How to search case-sensitive in Win10 file explorer?

WTenNewbie · 25 Nov 2016

I found this articles:
Search - Find More with Filters and Operators - Windows 7 Help Forums
and
Search - Find More with Filters and Operators 8 (eightforums.com)

both tell us in part 2 how to fine tune search filters.

What I can't find is the syntax to search case-sensitive in keywords.
I would like to search exactly for this string: "blue water".
I don't want to see results like "Blue water" or "Blue Water" or "blue water bubbles". Only exactly my string.

The example in the tutorial says: name:~<memo
but also lists "memo.txt" and "Memo to IT dept.doc" as results (for filenames).

How can I force the search in Windows 10 file explorer to search keywords exactly like I need it?

Kari · 25 Nov 2016

I am afraid it's impossible with Windows Search:

Microsoft Windows Search queries are not case-sensitive. This includes query keywords (SELECT is identical to Select, select, and sELect) and search terms. If an identifier or literal uses Unicode characters that have case-mapping semantics, the search engine considers all the cases equivalent.

Source: Case Sensitivity in Searches (Windows)

WTenNewbie · 25 Nov 2016

Thank you very much, Kari! Do you know any other possibility? (Maybe a 3rd-party-tool or even .net source-code who is capable to do this?)

FrillyBits · 25 Nov 2016

WTenNewbie said:

..... Do you know any other possibility? (Maybe a 3rd-party-tool .............

Have a look at the following thread, my vote is for Everything Search and for case sensitive search (and others) look in Menu > Help > Search Syntax

You might find another better suits your needs.
What is the best desktop search replacement for windows 10? - Windows 10 Forums

Good luck :)

WTenNewbie · 26 Nov 2016

Thank you for your recommendation, FrillyBits.

It seems "Everything Search" doesn't search for keywords/tags (inside my pictures).
From the ES-FAQ:

"Does Everything search file contents?
No, "Everything" does not search file contents, only file and folder names."

I have to look for such a function in the other tools.

Addition:
UltraSearch has the same limitation as the built-in search. From the help point 3 "Search for file content":

Case sensitivity
Differences in capital or smaller case letters will be disregarded for all search types (searching for file names, file types or file content). The search is 'case insensitive'. UltraSearch will use the code page associated with the currently specified locale.

WTenNewbie · 26 Nov 2016

I think, I have found a workaround:
In my Windows 10 library called "Photos" I enter the search string: "blue water"
I get too many results including the unwanted "Blue water" or "Blue Water" or "blue water bubbles".

Then I switch the View to "Details" and double check that the column "Tags" is visible.
To sort the content in this column, I click on the column header of "Tags".
Now I can see all the entries (highlighted) including "blue water" and it's a little bit easier to find the one matching exactly my case-spelling.

It's still too much work, but better then the other tools I have found (the one searching inside files for keywords/tags are extremely slow).

The advantage of this workaround:
I can directly modify such Tags in the file explorer.

dalchina · 26 Nov 2016

Hi, Windows search (if you really want to use it like this!) does support syntax such as this:
Music

These are properties common to music files. To limit the search to music only, the syntax is:
kind:music <property>:<value>
where <property> is a property listed below and <value> is the user-specified search term.

Property	Use	Example
Bit rate	bitrate, rate	bitrate:192
Artist	artist, by or from	artist:John Singer
Duration	duration	duration:3
Album	album	album:"greatest hits"
Genre	genre	genre:rock
Track	track	track:12
Year	year	year:> 1980 < 1990

Here it picks out the one tagged file in a folder based on genre:classical

How to search case-sensitive in Win10 file explorer?-snap-2016-11-26-14.00.45.jpg

See:
Advanced Query Syntax (Windows)

Locate32 (which works on the same principles as Ultrasearch and Everything but is older) supports case sensitive searches but I've not tried tags on music files:

How to search case-sensitive in Win10 file explorer?-snap-2016-11-26-13.46.55.jpg

WTenNewbie · 26 Nov 2016

@dalchina: Are you sure that your <value> as user-specified search term will be searched case-sensitive?
And does "Locate32" search for tags inside files, not only for file- and foldernames?

dalchina · 26 Nov 2016

Hi, I never stated or meant to imply it would be case sensitive.
Locate32 (which works on the same principles as Ultrasearch and Everything but is older) supports case sensitive searches but I've not tried tags on music files:

- as per my post..which I updated maybe after you read it.

dalchina · 26 Nov 2016

Interestingly, Locate32 DOES do a case sensitive search on mp3 tags, now I've tried it. Well, well.

Whereas Ultrasearch help says:
Case sensitivity

Differences in capital or smaller case letters will be disregarded for all search types (searching for file names, file types or file content). The search is 'case insensitive'. UltraSearch will use the code page associated with the currently specified locale.