Search for file content in non-indexed locations depends on the type?

mfessler · 28 Jul 2023

Hello together,

TL;DR:
File contents in non-indexed locations will only be found if the file types are otherwise indexed.
Does searching even in non-indexed locations actually depend on settings in "Indexing Options/File Types?

I noticed, that the search for file contents in the Windows search does not work despite the search setting "Advanced options/File contents (in non-indexed locations)", if the respective file extension is not listed in "Indexing Options/Advanced/File Types" and "Index Properties and File Contents" is not activated.
And that even with folders that are not included in the "Index of these locations".
Ergo - all or nothing. For example, if I want to search through non-indexed .log files, I have to index practically all .log files that are in indexed folders.

If I deactivate the Windows Search service, the file contents are found - mostly at least, in my tests some files were not listed depending on whether they were previously in the index or not.
However, it was partly not reproducible - it may well be that the testing was the reason.
But turning off Windows Search completely is hardly a solution anyway - if only because of all the annoying "please turn it on again..." messages and if Outlook is to be used.

It is well known that the Windows search is "improvable" to say the least, but that was new to me.
Is that really normal, i.e. "by design"?

Thanks and greetings,
Martin

dalchina · 28 Jul 2023

To other potential respondents:
Please don't let this deteriorate into yet another knee-jerk review of 3rd party search tools as that doesn't contribute to answering the question. Thanks!

=======================================================================

I noticed, that the search for file contents in the Windows search does not work despite the search setting "Advanced options/File contents (in non-indexed locations)", if the respective file extension is not listed in "Indexing Options/Advanced/File Types" and "Index Properties and File Contents" is not activated.

This does not quite make sense, I'm afraid. Do you mean

a search for file contents in the Windows search does not work despite the search setting "Advanced options/File contents (in non-indexed locations)" being checked, if the respective file extension is not listed in "Indexing Options/Advanced/File Types" or "Index Properties and File Contents" is not activated.

If so, that's exactly what you would logically expect. Normal.

if I want to search through non-indexed .log files, I have to index practically all .log files that are in indexed folders.

- if you mean you want to do a content indexed search, the same logic applies.

But you don't have to manually index them- if the folder in which they exist and .log files are checked for indexing they will be indexed when created. That should happen 'invisibly'.

Perhaps you could illustrate the issue you have in mind with a couple of screenshots?

The simplest option is to enable indexing on everything but system files- at least that's what I do, as I don't want to find system files using Windows search.

Thus I can open file explorer at My PC for example, and readily find a file containing 'aardvark' as a test case.

It is well known that the Windows search is "improvable" to say the least

Not sure what that means...
I would say it's not a product suitable for the consumer market and requires proper understanding, and so is often misunderstood and despised.
Many people - including some longer term members here- are confused by it, and the legacy of experiences from Windows XP still lingers.

For example, you may be unfamiliar with the range and depth of search syntax available in file explorer's search box.
So-called 'classic' search (as it was to build 1903 until MS bungled changing it around build 1909) can be reinstated with one tweak using e.g. Winaero's excellent free tweak tool.