How do I search for the % character

kjshort · 19 Jun 2017

I would like to name some folders with a unique prefix that makes finding them easier. I chose %C as the folder name prefix.

In my little test, I created some of these folders, and then attempted to use windows search to pull them all up. I find that windows search doesn't look for the % character. I will find another naming system, but can anybody explain this limitation, and whether there is any method to search for that character? - I don't understand why it doesn't work.

thanks v much in advance.

Kari · 19 Jun 2017

As the name says, special characters are used for various special purposes, for instance the % sign you mentioned is used to mark environment variables. You can try it yourself to see how it works:

Type %userprofile% on File Explorer addessbar, hit Enter to open your user folder
Type %windir% on File Explorer addessbar, hit Enter to open Windows folder
Type %localappdata% on File Explorer addessbar, hit Enter to open Users\Your_Username\Appdata\Local folder
Type %appdata% on File Explorer addessbar, hit Enter to open Users\Your_Username\Appdata\Roaming folder

To search files and folders containing these special characters use filename:*X (filename followed by : and * plus the character you are searching) replacing X with actual character. For instance to find all files and folders with % sign in name, search for filename:*%.

To find all files and folders with string &Test in file / folder name search for filename:*&Test.

Kari

Bree · 19 Jun 2017

kjshort said:

I would like to name some folders with a unique prefix that makes finding them easier. I chose %C as the folder name prefix... - I don't understand why it doesn't work.

As Kari explained, % is a special character. Another example of its use is to type this in a command prompt...
for %n in (3...,2...,1...,zero!) do @echo %n

Try the $ character instead of %. That should have no such problems. Indeed, it's one that Microsoft themselves use for 'unique' folder names (like the $Windows ones that a windows install uses).

zbook · 19 Jun 2017

You may be able use third party software to find files on internal and external drives and use the % character. For example on one out of two computers typing % displayed a few files:
%appdata%
%temp%

The software is everything search or search everything. It will index all files on your drives. It displays search results instantaneously. The more characters you type the narrower the search results.

pepanee · 19 Jun 2017

A good third party search app, which is very nice and simple, is called "Everything". (zbook said search everything / everything search. He's referring to this app, it's only one word: Everything)

By using the app, I just tried searching for the percent sign, and it worked; it found files with the percent sign % in their file name.