Discussion:
Can the results from "Everything" be filtered?
(too old to reply)
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-10 07:32:50 UTC
Permalink
I think "Everything" is a great tool; as well as its primary function of
finding things (usually well before I've finished typing), it also
doesn't have any truck with various Windows hiding-things behaviours; it
tends to show real path names, for example, and doesn't hide the ".lnk"
extension.

That's the slight snag, though: if I search for something (say part of a
music or video title), then double-click one of the results to see if it
was what I was looking for, a .lnk file is created - and shown, which is
as it should be. But they do add to the confusion if there were lots of
hits, especially once you've tried a few. (They add to the hit-list
displayed of course as they contain the same name as the file they link
to, which matches the template you've specified.)

Is there a way in Everything of suppressing those - either specifying
that certain filenames not be shown (such as *.lnk), or specifically
link files? I've had a trawl through the settings, but can't see one -
but I could have missed it. I thought I _had_ seen a block-filename-spec
setting, but that could have been in something else.

(I think there may be a way in the template box, but having to add
"-*.lnk" or similar for every search wouldn't be great.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

I don't like that word [atheist]; it implies that there's a god not to believe
in - Eric Idle, quoted in RT 2016/12/10-16
Java Jive
2024-07-10 11:13:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
I think "Everything" is a great tool; as well as its primary function of
finding things (usually well before I've finished typing), it also
doesn't have any truck with various Windows hiding-things behaviours; it
tends to show real path names, for example, and doesn't hide the ".lnk"
extension.
That's the slight snag, though: if I search for something (say part of a
music or video title), then double-click one of the results to see if it
was what I was looking for, a .lnk file is created - and shown, which is
as it should be. But they do add to the confusion if there were lots of
hits, especially once you've tried a few. (They add to the hit-list
displayed of course as they contain the same name as the file they link
to, which matches the template you've specified.)
Is there a way in Everything of suppressing those - either specifying
that certain filenames not be shown (such as *.lnk), or specifically
link files? I've had a trawl through the settings, but can't see one -
but I could have missed it. I thought I _had_ seen a block-filename-spec
setting, but that could have been in something else.
(I think there may be a way in the template box, but having to add
"-*.lnk" or similar for every search wouldn't be great.)
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
block it from searching certain folders, then the one to block would be:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
--
Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website:
www.macfh.co.uk
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-10 12:36:17 UTC
Permalink
In message <v6lqde$1sssr$***@dont-email.me> at Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:13:48,
Java Jive <***@evij.com.invalid> writes
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.

I've found a way to set filters now.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Never make the same mistake twice...there are so many new ones to make!
David E. Ross
2024-07-10 15:33:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.
I've found a way to set filters now.
How do you filter?
--
David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Demonstrators worldwide are demanding that Israel stop
fighting in Gaza. Why does it seem that no one is demanding
that Hamas stop fighting? And where are the demonstrations
against Russia fighting in the Ukraine.
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-10 20:50:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by David E. Ross
Post by J. P. Gilliver
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.
I've found a way to set filters now.
How do you filter?
VanguardLH's method may be better, but anyway:

Search, Add to Filters... note the first box is the _name_ you are
giving to your filter (I called mine no-links), and I just put

!*.lnk

in the Search box. (Thinking about it now, not sure I needed the *.)
Then, in the main Everything window, near the top right is a drop-down
box (which by default says Everything); your filter will have been added
to the list.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

* SLMR 2.1a #113 * Tits like watermelons, sparrows like bacon rind.
- 03-22-97 Dave Beecham <***@pandbox.demon.co.uk> (quoted by
Gene Wirchenko, in alt.windows7.general, 2012-10-16.)
Paul
2024-07-10 15:39:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.
I've found a way to set filters now.
And be aware, Everything.exe does not search all folders. It is likely
to search your Music folders, just fine. Not a worry there.

Here is the deal. If you write a tool, which only uses the $MFT information
(Master File Table), you can find everything present in the file system.
You of course, need some sort of elevation to read the $MFT.

However, if you then descend the tree and ask for the size of files, if
a folder is "permission denied", you don't get the size. And then Everything
decides to not put the <denied> file into the file list. This leads to
missing content.

Among all the tools I have tested, best versus worst, there was a
different of 100,000 files missing. That's how significant the issue
of not being able to search Windows C: drive is. It's not a small problem.
I never really know whether I have seen all the files or not, on a
Windows C: drive. This includes the files for WindowsApps and so on.

One thing Everything cannot search, was something related to Bash shell
and Linux kernel hosted stuff. That may have been WSL1 versus WSL2.
One of them, used raw file system for storage (stored Linux files in NTFS),
the other uses a container. Later, an option was added, via SMB/CIFS, to give access
to the files in there, but this wasn't designed specifically for Everything.
I think I was able to carry out a search.

