Everyone know Windows 7 Search feature is faster and easier by default. But it is good to learn some handy tricks to use the search feature like a Pro, to organise files by names, isolate videos, search files by Starting letter, and more. So, be extra smart while you use the smart windows 7 search
1. Use Operators
Kind: The “Kind:” operator can be used to search specific kind of files in windows 7, for exampe
kind:video searches for videos
kind:documents searches for documents like doc, docx, HTML, XML, TXT and more
Kind:pictures searches for images like jpg, png, tif etc.,
kind:programs searches for programs like .exe files
datemodified:You can also limit your searches within a specific date or date range by using the datemodified: operator
size: Use the size:operator to specify the file size
type:= operator for searching a specific type of file, for example type:=.doc returns all DOC Files
| Quotation marks | “tropical island” | Find files that contain the exact phrase “tropical island.” |
| Parentheses | (tropical island) | Find files that contain both words “tropical” and “island,” in any order. |
| > | date: >01/12/11 | Find files that are more than or later than a certain value, such as after 01/12/11 |
| < | size: < 4 MB | Find files that are less than or earlier than a certain value, such as less than 4 MB. You can also specify other sizes, such as KB and GB. |
| NOT | tropical NOT island | Find files that contain the word “tropical,” but not “island.” |
| AND | tropical AND island | Find files that contain both words “tropical” and “island” (even if those words are not right next to each other). |
| OR | tropical OR island | Find files that contain either of the words “tropical” or “island.” |
| ~< | ~| Find Files Beginning with the word WIN | |
| ~> | ~>win | Find Files Ending with the word WIN |
| ~! | ~!the | Find files Not Containing the word THE, Example: kind:folder ~!the |
Note: While Using Boolean Opearators AND OR NOT use them in Capital Letters
2. Wildcards
To get more accurate searches for songs, videos and other files with specific file extension, use wildcards like *.mp3, *.doc, *.mp4, *.avi etc.,
3. Use Preview Pane
Enable the Preview Pane in under the Search Bar in Windows 7 to Preview PDF documents, Pictures, Word Documents, Excel Documents and more. You can Preview these files without opening them
4. Group and Sort Items
Group the Items according to different attributes or sort them to make the search easier
Click “More” to Group or Sort Items by other File Attributes which are not shown by Default
5. Use Start Menu Search bar
Use Start Menu Search Box to Find Programs Faster
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