Just curious - what's the difference between FARR and UltraSearch

[vsub]

In speed of finding files...can FARR search this way too
I tried the widow search,FARR search and XYPlorer search but all of them are not nearly as fast as UltraSearch

C:\ - 46907 Files and 9605 Folders
D:\ - 22649 Files and 1344 Folders

69556 Files
23993 Folders
All of the programs are searching hidden/system folders too and no one of them are using any filters to make the search faster...I also restarted the PC and disable the indexing service before the test
 
Explorer -  1 minute and 47 seconds(after all of the tests I set the indexing service to manual and stop it and then the files were find for 60 seconds)
XYPlorer - 12 seconds
FARR - 16 seconds
UltraSearch - Almost 2 seconds

32 files

No matter what I try UltraSearch always find the files almost immediately(even just typing .exe)

[cyberdiva]

How does UltraSearch compare with Everything Search?  I find Everything extraordinarily fast, but I've never tried UltraSearch.

[vsub]

Everything is unbelievably fast(it's either the same speed or faster)
I just started the program and I didn't change any settings...the program first scanned the hdd really fast and give me a list of all of the files I have on it and then when I just paste the same name I used for the other program,the result appear in an instant

All those files and folders and the database file that the program creates is ~500kb

[db90h]

The search algorithm used is most likely the difference. You see, when the data is cataloged, the efficiency of the format in which it is stored (the data tree/algorithm) determines how fast it can later be recalled. This is CS 101. A bad algorithm can take 100 seconds and a good algorithm 0.1 seconds, that is how big a difference there is. Of course, the algorithms aren't rated in 'seconds', but rather in O notation, which I'll spare you the details of (basically a way to mathematically represent how long a search takes).

That is why explorer takes so long when you turned off indexing, it is doing a linear search, the slowest possible.

Other factors can also play a role. Such as the amount of data indexed. Some of these products may index more data than others. Etc...

[vsub]

Ok thanks for the explanation but why FARR is not maded to work for example like Everything(~500kb database for more than 60000 files is extremely small cost)...is there is something bad about the method Everything uses and that's why FARR is not searching that way too?

[Josh]

vsub: See this topic: https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=27116.0

Several of us have been bugging mouser to get on indexing for the reasons you identified. This would greatly increased the speed of results returned from FARR. The only issue I have with the method mouser is planning to use is that I now have to install something else on my system to use it.

[db90h]

I did not know FARR operated like that. Yes, see the topic Josh pointed you to. It explains it all.. and how you can make FARR much faster by interfacing it with Locate32 or another indexing app. Basically, you are outside the realm of what FARR was intended to originally do.

[vsub]

The only issue I have with the method mouser is planning to use is that I now have to install something else on my system to use it.

-Josh (October 30, 2011, 10:59 AM)

Well if you want to search with the speed of Everything now but use FARR,you have to install something else anyway(the Everything plugin and the program Everything and the program to always be started)

[db90h]

True enough. BTW, if you want to compare all products, you need to throw Google Desktop in the mix.

[vsub]

I tried it couple of weeks ago but I didn't really like it and I read somewhere that the google desktop database is not small file and it always trying to scan for changes(I didn't like it how it worked even on my Virtual PC with have only one hdd and 8000 files)

[db90h]

I tried it couple of weeks ago but I didn't really like it and I read somewhere that the google desktop database is not small file and it always trying to scan for changes(I didn't like it how it worked even on my Virtual PC with have only one hdd and 8000 files)

-vsub (October 30, 2011, 11:15 AM)

Yea, it is very large as it indexes everything by default. You can set it to exclude specific drives, folders, or filetypes though. It does have excellent speed, as you know Google engineers are good at quickly indexing and searching . It does consume a lot of resources as it continually indexes your filesystem and detects changes on-demand.

