UseEverythingInstance and Everything options [SOLVED]

[cmd4ever]

OMG BREAKING news, I just got a breakthrough!

Everything -instance TC isn't running prior to launch TC

I added TC settings -admin in the launch commandline:
Everything=exepath\everything.exe -instance TC -admin
UseEverythingInstance=TC

Search *.* gave the the expected c:\windows\ tree.

Not perfect though,
it's a online search (take long time) not an indexed search (instantaneous).

breakthrough no2 : I now have a full working solution with a Everything -debug-log
In order to have TC work as intended with Everything 1.4.1
When Everything-TC isn't running

1) Everything=C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe -debug-log -admin -instance TC -db "C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything-TC.db" /*comment -debug-log optional to trace TC queries to the everything instance */
2)UseEverythingInstance=TC

And that is funny
ALT-F7 you must first check [X]Everything THEN enter the redundant ev: [keyword] and not EV or Ev or eV (having it case sensitive is not user friendly)
in order to have TC to Launch the Everything process AND use it for the wanted query.

If you just enter ev: [keyword] TC will check the box by itself but will execute the search before Everything is launched. So the fist search returns empty results. But if you rerun the same search, it will then get the results.

This can be turned into a Disney movie or a Netflix show. And it will still be better then the whole Twilight Saga.

[tuska]

Settings: 2 Everything 1.5a instances | TC: ADMIN; EV: ADMIN --> ✅ Run as administrator

1. Total Commander 11.57 is used as administrator.
2. TWO Everything instances available.
    
3. Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) and Everything (PRIVATE) are running as administrator, which means that in Task Manager,
   - the name “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - [Administrator]” appears under “Processes.
   - the name “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator]” appears under “Processes.
   - The command lines are empty
   - there is no “Everything” service listed under either ‘Processes’ or “Services.”
   
   If this option is selected while the program is running and this results in a change to the settings,
   then Everything 1.5 could be restarted, for example by entering the command /restart and pressing the <ENTER> key
   to create a good testing environment.
    
4. Everything Service (as mentioned above): Not available.
    
5. Instances: Multiple Instances
   1. Instance-1: Everything -> Unnamed instance == my main instance ---> Run as administrator
      C:\Everything\Everything.exe
   2. Instance-2: Everything (PRIVATE) -> Named instance (my second instance) --> [⚊] Run as administrator
      [⚊] Dash-checked: (status: indeterminate <German: unbestimmt>)
      "C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe" -instance "PRIVATE" -startup
6. Buttons in Total Commander (* == Launch Everything as an administrator)
   - Button with command: *C:\Everything\Everything.exe
   - Button with command: *C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe -instance "PRIVATE" -startup
    
7. Everything 1.5a - Configuration files
   C:\Everything\Everything.ini
   C:\Everything\NO_ALPHA_INSTANCE
   C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything-PRIVATE.ini
   C:\Everything\NO_ALPHA_INSTANCE Search queries in TC using 'Everything', 13.2.c.
    
8. Options > Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64)
   - Unnamed Instance: Indexes > NTFS: System drive (C:), D:, G: - not i: (!)
   - Named Instance:   Indexes > NTFS: i: --> root: ... result: I:\ (== i:\)
    
9. wincmd.ini - section [Configuration]

   Code: Select all

   UseEverything=1
   UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE"
   Everything=C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe -instance "PRIVATE" -startup

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Example 1 - TC, an unnamed EV 1.5 instance, and a named EV 1.5 instance have been started as ADMINISTRATOR

Code: Select all

- Total Commander is running -> ✅ ‘Everything’

- The two Everything instances (2 icons in the system tray) are running:
  - “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - [Administrator]”
    Tooltip in Systray: "Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) [Administrator]" AND
  - Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator]
    Tooltip in Systray: "Everything (PRIVATE) 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - [Administrator]"

  Tooltip: Options > Advanced > Value for taskbar_notification_title_format:
  $s?{$s - }$f?{$f - }$t$i?{ ($i)} $v [if:isadmin:,"- [Administrator]"]
  [Hover your cursor over the field for a few seconds to see the parameter labels].

- Total Commander:
- Find Files (separate): ✅ ‘Everything’
- wincmd.ini [Configuration] UseEverything=1

- Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:D:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
  Result:  [No files found] -> OK, UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" -> only drive I: is indexed in the named instance!

  Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:i:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
  Result: I:\Test\Test.txt -> OK, UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" -> Drive I: is indexed in the named instance!

- Search directly in Everything 1.5 - UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" --> Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator]
  - parent:D:\Test exact:Test.txt -> result: 0 items --> OK!  --> UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" (i: NOT indexed in named instance!)
  - parent:i:\Test exact:Test.txt -> result: I:\Test\Test.txt --> OK

  Example 1 - 4 tests were successfully completed (2x TC & 2x EV 1.5)!
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  Example 2 - Only the unnamed “Everything” 1.5 instance is open

Example 2 - Only the unnamed “Everything” 1.5 instance is open

1. Close the “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator]” instance 'completely' (menu "File" - "Exit").
   'Completely' means that the Everything icon must also be removed from the system tray as follows: Right-click the icon -> Exit,
   so that only the unnamed “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - [Administrator]” instance remains open.
    
