Search by name and file type

IMHO Microsoft is shooting itself in the head with all of these poorly
constructed ribbons and dumbing down of its systems to the point of
being a series of menus where you can't do simple things easily!

For years I've been using Windows XP like most people and can't seem
to find the easy way to search by name and then enter the file type
under the drop down menu that used to be there.

I'm also unable to search by file type in the name, e.g. *.doc and
then type in a word in the "contents" of the file.

I'm hoping someone can provide an answer as to how to accomplish the
above. I'm not sure anyone understands Microsoft's thinking with
regard to the interface of parts of Vista and Office 2007, which seem
to be built for older people who've never seen any prior version of
Windows or Office before. Let's not even talk about the insanely
confusing Internet Explorer 7 where we can easily discard of things
like horizontal menus we've been used to for years!

Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
requested.

More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files�



--
oscar

....Right click is your very good friend...


"JSoul Rules" wrote:

> IMHO Microsoft is shooting itself in the head with all of these poorly
> constructed ribbons and dumbing down of its systems to the point of
> being a series of menus where you can't do simple things easily!
>
> For years I've been using Windows XP like most people and can't seem
> to find the easy way to search by name and then enter the file type
> under the drop down menu that used to be there.
>
> I'm also unable to search by file type in the name, e.g. *.doc and
> then type in a word in the "contents" of the file.
>
> I'm hoping someone can provide an answer as to how to accomplish the
> above. I'm not sure anyone understands Microsoft's thinking with
> regard to the interface of parts of Vista and Office 2007, which seem
> to be built for older people who've never seen any prior version of
> Windows or Office before. Let's not even talk about the insanely
> confusing Internet Explorer 7 where we can easily discard of things
> like horizontal menus we've been used to for years!
>

On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
<> wrote:

>Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>requested.
>
>More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”

Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
files, especially by specific document type or folder.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
<slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:

>On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
><> wrote:
>
>>Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>requested.
>>
>>More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>
>Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>files, especially by specific document type or folder.

The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.

I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.

Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
next 34 items ran into similar situations.

Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
the string in the same embedded word.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
<> wrote:

>On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
><slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>><> wrote:
>>
>>>Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>requested.
>>>
>>>More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>
>>Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>
>The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>
>I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>
>Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>
>Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>the string in the same embedded word.

And what are document "tags"? For those very few people that use tags?
I'm also missing the search of document contents, e.g. find all .doc
files with the word "snuffles" in them. Impossible in Vista. I've
decided to buy software to do those searches now that I've discovered
that Vista gives you less ability to search than Windows 98...

It's mind boggling how badly Microsoft has bungled the interface of
Vista, IE and Office that it leaves huge opportunities for other
companies to steal their thunder that we don't need to mention. The
ribbon was a good idea in practice but it never should have gotten out
of the first stage in testing.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:53:51 -0400, Slinky
<slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:

>On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
><> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
>><slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>>><> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>>access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>>requested.
>>>>
>>>>More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>>Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>>
>>>Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>>can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>>The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>>same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>>indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>>files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>>
>>The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>>search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>>apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>>you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>>
>>I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>>and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>>indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>>
>>Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>>appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>>next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>>
>>Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>>think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>>it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>>somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>>some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>>the string in the same embedded word.
>
>And what are document "tags"?

Actually tags are a useful feature IF you have time to tag your files.
With over a million image files, I don't. ;-)

You can play with this feature from Windows Explorer.

For example right click on a image file. Then the Details tab. Some
Einstein at Microsoft totally goofed up the boxes you type in, in that
they have no lines or even a clue many (but not all) fields can be
written to. To see which can be move your cursor right in the empty
area that's along side the name of the field. Like The Title field.
Then hit apply, then OK. With luck, you should now be able to restrict
your search to what is in the Title field. You could simply select the
number of stars you wish to rank the file. Again this should allow
customized searching and sorting within Explorer. Information you add
also appears as you hover, assuming you don't add too many fields.

