[Solved] Searching files with characters in specific locations

[w64bit]

If I do this search in 1.4:
?ac?.jpg
I obtain correct results.
In 1268a there are other files listed, with "ac" not in the same location of the file name.
Also, in search list there are files with more than 4 characters.

[void]

What search options are checked under the Search menu?

Could you please give an example filename where ac is not in the same location.

[w64bit]

Nothing selected + Everything filter.
Example for: ?ac?.jpg
1ac2.jpg (OK)
anythingac4.jpg (not OK)

It seems that ? from the end it's respected. The first ?, not.

[void]

There is a Tools -> Options -> Search -> Match whole filename when using wildcards option.

Please try checking this option. (it should be checked by default)

[w64bit]

Yes. Thank you.

[w64bit]

Is it possible to add a secondary checkbox to Options -> Search -> Match whole filename when using wildcards,
named "For names using only ?".

If checked can work like this:

3 letter docx in folders starting with one character + ABC + anything
\?ABC*\ ???.docx

[void]

I will consider an option to only match whole words when using (?)
Thank you for the suggestion.

For now, please use the wfn: (Whole File Name) search modifier:

\?ABC*\ wfn:???.docx

(works best with match whole filename when using wildcards disabled)

In Everything 1.5:

?ABC*\???.docx

-or-

?ABC**\???.docx

(works best with match whole filename when using wildcards enabled)
(Everything 1.5 will check each subpath, instead of the whole path)

In other words, Everything 1.5 will test:
c:\docs\my docs\xABC123\foo.docx => No Match
c:\docs\my docs\xABC123\foo.docx => No Match
c:\docs\my docs\xABC123\foo.docx => No Match
c:\docs\my docs\xABC123\foo.docx => Match

In Everything 1.4 (or 1.5):

*\?ABC*\???.docx

(prefix the search with a * to match the start of the path)
(works best with match whole filename when using wildcards enabled)

[w64bit]

Thank you very much.
One remark. In addition to this new option, maybe "Match whole filename when using wildcards" can be moved from Options to Search menu as "Match filename".

[void]

I will consider a Match Whole Filename option under the Search menu.

Thank you for the suggestion.

[gregor.al]

This is a great feature for special cases.
RegEx has special characters for this purpose ( anchors ).

Caret (^) matches the position before the first character in the string.
Dollar ($) matches the position right after the last character in the string.

Perhaps adding/using those two might be easier and more generic?

Just an idea, ignore if it is not a good fit.

[void]

You can enable the special regex characters ^ and $ for use in a normal search with Everything 1.5.

To enable matching of the start of the filename with a caret:

• In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
  /match_start_of_filename_with_caret=2
  where 2 is match start of basename, 1 is match start of filename (or full path when match path is enabled) and 0 is off (default).
  If successful you should see match_start_of_filename_with_caret=1 in the status bar for a few seconds.

To enable matching of the end of the filename with a dollar sign:

• In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
  /match_end_of_filename_with_dollar_sign=1
  where 1 is on and 0 is off (default).
  If successful you should see match_end_of_filename_with_dollar_sign=1 in the status bar for a few seconds.

Match end of filename with dollar sign
Match start of filename with caret

[w64bit]

@ void
Can you please tell me if this feature (automatically detect ? and *) is at the top of your list?

[void]

What feature are you referring to?

[w64bit]

Everything should automatically detect ? and * without user intervention (without wfn: or Match whole filename when using wildcards).

FOLDER1 containing:
1.pdf
12.pdf
123.pdf

Problem 1:
Match whole filename when using wildcards = OFF
\FOLDER?\ ?.pdf
all files in folder are listed

Problem 2:
Match whole filename when using wildcards = ON
\FOLDER?\ ?.pdf
\FOLDER?\ *.pdf
no files are listed

I think that:
\FOLDER?\ ?.pdf should display 1 character filenames
\FOLDER?\ *.pdf should display all filenames

[void]

The intended usage with "Match whole filename when using wildcards" = ON is:
folder?\?.pdf
folder?\*.pdf

or, if you want subfolders under folder1:

folder?\** ?.pdf
folder?\** *.pdf
folder?\**.pdf



Since a trailing backslash will never match anything with "Match whole filename when using wildcards" = ON, I will experiment with matching whole basenames anywhere in the parent path.

For example:
\window?\ would match c:\windows\Notepad.exe

This would make your following searches work as expected with "Match whole filename when using wildcards" = ON:
\FOLDER?\" ?.pdf should display 1 character filenames
\FOLDER?\" *.pdf should display all filenames



With "Match whole filename when using wildcards" = OFF, please try the following search:
\FOLDER?\" \?.pdf

[void]

Everything 1.5.0.1271a adds support for matching wildcards with a trailing path separator anywhere in the path.

For example:

\FOLDER?\

is treated as:

\FOLDER?\**


This works best when "Match whole filename when using wildcards" is enabled from Tools -> Options -> Search.

The leading path separator can also be omitted:

FOLDER?\

[w64bit]

Excellent. It's much, much easier now.
Thank you very much.