How to find files containing specific text?

[edprush]

I need to search through all of the folders and files in a directory to find all the files that contain specific text.

What is the best way to do that?

It would be nice to be able to choose which directory I want to search then all of the files in the subfolders that contain the text would somehow display so I could edit them.

Any suggestions?

 

[ShadowBlade]

i suppose it would depend on the format. If .doc, its not likely, if .txt, its more likely

 

[cKGunslinger]

Again, I'm at to why "Windows Search -> Files containing text" is not a valid option.

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Again, I'm at to why "Windows Search -> Files containing text" is not a valid option.

I agree with your

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: HN

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Again, I'm at to why "Windows Search -> Files containing text" is not a valid option.

I agree with your

Across various scenarios I've concluded Windows' inline file search doesn't work properly. I recommend Agent Ransack. It picks up stuff the Windows search doesn't for whatever reason.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Again, I'm at to why "Windows Search -> Files containing text" is not a valid option.

I've done it a dozen times and it doesn't ever find the text I'm looking for. I know it is in .php and .html files that I have.

Plus I have read that in WinXP the search for text function has a bug that MS knows about.

 

[Relayer]

google desktop search might do it

 

[Nothinman]

rgrep "pattern" <directory>

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: HN

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Again, I'm at to why "Windows Search -> Files containing text" is not a valid option.

I agree with your

Across various scenarios I've concluded Windows' inline file search doesn't work properly. I recommend Agent Ransack. It picks up stuff the Windows search doesn't for whatever reason.

Absolutely. I have never gotten that thing to work.

What about grep?

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: Relayer
google desktop search might do it

Nope. I had that thing installed for about two minutes and killed it because it wouldnt do this.