Author Topic: What is the currently best Desktop Search software? (Read 1,110,399 times)

wraith808 · « **Reply #875 on:** February 29, 2016, 02:14 PM »

Quote from: dr_andus on February 28, 2016, 07:37 PM

Quote from: jity2 on February 28, 2016, 04:53 PM
It is incredible what one can store quite cheaply into Google nowadays

Yes, but how do you back those up, if the unthinkable happens, and due to some malfunction on Google's side they lose all your files?

They are also synced to your machine, right?

MilesAhead · « **Reply #876 on:** February 29, 2016, 05:57 PM »

Quote from: wraith808 on February 29, 2016, 02:14 PM

Quote from: dr_andus on February 28, 2016, 07:37 PM
Quote from: jity2 on February 28, 2016, 04:53 PM
It is incredible what one can store quite cheaply into Google nowadays

Yes, but how do you back those up, if the unthinkable happens, and due to some malfunction on Google's side they lose all your files?

They are also synced to your machine, right?

Google Drive and OneDrive you can use chrome browser to drag and drop folders from Explorer. On OneDrive there is a setting to choose which folders to sync. OneDrive seems to want to have the sync folder on the system partition(perhaps there is a setting for this too now.) I think it was on HowTo Geek I found a tutorial to manipulate the OneDrive settings. It can be a lot to lug around on the system folder if you upload BluRay images as example. Esp. if it is an SSD.

But I agree you should have the stuff backed up to at least a USB stick before deleting the local copy of the upload.

USB sticks maybe are not the most reliable but they are the only storage convenient for me to lug around. I wish I backed up all my source code to the cloud. But Visual Studio is a pita to back up anyway. If you have a component say from one of the programming forums, it may not work as a drag and drop from the ToolBox if you upgrade. The drag from the toolbox seems cool but it does not seem to be as easy to back up as Delphi 5 was. So then you have to back up the entire 10 tons of stuff that is the sitting image of the whole enchilada. Anyway, that's what I tell myself rather than getting pissed I don't have a copy of MD5hash so I can fix the "single instance" quirk it has. C'est la vie.

dr_andus · « **Reply #877 on:** February 29, 2016, 09:01 PM »

Quote from: wraith808 on February 29, 2016, 02:14 PM

Quote from: dr_andus on February 28, 2016, 07:37 PM
Quote from: jity2 on February 28, 2016, 04:53 PM
It is incredible what one can store quite cheaply into Google nowadays

Yes, but how do you back those up, if the unthinkable happens, and due to some malfunction on Google's side they lose all your files?

They are also synced to your machine, right?

Only if you choose to do that, by installing the Windows client. But that would defeat the purpose of trying to use Google Drive instead of your limited hard drive or SSD as the repository for files (as MilesAhead pointed out).

Especially with Chromebooks, which normally only have 16GB SSD drives (some of which is taken up by the OS), the idea is that you keep all your files in the cloud instead. Hence I was wondering how to back that up.

But jity2 is clearly a pro, as his or her setup is very impressive. I'm not sure I'm prepared to pay as much for backing up my Google Drive account, but I'll have to figure out something sooner or later, as I'd hate to lose my stuff on there.

Apologies for taking the discussion off topic.

wraith808 · « **Reply #878 on:** February 29, 2016, 11:29 PM »

Quote from: dr_andus on February 29, 2016, 09:01 PM

Only if you choose to do that, by installing the Windows client. But that would defeat the purpose of trying to use Google Drive instead of your limited hard drive or SSD as the repository for files (as MilesAhead pointed out).

Oh... I'd never do that, i.e. have files only in the cloud and depend on anything or anyone. It's not just google that has problems- anyone has them. My laptop only has certain files synced to it, but the whole thing is synced to my desktop. And you can choose which folders to sync, which removes that concern about the space. All in how you use it, i guess. And it's the primary reason that I'm still using cubby for the majority of my syncing even though I have TB of space elsewhere- the fact that I can turn any folder in place into a synced folder.

dcwul62 · « **Reply #879 on:** March 31, 2016, 06:37 AM »

Copernic Desktop Search
Is it capable of indexing large PDF files?
Say 300MB or larger.
I could not find a file size limit on their site.

Did anybody compare Copernic with X1 ?

