Windows Basics:Searching for Files or Folders

Computer Information Technology – Section 2-5

Searching for Files and FoldersObjective: To learn how to search for files

and folders using the advanced search options

Searching for Files and FoldersBasic Search1. The Start menu appears

with the Search box at the bottom. Simply type in the Search box above the Start button.

2. Type readme.txt in the search box.

Searching for Files and FoldersSearch for a file containing…

You can search for a file containing a word by simply typing the word in the search field.

Note that Windows will only search “indexed” files unless an option is changed in Control Panel | Folder Options

IndexingIndexing allows search to be performed very

quickly.By default, all of the most common files on

your computer are indexed. Indexed locations include all folders included in libraries (anything you see in the Documents library, for example), e‑mail, and offline files. Files that aren't indexed include program files and system files—files that most people rarely need to search.

Searching for Files and FoldersOther Options You can also specify

When the file was modified

Size of the file

Searching for Files and FoldersSpecial CharactersA wildcard character is a keyboard

character such as an asterisk (*) or a question mark (?) that is used to represent one or more characters when you are searching for files, folders, printers, computers, or people. Wildcard characters are often used in place of one or more characters when you do not know what the real character is or you do not want to type the entire name.

Searching for Files and FoldersSpecial Characters - AsteriskUse the asterisk as a substitute for zero or more

characters. If you are looking for a file that you know starts with "gloss" but you cannot remember the rest of the file name, type gloss*

This locates all files of any file type that begin with "gloss" including Glossary.txt, Glossary.doc, and Glossy.doc. To narrow the search to a specific type of file, type gloss*.doc This locates all files that begin with "gloss" but have the file name extension .doc, such as Glossary.doc and Glossy.doc.

Searching for Files and FoldersSpecial Characters – Question Mark

Use the question mark as a substitute for a single character in a name. For example, if you type gloss?.doc, you will locate the file Glossy.doc or Gloss1.doc but not Glossary.doc.

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