Spotlight Search Within Current Folder

[gthing]

It is intensely annoying that the little search box in your Finder window has now way of searching the current folder. Sometimes you can select it as an option but try, say, searching through your trash. You can't.

This behavior doesn't make sense at all. Why would you open a finder window, drill down to a certain folder, then try to search your entire computer for something? The global spotlight (in the corner) should be global, while the local spotlight should be local (at least by default) and there should be some way to search through the trash.

Bizarre Apple design choice aside, anyone know how to change the default behavior, or make future trash searches easier?

[capitalj]

It is intensely annoying that the little search box in your Finder window has now way of searching the current folder.

The key combo command+F will limit the search to the current window. Use it before typing in the search box.

Sometimes you can select it as an option but try, say, searching through your trash. You can't.

I've never searched my trash this way - it usually contains only a few things because I empty it frequently - so I've never thought about it before, but I just read this thread (http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=54728) and in post #2 Hal Itosis provides what seems to be the explanation for why searching the trash isn't necessarily as simple as searching other folders.

The trash window shown by clicking the dock's icon is a
completely manufactured abstraction, consisting of the
union of all trash from all mounted volumes (plus your
personal ~/.Trash).

[remyleroy]

The key combo command+F will limit the search to the current window. Use it before typing in the search box.

It doesn't work on my Mac (MacOS X 10.5.6)
I open a window (the one called "famille" on the screenshot), then type cmd-F but the search is performed on "This Mac" instead of within the folder whose window I've just openned

http://homepage.mac.com/remyleroy/.Public/ZZ1684933A.jpg

[capitalj]

It doesn't work on my Mac (MacOS X 10.5.6)
I open a window (the one called "famille" on the screenshot), then type cmd-F but the search is performed on "This Mac" instead of within the folder whose window I've just openned

Sorry, I should have said that it will allow you to limit the search to the current window - the search defaults to "This Mac" but the button for the currently opened folder is to the right of the one for "This Mac".

[remyleroy]

OK I understand...
if one uses the search field at the upper right corner of a window, the search will be performed on the whole disk right away, then one will be allowed to narrow the search to the current folder.
If one use cmd-F, it will be possible to BEGIN by narrowing the search to the current folder...

It's a pity Apple has made this search field within the folder windows behave like this in Leopard!

It worked just fine in Tiger, the search being performed within the current folder!

[capitalj]

It worked just fine in Tiger, the search being performed within the current folder!I am also new to Leopard, and was slightly annoyed by the change. If you haven't already noticed, system files are not included in the search by default. But you can click on (in English) "Kind", select "Other..", find "System Files" and check the "In Menu" box to save time in the future, then you can choose to include system files.

[dianeross]

You might consider creating some saved searches. For example, create one for your User's folder or other favorite folders where you search often.

[nopixies]

So has anyone found a way to search a mounted drive from leopard using SpotLight? I have to use easyfind and it is driving me into the trees. Most of the time I just need a specific file by name and I would like to at least be able to see the thumbnail before I decide to investigate or open the file. FRUSTRATION

[osxpounder]

This behavior doesn't make sense at all. Why would you open a finder window, drill down to a certain folder, then try to search your entire computer for something? The global spotlight (in the corner) should be global, while the local spotlight should be local (at least by default) and there should be some way to search through the trash.

I agree completely. It's a daily frustration (many times a day, actually). If I have a folder open, and use the Find field on the Finder toolbar for that window, I should get a search of that folder and its contents.

Instead, I have to use the mouse and click on the folder name in the new horizontal bar of search controls that appears after I started my search.

Remleroy said it best: "It worked just fine in Tiger, the search being performed within the current folder!"
:mad:

[dianeross]

Most of the time I just need a specific file by name and I would like to at least be able to see the thumbnail before I decide to investigate or open the file. FRUSTRATION

Quick Look in Leopard lets you see the file.

[vicviper]

In the past, Apple has consistently made changes to their OS that actually DECREASE productivity, and this is no exception. I hate the way the search function was changed in Leopard. What's really funny is that they are now touting Snow Leopard's "Enhancements and Refinements"...one of which they describe like this:

"Change Search Locations. Change the default behavior of Spotlight to have it search the currently selected folder or your most recent search location."

http://bit.ly/U1DzS

How can this be a refinement or enhancement, when it worked perfectly fine in Tiger!?!?

[vitalog]

"Change Search Locations. Change the default behavior of Spotlight to have it search the currently selected folder or your most recent search location."

http://bit.ly/U1DzS

How can this be a refinement or enhancement, when it worked perfectly fine in Tiger!?!?

It can't be refinement by one more reason: it doesn't work. In snow leopard default search location is also "This Mac" :(

[ziwigi]

It can't be refinement by one more reason: it doesn't work. In snow leopard default search location is also "This Mac" :(

This has been fixed in snow leopard. Go to the Finder>Preferences Advanced Tab.

http://imgur.com/T3FuD.png

[sbunting]

It APPEARS to have been fixed in Snow Leopard, but in fact, even though you have selected current folder in Finder's preferences, the default behavior is still to search the entire Mac. Worse yet, the current folder wherein I wanted the search to occur is NOT next to "This Mac". Rather, the O/S drive and the shared folder are my choices. It only appears to have gotten worse in Snow Leopard, at least in my copy!