Slinky wrote:
> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
> <> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
>> <slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>> access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>> requested.
>>>>
>>>> More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>> Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>> Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>> can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>> The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>> same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>> indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>> files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>> The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>> search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>> apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>> you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>>
>> I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>> and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>> indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>>
>> Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>> appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>> next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>>
>> Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>> think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>> it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>> somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>> some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>> the string in the same embedded word.
>
> And what are document "tags"? For those very few people that use tags?
> I'm also missing the search of document contents, e.g. find all .doc
> files with the word "snuffles" in them. Impossible in Vista. I've
> decided to buy software to do those searches now that I've discovered
> that Vista gives you less ability to search than Windows 98...
>
> It's mind boggling how badly Microsoft has bungled the interface of
> Vista, IE and Office that it leaves huge opportunities for other
> companies to steal their thunder that we don't need to mention. The
> ribbon was a good idea in practice but it never should have gotten out
> of the first stage in testing.
>
If you want to know how to use Vista Search and its Advanced Features,
then you're going to have to go to Google. Your problem is that you
don't know how to use the Search, and therefore, you think it has less
features than Win 9'x's search, when in fact, it has more features, if
one knows how to use them.

<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+use+Vista%27s+Advanced+Searc h&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=>

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:41:30 -0400, "Mr. Arnold" <>
wrote:

>Slinky wrote:
>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
>>> <slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>>>> <> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>>> access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>>> requested.
>>>>>
>>>>> More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>>> Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>>> Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>>> can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>>> The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>>> same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>>> indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>>> files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>>> The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>>> search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>>> apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>>> you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>>>
>>> I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>>> and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>>> indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>>>
>>> Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>>> appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>>> next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>>>
>>> Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>>> think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>>> it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>>> somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>>> some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>>> the string in the same embedded word.
>>
>> And what are document "tags"? For those very few people that use tags?
>> I'm also missing the search of document contents, e.g. find all .doc
>> files with the word "snuffles" in them. Impossible in Vista. I've
>> decided to buy software to do those searches now that I've discovered
>> that Vista gives you less ability to search than Windows 98...
>>
>> It's mind boggling how badly Microsoft has bungled the interface of
>> Vista, IE and Office that it leaves huge opportunities for other
>> companies to steal their thunder that we don't need to mention. The
>> ribbon was a good idea in practice but it never should have gotten out
>> of the first stage in testing.
>>
>If you want to know how to use Vista Search and its Advanced Features,
>then you're going to have to go to Google. Your problem is that you
>don't know how to use the Search, and therefore, you think it has less
>features than Win 9'x's search, when in fact, it has more features, if
>one knows how to use them.
>
><http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+use+Vista%27s+Advanced+Searc h&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=>

Well, it's good to know that my experience with DOS and C++ will come
in handy with Vista's powerful advanced search features. We've come
a long way once Bill Gates stepped down... a return to typed commands!
I'm sure that will go over well with the people who needed that
hellish ribbon!

What is equally disturbing is that Microsoft seems to make you use
Google to find these features which are listed and explained by people
other than Microsoft or in some intuitive fashion where there is a
button to click for advanced search features in the search itself. It
would seem that Google is laughing at Microsoft on its way to the
bank.

Thanks for giving me the right search parameters to find out about
Vista's advanced search features.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:41:30 -0400, "Mr. Arnold" <>
wrote:

>Slinky wrote:
>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
>>> <slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>>>> <> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>>> access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>>> requested.
>>>>>
>>>>> More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>>> Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>>> Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>>> can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>>> The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>>> same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>>> indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>>> files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>>> The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>>> search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>>> apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>>> you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>>>
>>> I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>>> and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>>> indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>>>
>>> Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>>> appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>>> next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>>>
>>> Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>>> think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>>> it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>>> somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>>> some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>>> the string in the same embedded word.
>>
>> And what are document "tags"? For those very few people that use tags?
>> I'm also missing the search of document contents, e.g. find all .doc
>> files with the word "snuffles" in them. Impossible in Vista. I've
>> decided to buy software to do those searches now that I've discovered
>> that Vista gives you less ability to search than Windows 98...
>>
>> It's mind boggling how badly Microsoft has bungled the interface of
>> Vista, IE and Office that it leaves huge opportunities for other
>> companies to steal their thunder that we don't need to mention. The
>> ribbon was a good idea in practice but it never should have gotten out
>> of the first stage in testing.
>>
>If you want to know how to use Vista Search and its Advanced Features,
>then you're going to have to go to Google. Your problem is that you
>don't know how to use the Search, and therefore, you think it has less
>features than Win 9'x's search, when in fact, it has more features, if
>one knows how to use them.
>
><http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+use+Vista%27s+Advanced+Searc h&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=>

Forgive me - I also now noticed from another article that you can't
set your search options until AFTER you've been befuddled by a search
process. Why in the world would anyone not put search preferences
either in a control panel or in the search box after you open it so
you can set the search to perform how you wish BEFORE being confused
by trying to search? The stupidity that exists in Redmond these past
few years is disturbing.

