Searching in Windows
Searching in Windows
With larger hard drives and sometimes complicated network environments, it is more difficult to find the necessary files when you need them. Windows 7 includes the following search improvements:
. Cleaner navigation . Arrangement views . Instant search . Straightforward previews . Rich metadata . Libraries . Federated Search
Navigation is intuitive and optimized around storage with less overall clutter. You can now collapse nodes in the navigation pane and make it look cleaner, as demonstrated in Figure 9.8. This lack of clutter simplifies navigation in your personal files, drives, network shares, and so on.
Windows 7 File Structure
FIGURE 9.8 Windows Explorer.
At the top of a Windows Explorer window, you can configure what view you want, such as icon (Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large), List, Tiles, and Content. You can also create folders and burn files to an optical disk.
One handy tool to help you navigate your disks and network folders is in the left pane of an open Windows Explorer window. From there, you see short- cuts to your Desktop, Downloads, Recent Places, Libraries, and Homegroup. If you scroll down a little further, you can navigate each drive using a tree structure and Network to help you navigate computers on your local network.
In addition, searching is simpler based on improved relevance, search builder, and previews. By incorporating these enhancements into Windows Explorer, libraries and Federated Search offer incredible power to search across the enterprise without learning a new user interface.
Windows Search Tools Windows provides several ways to find files and folders. There isn’t one best
way to search—you can use different methods for different situations. They include the following:
. Search box on the Start menu . Search box located at the top of the open window . Search box at the top of a library
CHAPTER 9: Managing Files and Folders
You can use the Search box on the Start menu to find files, folders, programs, and email messages stored on your computer, as demonstrated in Figure 9.9. To find an item using the Start menu, click the Start button, and then type a word or part of a word in the search box. As you type, items that match your text appear on the Start menu. The search is based on text in the file name, text in the file, tags, and other file properties.
FIGURE 9.9 Search box on the Start menu.
When searching from the Start menu, only files that have been indexed appear in search results. Most files on your computer are indexed automatically. For example, anything you include in a library is automatically indexed.
You’re often likely to be looking for a file that you know is in a particular folder or library, such as Documents or Pictures. Browsing for the file might mean looking through hundreds of files and subfolders. To save time and effort, use the search box at the top of the open window, as shown in Figure 9.10.
The search box is located at the top of every library. It filters the current view based on text that you type. The search looks for text in the file name and con- tents, and in the file properties, such as in tags. In a library, the search includes all folders included in the library as well as subfolders within those folders.
Windows 7 File Structure
FIGURE 9.10 Search box at top of open window.
If you’re searching for a file based on one or more of its properties (such as a tag or the date the file was last modified), you can use search filters to specify the property in your search.
In a library or folder, click in the search box, and then click the appropriate search filter below the search box. For example, to search the Music library for songs by a particular artist, click the Artists search filter.
Depending on which search filter you click, choose a value. For example, if you click the Artists search filter, click an artist from the list. You can repeat these steps to build complex searches on multiple properties. Each time that you click a search filter or value, terms are automatically added to the search box. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in a specific library or folder, you can expand the search to include different locations.
Improving Searches Using the Index To improve search performance, Windows uses indexes to catalog your files.
By default, the commonly used files are indexed, including your libraries, email, and offline folders. Program and system files are not indexed.
If you need to add or remove index locations:
1. Click the Start menu and search for Indexing Options using the Search Programs and Files text box. Then double-click the Indexing Options. The Indexing options dialog box displays.
Windows 7 File Structure
2. Click Modify.
3. From the resulting window shown in Figure 9.11, select to add a drive or folder or deselect a drive or folder and click OK.
FIGURE 9.11 Changing indexing location.
If you don’t see all locations on your computer in the list, click Show all loca- tions. If all locations are listed, Show all locations won’t be available. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the pass- word or provide confirmation.
If you click the Advanced Options, you can rebuild your index, specify to index encrypted files, and specify where to keep the index folder and which files you want to include or not based on filename extension.
Cram Exam
1. Which of the following is not a Windows 7 Search tool?
❍ A. Search box on the Start menu ❍ B. Search box located at the top of an open window ❍ C. Indexer Search tool ❍ D. Search box at the top of the library
Windows 7 File Structure
2. Which folder would you find the 32-bit applications on a 64-bit version of Windows?
❍ A. C:\Program Files ❍ B. C:\Program Files (x86) ❍ C. C:\Windows ❍ D. C:\Windows\System32
Cram Exam Answers
1. Answer C is correct. The Search box on the Start menu, search box located at the top of an open window, and the search box at the top of the library are all search tools available in Windows 7. The Indexer Search tool is not. Therefore, the other answers are incorrect.
2. Answer B is correct. On a 64-bit version of Windows, 32-bit applications are loaded to the C:\Program Files (x86) folder by default. Therefore, the other answers are incorrect.
CHAPTER 9: Managing Files and Folders