Quick search text box for Windows Explorer [XP]

[nosh]

I'm not talking about desktop search clients plugging into explorer, but a way to use Windows inbuilt search straight from any explorer window via a text input box. Is there any plugin that'll let me do this? 

[Hirudin]

I may have missed what you need, but if you hit "Ctrl+F" in an explorer window it'll initiate a search in the current folder.

[nosh]

True, I use F3. But I'm looking for an inline text input box always open in every explorer window toolbar (like the Google search box is for browsers).

[cmpm]

though I haven't tryed these various programs
they could be worth a look-

http://lifehacker.co...qt-tabbar-260926.php

[Lashiec]

Or Windows Key + F everywhere. It's faster than moving the pointer.

[nosh]

Thanks cmpm - I tried it but the "search box" is actually just a filter for the current folder, it doesn't search recursively.

[Darwin]

My gut is telling me that Lashiec and Hirudin are on the right track - surely the default hot keys are the quickest, easiest way to go? OR are you looking for a simpler interface for entering the search text into?

[nosh]

I've always used the keyboard shortcuts (Win+F if I'm outside Explorer or F3 from within) but the pane that pops up to the left narrows down the default view and once the results are displayed the default view is lost altogether (I'm aware I can navigate to it using the Back button). I was just hoping someone had made a better way of doing things - maybe an inline ajax like search box that  displays the results in a side pane without making the main folder view disappear.

Another annoying aspect of the default search is, it won't look for hidden files/folders till you specifically ask it to (ie: if you don't want a half-assed search there's a couple of more clicks involved) - fortunately there's a registry patch to fix this.     

[Darwin]

FileLocator Pro will replace Windows Explorer and even comes with its own hotkeys (Win-Alt-F3 or Win-Alt-F) for use outside of Windows Explorer - it will replace the CTRL-F function within Windows Explorer. You could also try our very own Veign's Seeker. I've used it and like it a lot as well. Can't remember off-hand if it will replace the native search feature though...

[cmpm]

In this list

https://www.donation...m/Software/Skrommel/

you will find "find", perhaps it can be embedded in windows explorer

[Hirudin]

DirectoryOpus almost has the feature it looks like you're looking for. It doesn't seem to search within folders though. If you start typing it'll highlight the first matching file name. Actually, come to think of it, this is the same as explorer except they make a "Find" box pop up...



Maybe with some gentle persuasion they'd implement recursive search.

Hmmm... maybe a toolbar button could be (or has been) created that would allow a firefox-like search field... I bet someone on the Dopus forum would know.

[nosh]

Thanks guys. FileLocator Pro is very impressive. A lot of its features seem to be overkill for me but it seems to be _much_ faster than Windows' default search (13 seconds to locate 740 files as opposed to just 3 taken by FLPro!). It let me take over the Ctrl+F & F3 shortcuts in Explorer  as Darwin mentioned & I used Autohotkey to hi-jack the Win+F key too.