[stuppy]

Hi,

I have just recieved my new Intel Imac at work. I have moved from an Old G4 running Panther to this powerhouse running Tiger. One thing I have never liked about Tiger is the search for files function (CMD+F).

In Panther when you do CMD+F you get a dialogue with your volumes (local and remote) that you can tick for which ones you want to search. Tigers search is really naff because you have to click more times, and then it doesn't remember next time you search what volumes y ou last searched for.


My work involves me searching differnent volvmes for files over and over and the Panther made this easy with the tick boxes for where to search - and it was very quick at searching network volumes. Tiger is very slow.

Does anyone know of a good app I can use that will replicate the Panther search? Ive tried EasyFind bthat doesnt allow me to specifically search two volumes, its either one volume or all volumes which is no good. Also tried Houdaspot which was no good. Spotlight is no good either, and the search function in Quicksilver also proved uselessly slow.

Any help is greatful.

[CatOne]

EasyFind from DEVON technologies:

http://www.devonthink.com/products/freeware/index.html

It's great, and it's free.

[reader50]

Looks like a good one. I've grabbed it. Thanks.

[stuppy]

Originally Posted by Stuppys First Post

Ive tried EasyFind bthat doesnt allow me to specifically search two volumes

Please read the post. :/

[angelmb]

look for the all volumes pop up buttom… sure that helps

[stuppy]

I have lots of mounted volumes. Searching all of these takes ages. I need to be able to specifically search 2+ volumes, not all.

Tigers inbuit search function (CMD+F) does this, but I do not like having to click "Others" and then tick the volumes I want to search - and then when I close that search, it doesnt remember what volumes I last searched so If i want to search the same again, I have to select the volumes again!.

Panthers search function was so much better, ticable volumes soon as you hit CMD+F, and it remembered the last volumes you searched when you closed the search Windows.

It sounds lazy on my part, but when you are searching all day for files, it really really does have an impact on productivity.

[angelmb]

Ah, I see… couldn't (Tiger's feature) Smart Folders do the trick?

[reader50]

http://www.devon-technologies.com/ph...opic.php?t=630

For reference, the current version of EasyFind is 3.9

A workaround would be to leave Disk Utility open, and use the All Volumes option in EasyFind. Unmount in DU the volumes you don't want to search, then remount afterwards. The only limit is the boot volume can't be dismounted. Even less convenient than Tiger Find, but at least you could run multiple searches on particular volume combinations.

[stuppy]

reader that would take even longer then clicking "others" in Tiger Search.

Guess Ill just have to stick with it :/. Hopefully Leopard will be better

[slpdLoad]

http://members.optusnet.com.au/frovil/spotlaser.html

I like Spotlaser. It doesn't remember your query if you quit the app, but since the results come up in a different window, just don't close the original search window when you're done.

[macintologist]

I guess this is why some people end up developing their own software

[stuppy]

Spotlaser looked promising but still only allows me to search one volume at a time :/.


Someone code me the perfect search tool

[himself]

send Apple lots o' feedback.

[Groovy]

Originally Posted by stuppy

Hi,

I have just recieved my new Intel Imac at work. I have moved from an Old G4 running Panther to this powerhouse running Tiger. One thing I have never liked about Tiger is the search for files function (CMD+F).

In Panther when you do CMD+F you get a dialogue with your volumes (local and remote) that you can tick for which ones you want to search. Tigers search is really naff because you have to click more times, and then it doesn't remember next time you search what volumes y ou last searched for.


My work involves me searching differnent volvmes for files over and over and the Panther made this easy with the tick boxes for where to search - and it was very quick at searching network volumes. Tiger is very slow.

Does anyone know of a good app I can use that will replicate the Panther search? Ive tried EasyFind bthat doesnt allow me to specifically search two volumes, its either one volume or all volumes which is no good. Also tried Houdaspot which was no good. Spotlight is no good either, and the search function in Quicksilver also proved uselessly slow.

Any help is greatful.

