Wildcard in search path

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Tom Hamilton3

3 discussion posts

Hi,
I would like to search for specific files in a specific directory in a user profile directory structure. I am guessing that made no sense but here is what I am trying. The directories look something like this. \\networkloc\User1\Desktop , \\networkloc\User2\Desktop, \\networkloc\User3\Desktop... There are other files and directories in the User# directory but I only want to search the Desktop folder. I tried putting this in the path box. \\networkloc\*\Desktop but that doesn't work. Is there a way to put a wildcard in the path?

Thanks

Aug 26, 2016 • #1

Unfortunately it isn't currently possible to use wildcards in the Path and Exclude Path boxes. However, you could do this to quickly add all of the \Desktop folders to the Path box:

Put the root folder in the Path box
Put "desktop" in the Include Files box
On the Advanced tab, make sure that only the "Show folder names that match the includes filter" box option is checked, uncheck the other "Show file/folder names" options
Do the search, this should return all of the \Desktop folders (if it returns other ones, like "DesktopWrapper," make sure that the "Treat all Includes Files as Wildcard" option on the Tools > Settings > Search tab)
Click in the Results list and press Ctrl + A to select all of the results
Click and drag them to the Path(s) field
Change the Include Files field to the file you want to search for
Uncheck all "Show file/folder names" options on the Advanced tab, except for "Show file names that match the Include Files" filter
Do your search

Hope that helps! If that works for you, I'd recommend saving that as a Search Profile (Profiles > Save > Save New Profile) so that you don't have to do the first six steps every time

Aug 29, 2016 • #2

Tom Hamilton3

3 discussion posts

Thank you for the very fast response. I will give this a test. It looks like I have almost 6000 desktop folders so it is locking up but I might not be letting it sit long enough. I'll do some more testing.

Thanks again.

Aug 29, 2016 • #3

Ok, no worries. I've put a feature request on our list to see if there's a way we can automate this. I'll be sure to let you know if we are able to implement something like a wildcard in the Path field

Thanks!

Aug 30, 2016 • #4

PGomersall

225 discussion posts

Keith & Jon I would like to add my vote for wildcard in path

Nov 4, 2016 • #5

Done, thanks Pete!

Nov 9, 2016 • #6

Tom Hamilton3

3 discussion posts

Thanks!

Nov 9, 2016 • #7

Andreas Burg

13 discussion posts

Thumbs up for wildcard in Path(s) field.

Example:

Code
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ROOT
  dir-1
    dir-1-1
      dir-foo
  dir-2
    dir-2-1
      dir-foo

Path(s): ROOT\*\dir-foo

Searches for files in dir-foo within ROOT.

Nov 23, 2016 • #8

Andreas Burg

13 discussion posts

Something new with this one? I'm hardly missing a wildcard or regex search within the file path.

Mar 16, 2018 • #9

No news on this yet, sorry

I will post an update if/when we're able to implement it.

Thanks!

Mar 17, 2018 • #10

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