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Spotlight Woes
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Question #1: Does anyone know how I can use cmd-F to open a NEW search window without taking up the window that is currently in the front?
Question #2: How can I get my Finder search window (not spotlight search window) to show up as regular list view every time? It seems to default to the new Spotlight view (with the fancy headers and stuff).
Question #3: Why do my images ALWAYS show up in icon view in spotlight searches. I know there's a button to turn them into list view but, it doesn't hold that preference.
Question #4: How do I JUST search for file names without having to go and turn on custom search options every time? It's a pain to find files now with spotlight. If you search for something too generic it will find a billion files because it searches within files...
Question #5: Is there a utility out there that I can use for finding system files rather than using Spotlight/Finder?
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by TheSpaz
Question #1: Does anyone know how I can use cmd-F to open a NEW search window without taking up the window that is currently in the front?
Question #2: How can I get my Finder search window (not spotlight search window) to show up as regular list view every time? It seems to default to the new Spotlight view (with the fancy headers and stuff).
Question #3: Why do my images ALWAYS show up in icon view in spotlight searches. I know there's a button to turn them into list view but, it doesn't hold that preference.
Question #4: How do I JUST search for file names without having to go and turn on custom search options every time? It's a pain to find files now with spotlight. If you search for something too generic it will find a billion files because it searches within files...
Question #5: Is there a utility out there that I can use for finding system files rather than using Spotlight/Finder?
All good questions. I think you should submit 1-4 to Apple
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by TheSpaz
> Question #4:
> How do I JUST search for file names without having to go and turn on
> custom search options every time? It's a pain to find files now with spotlight.
> If you search for something too generic it will find a billion files because it
> searches within files...
Putting quotes around the "search string" is supposed to do this.
I don't find the results all that reliable though. (Try finding "the").
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-HI-
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by Hal Itosis
Putting quotes around the "search string" is supposed to do this.
I don't find the results all that reliable though. (Try finding "the").
That wasn't even close. I think spotlight started as a good concept but, I think it needs a lot of work.
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Senior User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Auckland, NZ
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I've found that the quotes only work for filenames not for the contents of files, which is a pain as that would be rather more useful.
Other than that re the original questions - I think this is just another example of Apple not offering 'preferences' so much and thinking that the way they have it will suit everyone.
I am not a fan of this logic but I have recently discovered that most people don't change settings for anything on their computers from the defaults - and I think this is one reason for the lack of options we see with things like Spotlight, and the user interface in general. It is unfortunate .
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by MartiNZ
> I've found that the quotes only work for filenames not for the contents of files
Uhh... THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT !
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Why don't you set your Spotlight preferences and exclude stuff you don't want it wading through? There's also the kind: searches if you know the format, such as text or image.
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Senior User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Auckland, NZ
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Originally Posted by Hal Itosis
Uhh... THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT !
Hmmm now I'm confused - I think it would be infinitely more useful to have a string content search.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by MartiNZ
I think it would be infinitely more useful to have a string content search.
That's fine. (and maybe there's some trick for doing just that... i dunno)
But my message was a direct response to the OP's request #4.
(not to anything someone else was "thinking")
Content searching is useful - no doubt. But Stoplight has
made filename searching tedious and/or unreliable, when
compared to doing the same task on Panther.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by Hal Itosis
That's fine. (and maybe there's some trick for doing just that... i dunno)
But my message was a direct response to the OP's request #4.
(not to anything someone else was "thinking")
Content searching is useful - no doubt. But Stoplight has
made filename searching tedious and/or unreliable, when
compared to doing the same task on Panther.
Thank you. I liked the simple searching in Panther... Besides, I basically know where things are on my computer and I name them accordingly so they're easy to find. I don't have a whole lot of PDFs on my drive that I'm always looking for so I have hardly any use for content searching. Other people's workflows may be different I do realize but, there should at least be an option for searching the old way.
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Could not agree more. Most if not all of my searches are still by filename. It would be very useful to have a “search by name only” option in Spotlight along with a checkbox for “look up indexed drives only”.
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Posting Junkie
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Just do a regular search, Apple F. You can even specify criteria in it such as "Kind".
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Baninated
Join Date: Sep 2002
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if there was an option for slower macs to type something then press return it would save me a lot of beachball hassle , spotlight's wonderful , but i'm not quick enough at typing it seems
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Posting Junkie
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Originally Posted by eddiecatflap
if there was an option for slower macs to type something then press return it would save me a lot of beachball hassle , spotlight's wonderful , but i'm not quick enough at typing it seems
The regular search, Apple F.
