windows Search can't seem to find things in my .java files (like grep) on my Windows XP machine.

Here's what I do: In the windows explorer, I select a folder which has some .java files beneath it, and I select Search off the folder's popup menu. That brings up a dialog that lets me name to file to search for, and also a word or phrase in the file. I enter filename of "*.java" and it finds all the *.java files OK, but if I also enter a value in the "word or phrase in the file" field and do a search, then it always says "0 files found" (I enter a word that I know is in some of the java files). Search finds words OK in .html or .txt files, but not in .java files. Weird.

Is there some setting in the windows registry that affects how searches are done in .java files?

 

 

When you enter the "word" in the Containing Text TextBox...DO NOt use double quote to surround the text

Window search is different then regex.
It will search for exact match
example
the quick brown down
search for "ick" will result a match

 

 

Follow the instructions in this article. I've run into the same thing, and the solution works.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309173

 

 

Clarification: It was "Method 2" that I followed.

 

 

Normally by this time, a polite person who posed a question would at least offer some feedback, like "hey, thanks I'll look into that" or something. I'm so tired of you people!

 

 

Thanks warnerja.

Hope that makes your day!

(no offense cobber)

 

 

Thank you. It now works for me too.

PC²

 

 

Great! Glad at least someone (ok, 2) stopped by to say thanks. OP, hello? Geez, you even put up the 10 dukies as if this is important to you.

 

 

It wasn't that important to me, just annoying (I had other less convenient ways of doing it). I'd give you a couple of Dukes if I could though.

 

 

Awsome! This was it. This fixed my problem. Thanks a lot for the link, I would have never figured this out. How bizarre to not search all the files, because it might be too slow! What a brain-dead change to make between win2k and xp. Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was wasting my time digging around in the registry looking for an explanation there. Thanks again.

 

 

Glad you came back and replied. And you're welcome.

 

 

Install Cygwin (and use Grep) :D

 

 

Wow I did this a few months ago and could have sworn it was working... Now it can't seem to find anything in .jsp files. Does anyone know how I can uninstall the search 'feature' from XP altogether so I'm not tempted to use it?

 

 

www.redhat.com, for one... ;D

 

 

Windows Grep is another option - http://www.wingrep.com/