\\wsl$ # Access WSL from Windows

Paul
Java Jive
2024-07-10 16:20:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul
Post by J. P. Gilliver
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.
I've found a way to set filters now.
And be aware, Everything.exe does not search all folders. It is likely
to search your Music folders, just fine. Not a worry there.
Here is the deal. If you write a tool, which only uses the $MFT information
(Master File Table), you can find everything present in the file system.
You of course, need some sort of elevation to read the $MFT.
However, if you then descend the tree and ask for the size of files, if
a folder is "permission denied", you don't get the size. And then Everything
decides to not put the <denied> file into the file list. This leads to
missing content.
LOL! Which would be a very good way for malware to hide itself! In
fact, that in itself is malware-like behaviour by Windows, redolent of
rootkits and the like. I have thought before that each new version of
Windows is more virus-like than the last.

I've just had another permissions idiocy in Windows 10. I'm trying to
create a modest Windows PE environment such as is used to setup Windows
from scratch, however for nothing as fancy as that, just to run Ghost
and possibly occasionally ProductKeyScanner as and when needed. I
mounted the boot.wim file onto a sub-directory of the D: drive, and was
able to use Explorer to copy the two directories containing the
programs, so executable files, into the mounted image, but could I
create a simple text file in Textpad and save it to the root of the
mounted image? No, the job's worth wouldn't let me. I tried copying
Administrators ownership and Full Control permissions, and Modify
permissions for both Authenticated Users and Users, all the way down
through the entire D: drive heirarchy, and checked that the mount root
had inherited them, which it had, but still couldn't save the file, even
though I qualified for all three of those permissions. Next I tried
disabling every part of Windows broken security system that I could,
particularly all the App control permissions, but still couldn't save
it. Now I'm having to re-image back to Windows 7 just to complete the
work in a sane manner.

I ask again: "Just *WHO* programs shit as bad as this???!!!"
--
Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website:
www.macfh.co.uk
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-10 20:54:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul
Post by J. P. Gilliver
[]
Post by Java Jive
Not having used Everything, I can't give specific help, but if you can
(Do try it!)
Post by Java Jive
   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Indeed.
I've found a way to set filters now.
And be aware, Everything.exe does not search all folders. It is likely
to search your Music folders, just fine. Not a worry there.
Here is the deal. If you write a tool, which only uses the $MFT information
(Master File Table), you can find everything present in the file system.
You of course, need some sort of elevation to read the $MFT.
However, if you then descend the tree and ask for the size of files, if
a folder is "permission denied", you don't get the size. And then Everything
decides to not put the <denied> file into the file list. This leads to
missing content.
As I mainly use it for "where did I put ..." or "have I already
downloaded ... (and if so where did I put)", and I have access to all
the folders on D: (as I created them), it's not a problem.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

* SLMR 2.1a #113 * Tits like watermelons, sparrows like bacon rind.
- 03-22-97 Dave Beecham <***@pandbox.demon.co.uk> (quoted by
Gene Wirchenko, in alt.windows7.general, 2012-10-16.)
VanguardLH
2024-07-10 16:04:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
I think "Everything" is a great tool; as well as its primary function of
finding things (usually well before I've finished typing), it also
doesn't have any truck with various Windows hiding-things behaviours; it
tends to show real path names, for example, and doesn't hide the ".lnk"
extension.
That's the slight snag, though: if I search for something (say part of a
music or video title), then double-click one of the results to see if it
was what I was looking for, a .lnk file is created - and shown, which is
as it should be. But they do add to the confusion if there were lots of
hits, especially once you've tried a few. (They add to the hit-list
displayed of course as they contain the same name as the file they link
to, which matches the template you've specified.)
Is there a way in Everything of suppressing those - either specifying
that certain filenames not be shown (such as *.lnk), or specifically
link files? I've had a trawl through the settings, but can't see one -
but I could have missed it. I thought I _had_ seen a block-filename-spec
setting, but that could have been in something else.
(I think there may be a way in the template box, but having to add
"-*.lnk" or similar for every search wouldn't be great.)
Tools menu -> Options -> Indexes -> Exclude
Add a filetype, like .lnk, to the "Exclude files" listbox.