Steve Bunting

[Prof1950]

Now matter what I do, the only two options I get are "This Mac" and "Documents. How do I get around Apple's stupid assumptions about what I "want" to do?

When "Find" was truly separate from Spotlight, I could easily search any location that I choose. Now that seems to be virtually impossible.

FYI I threw the Documents folder away as soon as loaded Leopard like I always do, because I have had my own file organization since before the "System" even had a name. But ever since System 10, there is a default assumption that you will always put all your files in Documents, all your Photos in Photos, etc etc. -- so if you have a different filing system, you are basically screwed. It seems like your only choice is to spend a lot of time breaking your own filing system and reconstructing it so it matches Apple's (Steve's??) assumptions.

[claidheamdanns]

Extremely annoying! I've been looking all over for a "fix" to this, but only seem to stumble across forum posts of other people frustrated with the non-find-within-window feature of Leopard.

Hello, Apple??? are you listening.

[osxpounder]

I'm frustrated with Spotlight, which was once more useful than it is today, on my 10.5.8 Mac (and a .7 one I'm not upgrading yet). Searching specific locations in Finder is less convenient than before (and harder to figure out, when it ought to be very simple). Seems like it gets worse every time its changed by Apple.

Today (and ever since Leopard rolled out), it takes extra mouse clicks just to set the folder that I want to search, in Finder... when it'd be simpler and clearer for Spotlight to search the folder I'm in when I do Cmd-F.

I can't choose a different folder, once I've begun the search. Ironically, we have dozens of search criteria we can add to the search, but not one stinking option is "folder".

It's great to have buttons for certain likely locations, like "This Mac" and "Documents", but it's terrible that I don't get an option to search the folder I've got open right in front of me.

The worst thing about Spotlight, though, is that it's failing to find things. I had a document, a PDF, that has certain words in its filename, its contents AND its Spotlight comment. It just would not turn up in a Spotlight search. I had to scan folder contents with my eyes till I found it, and, yep, all the proper data is there. Spotlight didn't show it in a search till after I'd opened it, changed something, and saved it again.
:mad:

[claidheamdanns]

Seems like Apple took a retarded pill on this one. Give me Sherlock back again. It was far better than Spotlight ever thought of being.

[dandj]

Seems like Apple took a retarded pill on this one. Give me Sherlock back again. It was far better than Spotlight ever thought of being.

You could try SpotInside from http://www.oneriver.jp/SpotInside/index_e.html.

It provides all the features that Spotlight should have, but I agree we shouldn't have to resort to third party solutions for such a fundamental requirement.

[NaOH]

It's great to have buttons for certain likely locations, like "This Mac" and "Documents", but it's terrible that I don't get an option to search the folder I've got open right in front of me.

While Spotlight doesn't bother me, I'm not going to defend its default behavior. Nonetheless, this sounds like you're not using the toolbar Search field at the top of a Finder window (accessible with Command-Option-F).

It sounds, instead, like you're simply opening a new Search window (either via the File menu or with Command-F). If you use the Search field I mentioned above, one of the buttons will be for the window you're currently viewing.

I'll agree it's annoying in these instances that you must tell Spotlight to search the current folder, but the option is available using the method I described. Your comment incorrectly indicates there is no such way.

[Prof1950]

OK, opening the folder and using that search function does give me two separate options:

1. I can use the Find feature to search anywhere (or Documents), using lots of options

2. I can open the folder window and search its contents, with now options.


Oh Tiger, wherefore art thou??

[NaOH]

If you're regularly searching within a certain folder (or folders), you may want to make a save a Smart Search Folder specifying the desired one(s) and saving it in the Sidebar of all Finder windows (or the Dock) for convenient access.

[johntkucz]

Now matter what I do, the only two options I get are "This Mac" and "Documents. How do I get around Apple's stupid assumptions about what I "want" to do?

When "Find" was truly separate from Spotlight, I could easily search any location that I choose. Now that seems to be virtually impossible.

FYI I threw the Documents folder away as soon as loaded Leopard like I always do, because I have had my own file organization since before the "System" even had a name. But ever since System 10, there is a default assumption that you will always put all your files in Documents, all your Photos in Photos, etc etc. -- so if you have a different filing system, you are basically screwed. It seems like your only choice is to spend a lot of time breaking your own filing system and reconstructing it so it matches Apple's (Steve's??) assumptions.


Lol. yeah the "default" music, docs, photos etc folder names got me and I never used them, I just disregard that hierarchy completely and use my own filing system, too. That seems to be common for most people. Btw, Awesome all the FRENCH folder names in in-screen photos!!!!! :D

That Finder<Prefs<Advanced<"√ Search Current Folder" does search the entire mac first but always narrows the results to the current folder (and now it seems to automatically start the search only from within the current folder (i.e. not entire mac search first, but the results are always the current folder with search current folder option selection, so that works!), so that works for me! Then I can just use spotlight to have search results pull from the all files sample.

Thanks!