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Search Word Docs.... without opening them

Aiadi
Posts: 1,840 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Happy New Year everyone
Does anyone know if there is a way to search multiple word documents not by the file name but rather by word(s) inside the files without actually opening them? I have failed to find any such think doing an online searh but was wondering if anyone has found a way or used something to achieve a similar aim.
Does anyone know if there is a way to search multiple word documents not by the file name but rather by word(s) inside the files without actually opening them? I have failed to find any such think doing an online searh but was wondering if anyone has found a way or used something to achieve a similar aim.
Do I want it? ......Do I need it? ......What would happen if I don't buy it??????
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Comments
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start, search, *.doc, a word or a phrase in a file.!!
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or install Google desktop which will search your computer like Google searches the Web, including your Doc files.0
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computershack wrote: »Or install Windows Search 4.0 through Windows Update if you're using XP. If you're using Vista/Win7, forget Google Desktop altogether as Windows Search is far better.0
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Thanks everybody for the replies and apologies if I haven't made it clear enough. I was looking at a search to identify word(s) WITHIN a group of documents without having to open them and not for a simple search for file name (the title of .doc file). Windows search indexes files by their names and would not identify their contents unless there is something I am missing.
Oops, looked at the posts again and it seems that people suggest the Google Desktop would do this (content search) as well. Will try it and let you know...Do I want it? ......Do I need it? ......What would happen if I don't buy it??????0 -
You can search within a file by entering the words you are looking for in the "a word or a phrase in a file" box, the *.doc was there just to limit the search to relevant word documents.
This doesn't require installing any indexing software, which will slow the pc down.!!
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I use Closed's idea in Windows Explorer quite frequently - it takes a fair time to hunt through lots of *.doc or *.rtf files, but if the words(s) is/are pretty unique, then it gives you want you asked for.0
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