Win Explorer Search Misses WP Files

[LostDog]

I have a problem with Windows Explorer on an XP Professional system. When using Windows Explorer to Search for a particular word, e.g., Jones, in All Files and Folders, Windows Explorer returns all MS files, e.g., MS Word files, with the word Jones, but misses all WordPerfect files with the word Jones. The WP files are all *.wpd files in 6.x-11.x format. (I am absolutely sure that there are WP files with the word Jones in the directory searched. MS $35 per event tech support was worthless. I could not find an answer in Corel's Knowledge Base.) Alternatively, which non-MS utility do you recommend for ordinary searches of disks for files by the content of the files? TIA

 

[Anne Troy]

Welcome to TSG! Hope somebody finds you soon, LostDog!


Start-->Search and type:

*jones*.wpd

If you want it to search INSIDE the file, just make sure you don't choose "documents, spreadsheets, etc.". Instead, choose "all files and folders".

 

[LostDog]

The problem is exactly that when searching for a word INSIDE a file using All files and folders, the search picks upon only MS files, e.g., MS Word files, and does not pick up any WordPerfect *.wpd file. This is bizarre. Why would the Windows Explorer search in All files and folders results omit all WP documents but pick up all relevant MS documents?

 

[Anne Troy]

'Cause they don't make WP?

Check out this article. Even tho it does not specifically address wpd files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309447&Product=winxp

 

[tbritches]

If you have any of the earlier versions of WP around, QuickFinder will do it.

 

[Anne Troy]

Nice one, tbritches. Been a looooong time for me and WP.

 

[m-dash]

LostDog,

I remember reading some discussion of this known problem (apparently new with XP) of Windows not finding certain kinds of files, including WP documents, at WP Universe. It seems that MS "improved" the search function in XP to "streamline" (ahem) the search process by including results that contained mainly -- or exclusively -- MS file types

I believe that someone there included a link to a possible "fix" solution posted by MS that involved editing the registry, although of course they don't recommend this.

If you go to WPUniverse.com and search the troubleshooting forum archives, you might find the answer you're looking for.

Hope this helps...

m-dash