2. wincmd.ini [Configuration] UseEverything=1
    
3. Restart Total Commander with the command: cm_exit 9
    
4. Total Commander has started -> ☐ ‘Everything’
   Everything is UNCHECKED because the “Everything (PRIVATE)” instance is closed.
    
5. Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:D:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
   1. The “Everything (PRIVATE)” instance was started in the background due to this search query in Total Commander,
      based on this setting in wincmd.ini - section [Configuration]:
      Everything=C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe -instance "PRIVATE" -startup
      and the Everything option was checked -> ‘Everything’
   2. Search result: [No files found] --> OK!
      Reason: UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" (i: NOT indexed in named instance!)
6. Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:i:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
   1. Result: I:\Test\Test.txt --> OK
      Reason: UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" -> Drive I: is indexed in the named instance!

  Example 2 - 2 tests were successfully completed!
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Example 3 - The “Everything” and “Everything (PRIVATE)” 1.5 instances have been closed

1. Close both Everything instances, “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - [Administrator]” and
   “Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator]”, meaning there are now NO Everything instances open.
    
2. Restart Total Commander with the command: cm_exit 9
    
3. Total Commander has started -> ☐ ‘Everything’
   Everything is UNCHECKED because the “Everything (PRIVATE)” instance is closed.
    
4. Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:D:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
   1. The “Everything (PRIVATE)” instance was started in the background due to this search query in Total Commander,
      based on this setting in wincmd.ini - section [Configuration]:
      Everything=C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe -instance "PRIVATE" -startup
      and the Everything option was checked -> ‘Everything’
   2. Search result: [No files found] --> OK!
      Reason: UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" (i: NOT indexed in named instance!)
      (Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - (PRIVATE) - [Administrator])
5. Search query in TC: -> Search for: ev:parent:i:\Test exact:Test.txt -> click on button "Start search"
   1. Result: I:\Test\Test.txt --> OK
      Reason: UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE" -> Drive I: is indexed in the named instance!

  Example 3 - 2 tests were successfully completed!
  (This test was a bit of a hassle because I had to close TC and restart it to get the correct search result)!

---

Windows 11 Pro (x64) Version 25H2 (OS build 26200.8328) - 2026-04-30 | TC 11.57 x64
'Everything' 1.5.0.1409a (x64) - Portable on system drive in C:\Everything
Search queries: Total Commander <=> 'Everything' <= Windows Search
Everything for beginners - GoogleTranslate German -> English

[cmd4ever]

2tuska we got a working formula.

All I needed to get it working with my OS/Privilege/Security settings and the use of the Portable Everything not running as a service was
Everything= [exepath] -instance [instancename] -admin -db [dbpath]
UseEverythingInstance=[instancename]
-admin and -db were the missing links

Once the connection works between TC and Everything it seams to drop easily. It is something else I don't understand.
After few tests, TC no longer talks to Everything. I have to kill the Everything process and get TC to launch it again.

[tuska]

2tuska we got a working formula.

Once the connection works between TC and Everything it seams to drop easily. It is something else I don't understand.
After few tests, TC no longer talks to Everything. I have to kill the Everything process and get TC to launch it again.

Perhaps you could try one of my tests above your post?

Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas about that right now.

[cmd4ever]

Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas about that right now.

Maybe I wasn't clear.
I have a working session with both TC and an Everything instance that works great until the link drop.

If I remember right, when I had the -debug console on, I saw client disconnected or something like that.

I don't feel like going further in debugging because an unbearable truth just hit me. Unless I missed it (please RTFM me if there is a feature for this), but I can't get the filesizes and timestamps when I use TC-Everything results. That is a big no-go for me.

[tuska]

Unless I missed it (please RTFM me if there is a feature for this),
but I can't get the filesizes and timestamps when I use TC-Everything results.
That is a big no-go for me.

That shouldn't be a problem with
- a “View mode” named ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’ AND
- an “Auto Switch Mode”: ‘S’ with “View mode”: ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’ AND
- a "Custom Columns View” named ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’.
Overview: View Mode | Auto Switch Mode | Custom columns view

I'll test that (that's not the problem).
The step-by-step instructions that follow will take a little time.

What timestamps do you need?
Date Modified | Date Created | Date Accessed

[cmd4ever]

Unless I missed it (please RTFM me if there is a feature for this),
but I can't get the filesizes and timestamps when I use TC-Everything results.
That is a big no-go for me.

That shouldn't be a problem with
- a “View mode” named ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’ AND
- an “Auto Switch Mode”: ‘S’ with “View mode”: ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’ AND
- a "Custom Columns View” named ‘Filesizes_and_timestamps’.
Overview: View Mode | Auto Switch Mode | Custom columns view

I'll test that (that's not the problem).
The step-by-step instructions that follow will take a little time.