I'd have to delve into help or their web site to see if commas or spaces
were used to specify multiple filetypes to exclude. Like most programs
these days, and for quite a while, no help file is included with the
software. Instead the help menu in the program loads a web page with
the help articles. In this case, Everything's Help menu points to:

https://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/

There is a search box at the top right of the web page. Alas, their
search is across everything, just like their program. The search scans
their help, and their forum posts. From one of the search hits
(https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14958), a semicolon is
used to delineate multiple filespecs in the list of excluded files, like
"*.lnk;~$;$*" (sans quotes). Too bad they don't support regex in the
exclude list to make it clear, for example, if $* was to exclude on
files that start with a dollar sign, or have a dollar sign anywhere as a
substring in the filenames. A regex of "^$" makes it clear the filename
must start with a dollar sign, not that it is anywhere in the filename.
However, since $ is a special character in regex, like using it to
specify the end of a string, as in "sometext$" to mean sometext must be
at the end of the string, you'd have to escape the dollar sign on which
you want to include in the search, like "sometext\$$". I don't think
you need to specify *.lnk to exclude shortcut files. Just .lnk should
work since exclusion is apparently on substrings, but that means
"some.lnk.text" would also get excluded. If regex were available in the
exclusion list, you'd have to use "some\.lnk\.text" to escape the period
character since that is a special regex character to match on any
character in that position.

Once you specify files to exclude, I suspect you'll have to rebuild
Everything's index database to remove entries you want excluded.

I don't think .lnk is necessarily restricted from use in a folder name,
so you could have myfolder.lnk which is a folder instead of a file. If
you're also seeing folders matching on filename.lnk as their folder
name, you'll have to add *.lnk to the filters to exclude folders. I
added the $recycle.bin folder to the exclude folders list, because I
don't want to bother with Everything finding deleted files pending in
the Recycle bin folder, especially since not only do I manually clean
out that folder, but also have a scheduled task to clean my computer
using CCleaner (the scheduled task runs "ccleaner /auto"). "Add folder"
opens a file browser dialog letting you pick a folder. "Add filter"
lets you specify a string on which to match against folder names.

I don't recall Everything ever creating any file, especially a .lnk
shortcut file, when I double-click on a hit in its search results.
Double-clicking on a search hit is the same as double-clicking on a file
listed in File Explorer: the OS will attempt to open the file using the
handler associated to the filetype. Double-clicking on a .txt file will
open Notepad. Double-clicking on a .lnk shortcut file in Everything is
the same as double-clicking on a shortcut on the desktop: the shortcut
will load whatever program it is assigned to run. For example, I search
on *.lnk in Everything, and one of the hits is "Word.lnk" (MS Office's
Word component). When I double-click on that .lnk file, Word opens.
Another .lnk shortcut is NOT created.

If instead of having the OS try to run a handler to open the filetype on
which you click in Everything, and you instead want to open the folder
where the file was found, double-click on the path listed under the Path
column.

If you don't want Everything to start searching the moment you begin
enter text into the search box, disable the Tools -> Options -> General
-> UI -> "Search as you type" option.
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-10 21:17:09 UTC
Permalink
[]
Post by VanguardLH
Post by J. P. Gilliver
Is there a way in Everything of suppressing those - either specifying
that certain filenames not be shown (such as *.lnk), or specifically
link files? I've had a trawl through the settings, but can't see one -
but I could have missed it. I thought I _had_ seen a block-filename-spec
setting, but that could have been in something else.
(I think there may be a way in the template box, but having to add
"-*.lnk" or similar for every search wouldn't be great.)
Tools menu -> Options -> Indexes -> Exclude
Add a filetype, like .lnk, to the "Exclude files" listbox.
Interesting. I tried putting just .lnk in there, and it refreshed -
almost instantly, but I was aware of it - but the .lnk file was still
shown. So I tried *.lnk this time; again it refreshed, taking longer
(though still very quick) this time, and the .lnk file isn't shown.
(Deleting the specification results in the longer refresh, too.)
[stuff about RegExes]
Post by VanguardLH
Once you specify files to exclude, I suspect you'll have to rebuild
Everything's index database to remove entries you want excluded.
Yes, but it was pretty quick (less than a second). [I _think_ the filter
method seemed faster.]
Post by VanguardLH
I don't think .lnk is necessarily restricted from use in a folder name,
so you could have myfolder.lnk which is a folder instead of a file. If
Indeed. Not really a problem in my case.
[]
Post by VanguardLH
I don't recall Everything ever creating any file, especially a .lnk
shortcut file, when I double-click on a hit in its search results.
Well, I think it's the OS rather than Everything that's making them. I
normally have Everything set to sort by Date Modified (newest at top),
so I am aware of them: they're usually created in C:...Recent.
Post by VanguardLH
Double-clicking on a search hit is the same as double-clicking on a file
listed in File Explorer: the OS will attempt to open the file using the
handler associated to the filetype. Double-clicking on a .txt file will
I know. But it adds a .lnk to recent.

