FindFiles was originally written to replace the windows XP search facility. I had installed windows XP and found the search facility to be appauling, not only slow but with functionality (Like search inside zips) which I would never want to use, and did not have the option of turning off.

This program started life as a very basic search tool, however I have not been happy to leave it like that so that whenever a thought entered my mind, "Wouldn’t it be nice if…", I incorperated it into my application. Subsequently the application has grown in complexity and size, so I am compelled now to write a manual so that people do not have any problems runing my application. This is it.

• Finds Folders as part of all search criteria,, Eg. "Win*.*" or "win.*" will show your windows folder, "*. " will usually show all folders.

• Shows folder sizes as well as all other attributes (including MS Dos name, MS Dos path, etc).

• Opens associated files with intened applications, also has the facility to edit any file with notepad.

• Allows the folder of a selected file to be opened.

• Has the facility to select just certain folders on all your hard drives to search in

• Has the facility to search for more than just a single string, multiple strings can be searched, with AND / OR functionality

• Remembers the last 10 items entered previously, so you can select items from a dropdown menu

• Has the ability to limit string seaches to the first 100 lines, greatly improving the string search facility.

• Has the ability not to search for certain items the user suggests, ie don’t look in certain folders, or do not include certain file types ie *.BMP.

Do not be confused by all the controls, the basic ones are fairly straightforward, these Follow:

1) "Filename/s ", enter the file names of the files you want to search for here, seperated by ",".

Example:

To find a document called "my work.doc" and another document called "my work.xls" put in "my work.doc,my work.xls" in the filename box. You could also if you wanted put "my work.*", this would then find all types of files with the name "my work"

Usual filename filters apply ie "*my work*.*" would also bring up the 2 files we specified, as would "*work*.".

You may also search for folders by specifying no extension (Most folders do not have an extension) by specifying "filename. " (Blank extension). I find this very usefull when trying to determine which folders are taking up the most space on my hard drive.

2) The Start / Stop searching button.

Very straightforward, just click to start, then the stop searching button will show, and just click on it to stop searching.

3) The Path.

Here is where you can either use the "Browse" option or just type in the PATH you wish to look in for your files, for example if you want to look in your windows folders you would type in "c:\windows".

You will find that if you enter an invalid path that it will turn red, and you will not be able to search.

3) The Browse Option – I will explain this later as it is used again.

4) File Types:

Use this to set which file type you wish to look for, if you do not include an extension on a filename this is what will be used. Eg. If you type "my work" and the file type is set to "*.doc",it will change the filename to "my work*.doc".

Filenames always override the filetypes.

5) Single Drive.

Change this and it will automatically put the drive letter of the drive you selected in the "PATH" box. This is also linked with the "Select Folders" option.

The rest of the program deals with the issues "Wouldn’t it be nice if…".

Here we get involved with the "Features" of my program and why it is far better than any find tool to date.

2.0.1 Printing Out Results.