What timestamps do you need?
Date Modified | Date Created | Date Accessed

I really appreciate the offered help. Lets move it to another thread.

[tuska]

I really appreciate the offered help. Lets move it to another thread.

Done!

Overview: View Mode | Auto Switch Mode | Custom columns view
The following was added to the first post: “8. Examples -> 1., 2., 3., 4.” and
the section “6. BUTTONS - VIEW MODE + CUSTOM COLUMNS VIEW <DEFAULT> ... | ... CommandBrowser”
was revised and updated.

1. Custom Columns view -> "Filesizes_and_timestamps"
2. View mode -> "Filesizes_and_timestamps"
3. Auto Switch Mode -> Set this mode: "Filesizes_and_timestamps" | "2 Options" ...
    ... 2 Options: (Rules: +D:\Test1\*\ | +I:\Test1\*\ - OR - S) ...... ('|' == OR)
4. Search queries in Total Commander using Everything

[tuska]

2tuska we got a working formula.

All I needed to get it working with my OS/Privilege/Security settings and the use of the Portable Everything not running as a service was
Everything= [exepath] -instance [instancename] -admin -db [dbpath]
UseEverythingInstance=[instancename]
-admin and -db were the missing links

I tried to reproduce it using these settings: Please see also as reference -> Test 3

wincmd.ini - section [Configuration]

Code: Select all

UseEverything=1
Everything=C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything.exe -instance "PRIVATE" -admin -db C:\Everything\Everything_PRIVATE\Everything-PRIVATE.db
UseEverythingInstance="PRIVATE"

Options > Everything 1.5.0.1409a (x64)

Code: Select all

- Unnamed Instance: Indexes > NTFS: System drive (C:), D:, G: - not i: (!)
- Named Instance:   Indexes > NTFS: i: --> root: ... result: I:\ (== i:\)

Code: Select all

TC as Admin ........................ 	(started)
EV unnamed instance as Admin .......	(closed)
EV (PRIVATE) named instance as Admin	(closed)

Once the connection works between TC and Everything it seams to drop easily. It is something else I don't understand.
After few tests, TC no longer talks to Everything. I have to kill the Everything process and get TC to launch it again.

I cannot confirm this based on my test results.

Code: Select all

Search for: 
ev:parent:D:\Test exact:Test.txt 
-> click on button "Start search"

Result: OK -> The test result was SUCCESSFUL when using the parameters -admin -db!
- Everything (PRIVATE) was launched as ADMIN.
- Option: ✅ 'Everything' was tick-checked.
- No search results found, because Everything (PRIVATE) has only indexed drive i: and not D:

Code: Select all

Search for: 
ev:parent:i:\Test exact:Test.txt
-> click on button "Start search"

Result: OK - 3 search queries performed on drive i: (various folders and files), 
               search results were found, all tests were successful!
- Everything (PRIVATE) is launched as ADMIN.
- Option: ✅ 'Everything' was tick-checked.

---

1. -instance <name>
   The name of the "Everything" instance.
2. -admin
   Run "Everything" as an administrator.
3. -db <filename>
   Load and save the database to the specified filename.

[cmd4ever]

2tuska what OS do you use?

[tuska]

2tuska what OS do you use?

Windows 11 Pro (x64) Version 25H2 (OS build 26200.8328) - 2026-04-30
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Total Commander - HISTORY.TXT

... is mentioned here solely for the sake of completeness.

Code: Select all

29.04.26 Release Total Commander 11.57 release candidate 6
28.04.26 Fixed: When starting Everything.exe via Everything= entry in Wincmd.ini,
	        the launch wasn't correctly detected when Everything was set to run as administrator (32/64)

30.11.16 Release Total Commander 9.0a release candidate 1 (32/64)
27.11.16 Added: Everything: Support named instances (Everything.exe -instance "somename"): 
		wincmd.ini [Configuration] UseEverythingInstance=somename (32/64)

06.07.16 Release Total Commander 9.0 beta 4 (32/64)
28.06.16 Fixed: Start Everything.exe with parameter -startup when user didn't specify Everything= line in wincmd.ini
		(the user can pass this parameter too) (32/64)
28.06.16 Added: wincmd.ini [Configuration] Everything=Everything.exe set location of everything to run when it's not running,
		and TC checks "Everything" checkbox (32/64)

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2cmd4ever
You also have the option of performing a search in Total Commander
using the latest version of Everything (1.5b).
(Then you'd know if the problem only occurs in Everything 1.4 on your end).

Google Translate: German/Deutsch -> English
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14.5.2026: Everything 1.5 Beta
- Everything 1.5b Beta - Upgrade Guide

- 'Everything' 1.5.0.1413b (x64) - 19.5.2026 - Portable on system drive C:
  It is generally recommended to use the latest version of Everything,
  as it includes not only new features but also bug fixes.

[ghisler(Author)]

Since this isn't a bug, I'm moving this thread to the suggestions subforum.

Moderator message from: ghisler(Author) » 2026-05-26, 07:25 UTC

Moved to suggestions