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Senior User
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Originally Posted by Hal Itosis
That's fine. (and maybe there's some trick for doing just that... i dunno)
But my message was a direct response to the OP's request #4.
(not to anything someone else was "thinking")
Content searching is useful - no doubt. But Stoplight has
made filename searching tedious and/or unreliable, when
compared to doing the same task on Panther.
Yep of course.
And I agree that filename searches are not as good now. And the syntax for doing date and such searches in spotlight is confusing and I find unreliable as well. I think the Spotlight window needs a lot more (than no) options, i.e. preferences, that apply to the menu search as well. And given that Apple seems to be adding options and features to Dashboard with 10.4.2, maybe 10.4.3 will see something done to Spotlight ... maybe .
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Cmd-F opens a regular window just like any search window... CMD-F is no different than searching spotlight. Plus, I know you can choose to search by name... but, you have to re-select it every time you want to search for name only... why can't the preferences stick so you can have it one way or another.
Spotlight is confusing sometimes.
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Baninated
Join Date: Sep 2002
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cmd f is even worse than spotlight
all i ask is an option , it's ruined tiger for me and i'm not buying another mac until we get intel inside
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Posting Junkie
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Originally Posted by eddiecatflap
call i ask is an option , it's ruined tiger for me and i'm not buying another mac until we get intel inside
That's a silly comment. The OS will remain the same. The Spotlight and search features will not change due to Intel chips.
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Baninated
Join Date: Sep 2002
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silly?
but it will speed up for the low end..
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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Originally Posted by eddiecatflap
cmd f is even worse than spotlight
Command-F cannot possibly be worse than Spotlight because command-F is Spotlight.
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Chuck
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"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by Chuckit
Command-F cannot possibly be worse than Spotlight because command-F is Spotlight.
There is actually some difference. command+f doesn't seem to search within mail messages, and so far, the "add to iPhoto" button is missing from slideshows created after searching with command+f.
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by chris v
There is actually some difference. command+f doesn't seem to search within mail messages, and so far, the "add to iPhoto" button is missing from slideshows created after searching with command+f.
So that makes it not Spotlight?
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Exactly.
That makes it "Finder smart folder", not Spotlight.
Why isn't there an "add to iPhoto" button in Finder slideshows, btw? Surprised by that.
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2003
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The answer: stop using generic terms.
Are you guys mad when Google turns up a billion and one results when you search for 'cat'?
The other answer: if you match the filename even remotely well, it'll turn up as the Top Hit or will definitely be in the Spotlight menu.
Don't blame your stupidity on Spotlight. Searching exclusively for filenames won't do any good if you're still using generic terms.
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
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Originally Posted by Horsepoo!!!
The answer: stop using generic terms.
Are you guys mad when Google turns up a billion and one results when you search for 'cat'?
I'm surprised when I type in a file by its exact name, Spotlight can't find it. I end up drilling down into the dir. to get it. The old Find worked far better for finding stuff, IMO.
Nice idea, Spotlight - but very patchy, IMO.
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Addicted to MacNN
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I had a situation recently where some folders weren't being indexed. I actually copy/pasted the filename into spotlight and it couldn't find the file. I ended up adding my entire drive to the "Privacy" tab in preferences, then removing it, which caused the machine to re-index the entire drive, and that fixed it.
Where the heck is 10.4.2, anyway?
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
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Originally Posted by chris v
I actually copy/pasted the filename into spotlight and it couldn't find the file.
Yup, that's what happened to me. I knew I had two .dmg files buried deep in a folder, but Spotlight couldn't find them. Even trying to locate them via a Finder window and focusing on the dir. couldn't get any results. Rebuilding the index seems to do the trick, but it's not something I'd think the average user might know of.
It's kinda forgivable for such a new tech. But highly annoying if results aren't 100% every time. One wonders what might be missed out when scouring for important files.
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Off-topic, but had to say this. Cool tunes on Radio Tejas , chris v.
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2001
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Originally Posted by TheSpaz
Question #5: Is there a utility out there that I can use for finding system files rather than using Spotlight/Finder?
You can use either find or locate (after building the locate database) in the Terminal.
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by Tito Puente
Off-topic, but had to say this. Cool tunes on Radio Tejas , chris v.
I need to get me a few of your albums!
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When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by chris v
I need to get me a few of your albums!
I might do a podcast. Death can't stop me!
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