Everything you want to do and more IS there in the finder search. In fact you can make it so
that a single click does a search without even having to hit CMD+F first because you can save
the volumes you want and the search pattern into your

file://localhost/Users/whateverusername/Library/Saved Searches/


Then stick the search in your sidebar (which is also an option when you go to save the search
just click the add to sidebar check box before you save it)


The easy way to set up a saved search the first time is to hit CMD+F then hit others and choose
the volumes and/or folders you want to be searched then add the search pattern like
name contains then type in TEST as an example. Now hit the SAVE button in the toolbar
and a dialog opens and you can save that search (this is where you are given the option to
add it to the sidebar)

Now if you DO add it to the side bar then when you click on the search icon it will do just
that and search with no need to EVER hit CMD+F. To change the file name in this example just
type in something else and it will search the same loctaions for the new text etc...

You can add the search to your favorites and/or make an alias of the search and put it anywhere
and when you double click it the finder will run that search.

Also look at the bottom of the window next to the resize widget and you will see an icon.
Note what it does during the search and then when the search is over.

And for a really good surprise, click it



just the tip of the iceberg lol have fun

[barney ntd]

Originally Posted by Groovy

To change the file name in this example just
type in something else and it will search the same loctaions for the new text etc...

Not quite: you still have to click "Edit" if you want to search for a different name.

[Groovy]

Originally Posted by barney ntd

Not quite: you still have to click "Edit" if you want to search for a different name.

no you do not. Just to make sure i just did it again and edit never comes up even.

UPDATE: ahh i see what you must be doing. You are closing the search window after each search.
I just leave mine open since i use it so much. Ok if you do not like leaving the window open
yeah it appears you have to hit the edit button so instead of one click you have to two click.
Still that is cake

[Groovy]

Everyone if you REALLY want it custom to your exact needs use Automator and stick that search in the sidebar (wherever) and if you REALLY REALLY want to go crazy apple script is perfect for this and can tell the finder exactly where and what to look for in just a few lines. You could even stick the script in the menubar etc...

Both ways above you make your own interface to CMD+F searches. I bet someone else knows of other ways too

[stuppy]

Groovy,

I tried your Smart Folders method. Actually works . The only beef I have is that when you do CMD+F it doesnt remember the last window size. Always gives a really small size which sucks.

[Groovy]

Originally Posted by stuppy

Groovy,

I tried your Smart Folders method. Actually works . The only beef I have is that when you do CMD+F it doesnt remember the last window size. Always gives a really small size which sucks.

Hmmm.... not seeing that here. It should open a window to the default global size you saved.


BTW - smartsearch file that is saved is just a .plist
You can go in and change some stuff the finder GUI will not let you access.
Let me look and see if that is in there. BRB....

Yes it is in there (use plist editor this is just a BBedit paste below)

Note the window bounds key near the bottom. My GUESS is that for some reason yours didn't
save a windowbounds


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>CompatibleVersion</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>RawQuery</key>
<string>(kMDItemDisplayName = '*TEST*'cd) &amp;&amp; (kMDItemContentType != com.apple.mail.emlx) &amp;&amp; (kMDItemContentType != public.vcard)</string>
<key>SearchCriteria</key>
<dict>
<key>CurrentFolderPath</key>
<array>
<string>/scratch</string>
<string>/</string
</array>
<key>FXCriteriaSlices</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>FXSliceKind</key>
<string>Snam</string>
<key>Operator</key>
<string>S:**</string>
<key>Value</key>
<string>test</string>
</dict>
</array>
<key>FXScope</key>
<integer>1396925286</integer>
<key>FXScopeArrayOfPaths</key>
<array>
<string>/</string>
</array>
</dict>
<key>Version</key>
<string>10.4.6</string>
<key>ViewOptions</key>
<dict>
<key>SidebarWidth</key>
<integer>135</integer>
<key>ToolbarVisible</key>
<true/>
<key>ViewHeight</key>
<integer>844</integer>
<key>ViewStyle</key>
<string>qrsb</string>
<key>WindowBounds</key>
<dict>
<key>bottom</key>
<integer>934</integer>
<key>left</key>
<integer>23</integer>
<key>right</key>
<integer>1150</integer>
<key>top</key>
<integer>90</integer>
</dict>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>