc...

Yes, OK, when Everything is closed it is not possible

Everything will automatically restart the Everything service after one minute if it is stopped.

When Everything is not closed / exited. So if one or more instaced are kept open, yes.

Everything should load instantly, how big is your Everything.db?

It is 3,3 GB big.

Please try putting your Everything.db on a faster drive. (Tools -> Options -> Indexes -> Database location)

It is on an SSD, a slow one.

Please try removing all indexed properties and reducing the number of indexed files/folders for the best performance.

Yes, but actually I want to have the properties indexed.

Thank you, I did. So there is no need to find the cause of why it is not working from the search box?

No.
Everything cannot change "machine" ini settings from the search box if you store settings and data in %APPDATA%\Everything.

What "machine"? I don't do that, I use the portable version, the settings are stored in the program folder, I assume.

[void]

OK, I thought exiting Everything means to close it completely (and one had to to edit the ini file), ALL of its instances when clicking "exit". So exiting would close just one single instance? And one would have to close all of the other instances before exiting Everything to completely close it?

You might be confusing multiple windows with multiple instances?

Multiple windows - A single instance of Everything can open multiple search windows.
Multiple instances - A separate Everything process for each instance. Each instance has it's own settings and data.

Normally there is only one instance of Everything.

File -> Exit will only exit the current instance (all windows belonging to the current instance will close)
File -> Exit does not exit all instances if you are using multiple instances.

If you are not calling Everything with -instance you are not using multiple instances.

Multiple instances

It is 3,3 GB big.

Expect long load times and slow searching with a database that large.

For the best performance:
Please try reducing the number of files/folders indexed.
Please try reducing the number of properties indexed.

What "machine"? I don't do that, I use the portable version, the settings are stored in the program folder, I assume.

In Everything, there are "machine" settings and "user" settings.
"machine" settings apply to all users.

Normally, you cannot change "machine" settings from the search box.
You will need to manually modify these values in your Everything.ini in the same location as your Everything.exe
Please make sure Everything is not running when modifying your Everything.ini (File -> Exit)

[Biff]

You might be confusing multiple windows with multiple instances?

Oops, yes, indeed, I obviously do.

Thank you for the link.

Yes, I do not use multiple instances then, sorry.

For the best performance:
Please try reducing the number of files/folders indexed.
Please try reducing the number of properties indexed.

Many thanks for the links. Yes, I guess, that is how I added / use them.

Everything will perform a quick reindex

But it is not quick here at all. I assume it refers to small amounts of files / folders / properties.

OK, thank you very much!