How to search for files with multiple extensions

I have several folders with lots of ebooks in them. I have some that are pdf and some that are epub. I need to search for those that have BOTH extensions not one or the other. I can't just find them visually, because both types of files have the same title and the same thumbnail image.

Right now, in only one folder, there are maybe 50 out of 600 that are duplicates, so browsing individually is not something I particularly want to do. Later, when adding new files, I'll be able to just search for the title, regardless of extension, and that will be done. For now, I hope to be able to search for unknown titles that have more than one extension.

Hope this makes sense and someone has a suggestion. OH, and if it could be dumbed down that would be great. I'm fairly good getting around a computer, as long as it's nothing too fancy.

In File Explorer search you can search both extensions separating them with a logical operator OR. Typing following search criteria would search and show all files with extension .pdf or extension .epub (search parameter ext:XXX without a logical operator would search for files with extension XXX):

Code:

ext:pdf OR ext:epub

(Click to enlarge.)

Notice that logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) must be typed in uppercase.

You can also combine logical operators. Following search in File Explorer would search and show all files with extension .pdf or extension .epub excluding those files saved this year:

Code:

ext:pdf OR ext:epub NOT date:this year

Following search in File Explorer would search and show all files with extension .pdf or extension .epub with string Tom appearing in file name (Tom Sawyer.pdf, Tales of Tom Sawyer.epub and so on):

Code:

ext:pdf OR ext:epub AND name:Tom

Everything in this tutorial at our sister site Seven Forums applies to File Explorer search in Windows 10: Search - Find More with Filters and Operators - Windows 7 Help Forums


Kari

My previous post answered the question you asked in your original post, about how to search files with multiple extensions.

If you instead of that only want an alphabetical list and see if a title is present with both PDF and EPUB extensions, then simply set View preference to details, sort the folder by name, and show file extensions:

(Click to enlarge.)

Now your File Explorer will show an alphabetically sorted list. Browse the list to find duplicates.

Kari

MacsMom said:

Hmm. From initial post:

Your thread has a misleading title How to search for files with multiple extensions. Files in Windows can only have one extension, the part after the last dot like for instance file SomeEbook.doc.txt.pdf.epub has an extension epub because everything before the last dot is file name, not an extension. In this example case the file name is SomeEbook.doc.txt.pdf, its extension being .epub.

Hence, because it's impossible for a file in Windows to have two extensions it was an understandable and logical misunderstanding from my side to believe you meant to ask how to search files with same file name but different extensions, an extension PDF or EPUB.

I repeat: files in Windows 10 (or any other previous version) can only have one extension. Having a file with two different extensions is not possible.

I am extremely sorry I tried to help you. Will not happen again, that I can promise.

Kari