Slinky wrote:
> On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:41:30 -0400, "Mr. Arnold" <>
> wrote:
>
>> Slinky wrote:
>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:56 -0500, Ringmaster
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:26:19 -0400, Slinky
>>>> <slinky_ISAT_newsguy_DOT-com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0700, oscar
>>>>> <> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Press Windows Logo + F to get to the Search window. There, you will have
>>>>>> access to the search tools which will perform the tasks that you have
>>>>>> requested.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> More information on how to use Vista Search can be found at Start menu >
>>>>>> Help and Support. Enter: “Tips for finding files”
>>>>> Hmmm... I get a standard search window where, for the life of me, I
>>>>> can't find an easy way to perform the same searches I did back in XP.
>>>>> The "Tips for finding files" showed nothing but an illustration of the
>>>>> same dumbed down search system that insists on using Microsoft's
>>>>> indexing instead of allowing us to filter what and how we need to file
>>>>> files, especially by specific document type or folder.
>>>> The main change is searching in Vista is one dimensional. You can
>>>> search for apples, but not search for apples then restrict to red
>>>> apples. You can search by tags and other things but that presupposes
>>>> you always know WHAT you'll be searching for before you begin.
>>>>
>>>> I just tried an experiment. I typed 'red' in the primary search field
>>>> and I had "look in documents" turned on and I left it restricted to
>>>> indexed items so it wouldn't take too long.
>>>>
>>>> Out of a total 35 hits first was a PDF file. The word 'red' doesn't
>>>> appear, but several words that have red within other words does. The
>>>> next 34 items ran into similar situations.
>>>>
>>>> Next I repeated the search this time including quotes "red". You would
>>>> think Vista now would be smart enough to use some intelligence but all
>>>> it accomplished was to show 9 hits again each having the 'red'
>>>> somewhere in another word. There appeared to be no thyme or reason why
>>>> some documents in found before it skipped even if the search hit on
>>>> the string in the same embedded word.
>>> And what are document "tags"? For those very few people that use tags?
>>> I'm also missing the search of document contents, e.g. find all .doc
>>> files with the word "snuffles" in them. Impossible in Vista. I've
>>> decided to buy software to do those searches now that I've discovered
>>> that Vista gives you less ability to search than Windows 98...
>>>
>>> It's mind boggling how badly Microsoft has bungled the interface of
>>> Vista, IE and Office that it leaves huge opportunities for other
>>> companies to steal their thunder that we don't need to mention. The
>>> ribbon was a good idea in practice but it never should have gotten out
>>> of the first stage in testing.
>>>
>> If you want to know how to use Vista Search and its Advanced Features,
>> then you're going to have to go to Google. Your problem is that you
>> don't know how to use the Search, and therefore, you think it has less
>> features than Win 9'x's search, when in fact, it has more features, if
>> one knows how to use them.
>>
>> <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+use+Vista%27s+Advanced+Searc h&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=>
>
> Well, it's good to know that my experience with DOS and C++ will come
> in handy with Vista's powerful advanced search features. We've come
> a long way once Bill Gates stepped down... a return to typed commands!
> I'm sure that will go over well with the people who needed that
> hellish ribbon!
>
> What is equally disturbing is that Microsoft seems to make you use
> Google to find these features which are listed and explained by people
> other than Microsoft or in some intuitive fashion where there is a
> button to click for advanced search features in the search itself. It
> would seem that Google is laughing at Microsoft on its way to the
> bank.
>
> Thanks for giving me the right search parameters to find out about
> Vista's advanced search features.

After you have done a couple of searches and know how it works, then
it's a piece of cake. ;-)