Say I specify oney. Everything lists lots of videos and sound files that
contain Honey, Money, and Looney. So I double-click on one of them to
play it to see if it's the one I was looking for, and (as well as
WinAmp, GoldWave, or VLC as appropriate opening to play the file), a
.lnk file (same name as the file I double-clicked on, other than having
.lnk added after the .m4a or whatever) appears at the top of the list.
Post by VanguardLH
open Notepad. Double-clicking on a .lnk shortcut file in Everything is
the same as double-clicking on a shortcut on the desktop: the shortcut
will load whatever program it is assigned to run. For example, I search
on *.lnk in Everything, and one of the hits is "Word.lnk" (MS Office's
Word component). When I double-click on that .lnk file, Word opens.
Another .lnk shortcut is NOT created.
No, I wasn't double-clicking on the .lnk file itself. It's just that,
once I've tried a few of the files looking for the right one, I've built
up several .lnk files at the top of the list, that I'd rather not see. I
now have two methods (the filter method and the exclude method) not to
see them.
[]
Post by VanguardLH
If you don't want Everything to start searching the moment you begin
enter text into the search box, disable the Tools -> Options -> General
-> UI -> "Search as you type" option.
No, that's a very handy feature; I often see the file I'm looking for
before I've finished typing the part of its name I thought relevant.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

* SLMR 2.1a #113 * Tits like watermelons, sparrows like bacon rind.
- 03-22-97 Dave Beecham <***@pandbox.demon.co.uk> (quoted by
Gene Wirchenko, in alt.windows7.general, 2012-10-16.)
VanguardLH
2024-07-10 22:08:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
Post by VanguardLH
Double-clicking on a search hit is the same as double-clicking on a
file listed in File Explorer: the OS will attempt to open the file
using the handler associated to the filetype.
I know. But it adds a .lnk to recent.
That might due to the Recent folder is a special folder. If you don't
want to see the MRU (Most Recently Used) folders, you could exclude the
entire folders in Everything. That's why, for example, I added the
Recycle bin as an excluded folder: I don't need to see files that are
going to disappear after the next manual or scheduled cleanup.

To see where is the Recent folder, in an address bar, like in File
Explorer, enter shell:recent. For me, that opens:

C:\Users\<myacct>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items
which can be shortened with environment variables to:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items

However, when I look there, even after double-clicking on a found .mp4
file, and VLC launches to view it, my Recent folder is still empty.
Could be due to me configuring VLC to *not* save an MRU: don't keep a
recently opened list. Or I tweaked Windows 10 soon after installing it
to disable the Recent list in the Start Menu which effects no use of the
Recent folder, as mentioned at:

https://superuser.com/questions/1031638/disable-recent-files-in-windows-10

I have the "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the
taskbar" option disabled. I've never found the Recent folder, or it
showing in the Start Menu as useful. Plus I have CCleaner configured to
purge the "Windows Explorer: Recent Documents" folder when manually ran
or when scheduled to run.

Alternatively, just have Everything exclude your Recent Items folder.
You can exclude any folder you don't want to see in its searches.
J. P. Gilliver
2024-07-11 00:16:34 UTC
Permalink
In message <***@v.nguard.lh> at Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:08:16,
VanguardLH <***@nguard.LH> writes
[]
Post by VanguardLH
That might due to the Recent folder is a special folder. If you don't
want to see the MRU (Most Recently Used) folders, you could exclude the
entire folders in Everything. That's why, for example, I added the
Hmm, a third way not to see link files: either a !*.lnk filter, or
exclude *.lnk files, or exclude the C:...Recent folder.
Post by VanguardLH
Recycle bin as an excluded folder: I don't need to see files that are
going to disappear after the next manual or scheduled cleanup.
Indeed. (I nearly always shift-delete anyway.)
Post by VanguardLH
To see where is the Recent folder, in an address bar, like in File
Useful tip.
Post by VanguardLH
C:\Users\<myacct>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items
However, when I look there, even after double-clicking on a found .mp4
file, and VLC launches to view it, my Recent folder is still empty.
Could be due to me configuring VLC to *not* save an MRU: don't keep a
VLC, like many softwares, makes its _own_ MRU list (I don't know where -
I'm guessing either in a .ini file or in the registry). I didn't know
you could turn it off. That's separate from the .lnk that the OS makes
in Recent when you double-click on a file (either from Everything's
found list or from Explorer).
Post by VanguardLH
recently opened list. Or I tweaked Windows 10 soon after installing it
to disable the Recent list in the Start Menu which effects no use of the
https://superuser.com/questions/1031638/disable-recent-files-in-windows-10
I don't know about 10; I think in some versions you can configure Recent
not to _show_ in the Start menu, but it is still there and full of
links.
[]
Post by VanguardLH
Alternatively, just have Everything exclude your Recent Items folder.
You can exclude any folder you don't want to see in its searches.
Yes.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

In the beginning, Emacs created God.
DAN
2024-07-13 17:42:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver
Is there a way in Everything of suppressing those - either specifying
that certain filenames not be shown (such as *.lnk), or specifically
link files?
Yes, of course: enter your file spec, and " ! .lnk" (without the quotes)


Everything is a godsend and David Carpenter is a geek's hero.

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