How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

If you are experiencing problems with "Everything", post here for assistance.
Post Reply
pstein
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:18 pm

How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by pstein »

Assume I want to enter multiple patterns

As far as I can see (at least here) it is NOT possible to search them in filename AND corresponding path at the same time.

Example: I enter

log 2015

then the following file is NOT found:

D:\archive\branchdev\logfiles\res\10.2015.dat

This is because "log" is part of the path and "2015" part of the filename.

Is there a way to achieve this search anyway?

If this is currently NOT possible:

Can this option be added in the next version?

Thank you
Peter
therube
Posts: 4985
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by therube »

Search | Match Path

or

2015 path:log
aussieboykie
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:05 pm

Re: How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by aussieboykie »

The help file is not clear (in my opinion) that path: and nopath: must be followed immediately by a string, with no intervening space, per @therube's example above. I had incorrectly assumed that path: was a generic modifier.

@pstein, as another approach there is also the handy match path separator option
Match path separator option
Match path separator option
everything-01.jpg (28.46 KiB) Viewed 4817 times
Path separator example
Path separator example
everything-02.jpg (17.51 KiB) Viewed 4817 times
Regards, AB
aussieboykie
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:05 pm

Re: How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by aussieboykie »

You can also force PATH recognition on by Tools --> Options --> Home --> Match path --> Enabled. After closing and reopening the Everything window you can see that the option is on as shown:
Match PATH indicator
Match PATH indicator
everything-04.jpg (25.57 KiB) Viewed 4816 times
If you revert to Tools --> Options --> Home --> Match path --> Use last value the enabled status will remain active until forcibly disabled via the Tools --> Options dialog.

Regards, AB
aussieboykie
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:05 pm

Re: How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by aussieboykie »

After further experimentation...
  1. When PATH is active you can double click on the word itself to switch the option off.
  2. You can also use Ctrl-U to toggle the PATH option on/off.
  3. Right mouse click on the bar at the bottom of the Everything window brings up a context menu where you can adjust various options including PATH.
Regards, AB
pstein
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:18 pm

Re: How to find pattern in filename AND (!) path?

Post by pstein »

@aussieboykie:

Yes, thank you, I know already these options.
Unfortunately there is one disadvantage when matching full path:

ALL files are listed.

Now assume I have simplified a folder

D:\aaa\bbb\ccc\...\....\...\

Where ccc is the top node of a big directory tree.

Now I enter "ccc" as search patterns with path matching enabled.
Then ALL files D:\aaa\bbb\ccc and recursively its childs are listed (possibly hundreds).
This slows down finding the actual file if it is NOT inside this dir tree but outside (e.g. D:\ddd\eeed\ccc\).
You have to screen and skip hundred not interesting files to get to the final target.

What is needed is a more smart, advanced path matching option "list only the top node of each path" which should obviously list only the top node
maybe with an appended wildcard indicator "*"

D:\aaa\bbb\ccc\*

Peter
Post Reply