Search Same Folder but in different Paths

[Viktoren69]

Hello.

I work on a server with multiple users. Every user has identical folder structure.
I need to search for files inside a specific subfolder for every user.

Example:

E:\Data\User001\Downloads
E:\Data\User002\Downloads
E:\Data\User003\Downloads
E:\Data\User004\Downloads
...
E:\Data\User250\Downloads

I need to search inside all the 250 "Downloads" folders only, but I can't find a way.

Thank you

[Dalai]

Search for the "Downloads" directories first. It makes sense to limit search depth to 3 or 4 and use the Attributes on the Advanced tab to limit the search to directories. After the Downloads directories being found you can search in them for the files you're looking for.

Another way is to use the Plugins tab to search for names containing "Downloads" using either of these settings

Code: Select all

tc | fullname | contains | "\Downloads\"
tc | path | contains | "\Downloads\"

Set the files you want to search for in the General tab.

I'm certain there are other and faster ways to do this, especially when using Everything. Pretty sure other users will chime in and post something making use of that.

[Fla$her]

Search for: ev:E:\Data\User*\Downloads\<mask>

[white]

Search for the "Downloads" directories first. It makes sense to limit search depth to 3 or 4 and use the Attributes on the Advanced tab to limit the search to directories. After the Downloads directories being found you can search in them for the files you're looking for.

Without any external tools (Everything), this is probably the best and most straightforward way at the moment. The option "F2 Search in found files/folder" just above the search results can easily be overlooked and is a useful option for this.

I think the next TC version will include improvements to searching using traverse filters. If that is implemented the way I suggested, that method can then be used as well.

[Viktoren69]

Thank you folks, but I am probably missing something, as even following your suggestions it does not work.
If Everything is a plugin, I dont have it.
With the other method of searching the "Downloads" folders 1st, it does not work either, as it finds only few and not all.
I wanted to attach screenshots, but it's not possible.

[Fla$her]

If Everything is a plugin, I dont have it.

The help (press F1 in the search dialog) says what it is and and what it is for.

[white]

With the other method of searching the "Downloads" folders 1st, it does not work either, as it finds only few and not all.

Have you tried running TC as Administrator?

[Dalai]

I wanted to attach screenshots, but it's not possible.

Upload it to a site of your choosing and link to it here.

For me the search works perfectly fine. However, it might be necessary to run TC (or just the search) as administrator; it depends on file-system permissions.

[Viktoren69]

Even running as Adimistrator it does not work:

1. I select 10 Users folders: E:\Data\User001\ to E:\Data\User010\ (every User has its Download folder)
2. Search For: Downloads
3. Search In: E:\Data\ (Only search in selected directories)
4. Advanced Tab: Attributes: Directory (flagged)
5. Star Search

Result: it finds the Downloads folder only in 2 Users, while they should be all 10. (ie. E:\Data\User003\Downloads and E:\Data\User008\Downloads)
I am sure it's me not using the correct procedure.

[white]

Perhaps some downloads folders are not folders, but links. Try this:

(Run TC as Administrator)

In step 2 add a dot, so search for

Code: Select all

Downloads.

Replace step 4 with:
Set the option "Search in subdirectories" to 1 level(s)

[Dalai]

2white
The search also finds junctions and probably also symlinks, even if the "Directory" attribute is enabled.

2Viktoren69
Did you disable all other attributes on the Advanced tab when enabling "Directory"? If so, leave the other attributes untouched (gray). Gray means the particular attribute doesn't matter, i.e. the found object can either have it or not have it. When an attribute is enabled the found object must have it. And when an attribute is disabled the found object must not have it.