[vsub]

Well "Everything" is also really fast and the most important thing is,that the program have portable version(tinny executable,really small ini file and tinny database file that contains the locations of more than 50000 files)

The only thing that "Everything" lack is the launch history but that's not big problem because you can find what you are searching for extremely fast...Everything also check for changes(deleted/created file/folder)

The database of Everything looks like a compressed text file

[MilesAhead]

Just trying UltraSearch 1.5.  Seems pretty good but no hotkey to bring up the window like Everything when minimized to Tray.  I have to double click the Tray Icon.

Other than that, seems to perform.

[MilesAhead]

I added a section to Transpose, my eclectic hotkey app.

But you can use it stand-alone to kick up the UltraSearch 1.5 window when Minimized to Tray.  Requires 1.5 of UltraSearch since it uses "single instance" behavior.

edit: I compile with AutoHotKey_L

Also the path to the exe is hard-wired so modify to suit your setup

[Select]

#SingleInstance force
#NoEnv

_EmptyWorkingSet()

;if UltraSearch is minimized to tray
;open when Shift Backspace pressed
;
#If _IsRunning("UltraSearch.exe")
  +BS::
  Run,C:\Utils\UltraSearch\UltraSearch.exe
  _EmptyWorkingSet()
Return

;-------- helper functions from MilesAhead.ahk -----------

; reduce memory footprint
_EmptyWorkingSet()
{
  Return DllCall("psapi.dll\EmptyWorkingSet", "UInt", -1)
}

; _IsRunning(program) from MilesAhead.ahk
; returns non 0 if program is running
;
; call with only program name, not path
; e.g. If _IsRunning("notepad.exe")
;
_IsRunning(program)
{
  Process,Exist,%program%
  Return errorlevel
}

[mouser]

Two good things to check out to see what makes FARR unique:

• This list: https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=13421.0
• The FARR screencasts: https://www.donation...om/screencasts/farr/

[MilesAhead]

Here's another macro hack for UltraSearch.  UltraSearch has no option to start in Tray.  If you start it minimized, the tell tale button is in the Taskbar(I sent 'em a suggestion to fix that and add a hotkey to pop up the window.)

For this to work you must have enabled the Minimize To Tray option in UltraSearch and it must be version 1.5.

Compile this script with AutoIt3 if you like. It must be run from the same folder as UltraSearch.exe.  Put a shortcut to usLaunch.exe in your StartUp folder.

It makes sure it can find UltraSearch.exe(no pun intended) then waits 10 seconds to allow other startup apps to do their thing.  It launches the program, gets it's screen location, then clicks the 'x' in the corner to minimize it to tray.  I love watching the mouse go over to do the click!!

[Select]

AutoItSetOption("TrayIconHide", 1)
AutoItSetOption("MouseCoordMode", 0)

$prog = "UltraSearch.exe"
$title = "UltraSearch  V1.5"

If Not FileExists($prog) Then
$eMsg = @WorkingDir & "\" & $prog & " Not Found!"
$eMsg &= @CRLF & @CRLF & @ScriptName & " must be in the same Folder as " & $prog
MsgBox(0x1010,"UltraSearch Launcher",$eMsg,5)
Exit
EndIf

; let other startup programs load
Sleep(10000)
If Not ShellExecute($prog) Then Exit

$handle = WinWaitActive($title, "", 8)
If $handle <> 0 Then
$posInfo = WinGetPos($title)
If IsArray($posInfo) Then
$x = $posInfo[2] - 24
$y = 12
WinActivate($title)
Sleep(10)
MouseClick("left", $x, $y)
EndIf
EndIf

[MilesAhead]

btw I got an email back from UltraSearch.  They say next release will have a hotkey to toggle the window when minimized to tray.  As for starting minimized to tray, no plans.

After playing around with it a bit I still prefer Everything Search for file search. I use FARR for launching programs not pinned to taskbar or in a one click stack. I use docking stations. When I power them on Everything picks 'em right up.  UltraSearch seems to need a prod. Also every time I start typing in US it goes "searching..." and churns whereas Everything is smooth.

[vsub]

Actually if I knew about "Everything",the thread title most likely will be about Everything and FARR,not about FARR and UltraSearch :p

I just saw UltraSearch while I was looking for an update for TreeSizeFree.