Thanks
=

dcwul62 · « **Reply #880 on:** March 31, 2016, 06:50 AM »

Lookeen
Anybody here using that?
Is it possible to change the default location of the index files?
I don't want them on my C-drive.
Also what is the maximum PDF file size ?

Thanks
=

xtabber · « **Reply #881 on:** April 07, 2016, 09:03 PM »

File Locator Pro 8 was released today. Version 8 adds indexing as an option, keyword highlighting, external filters (called Custom EXE interpreters) and multiline regex.

I've long used dtSearch for research purposes but File Locator Pro is what I use most of the time in my daily work because it is so easy to work with and fast enough, even without indexing, for anything except searching the contents a very large number of files. I haven't had time to give the new version a thorough workout, but this might allow me to use File Locator Pro for nearly everything.

dcwul62 · « **Reply #882 on:** April 11, 2016, 08:59 AM »

As you are using File Locator, does it also support other filetypes, such as .mdb, .dbf?
I am using X1 and have added .mdb, .dbf, .mmi, htm, etc.

X1 filetypes supported:

=

=

mojope · « **Reply #883 on:** April 12, 2016, 01:32 PM »

Quote from: dcwul62 on April 11, 2016, 08:59 AM

As you are using File Locator, does it also support other filetypes, such as .mdb, .dbf?
I am using X1 and have added .mdb, .dbf, .mmi, htm, etc.

X1 filetypes supported:

=
[attachment 1 not found]

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What is interesting about this is the type of support for the different filetypes. Does it index the content of the supported filetypes, or is it showing basic metadata like filenames, placement and sizes? If the software indeed indexed all information from every filetype... I would be impressed. I think the file type support shown, is just basic file metadata.

Can anyone using X1 confirm my suspicion, or prove me wrong?

utomo88 · « **Reply #884 on:** August 11, 2016, 08:55 AM »

anybody try Searchblox ?
searchblox is google mini or google search appliance alternative
Free for 25.000 files http://www.searchblox.com/pricing-2/

http://www.searchblox.com/

utomo88 · « **Reply #885 on:** August 11, 2016, 09:02 AM »

and for x1 search fans please test latest beta version and give feedback to them
but X1 search did not have synonym and others

http://forums.x1.com/viewforum.php?f=58

michaelkenward · « **Reply #886 on:** August 11, 2016, 02:31 PM »

Quote from: utomo88 on August 11, 2016, 08:55 AM

Free for 25.000 files http://www.searchblox.com/pricing-2/

$5,000!

Only 100 times the cost of X1.

utomo88 · « **Reply #887 on:** August 12, 2016, 02:06 AM »

Quote from: michaelkenward on August 11, 2016, 02:31 PM

Quote from: utomo88 on August 11, 2016, 08:55 AM
Free for 25.000 files http://www.searchblox.com/pricing-2/

$5,000!

Only 100 times the cost of X1.

if you have more than 25.000 files you need to pay that.
but if it is less than 25.000 Files it is FREE.

and the quality is almost same or better than Google Mini

michaelkenward · « **Reply #888 on:** August 12, 2016, 08:37 AM »

Quote from: utomo88 on August 12, 2016, 02:06 AM

Quote from: michaelkenward on August 11, 2016, 02:31 PM
Quote from: utomo88 on August 11, 2016, 08:55 AM
Free for 25.000 files http://www.searchblox.com/pricing-2/

$5,000!

Only 100 times the cost of X1.

if you have more than 25.000 files you need to pay that.
but if it is less than 25.000 Files it is FREE.

I have 186,561 PDF files according to X1. Many many more email messages.

utomo88 · « **Reply #889 on:** August 13, 2016, 12:09 PM »

Quote from: michaelkenward on August 12, 2016, 08:37 AM

I have 186,561 PDF files according to X1. Many many more email messages.

wow so many. what is that all about ?

BTW I just see that dtSearch 7.x already more than 11 years.
Why they did not release version 8 with better User interface and faster indexing ?

https://www.dtsearch.com/ReleaseNotes.html

michaelkenward · « **Reply #890 on:** August 13, 2016, 05:46 PM »

Quote from: utomo88 on August 13, 2016, 12:09 PM

wow so many. what is that all about ?

I am a writer who has many research papers, articles and newspaper cuttings. I need to index them so that I can find relevant material.

X1 handles the load with minimal difficulty.

utomo88 · « **Reply #891 on:** August 18, 2016, 04:46 AM »

dtSearch 7 is more than 11 Year old
I hope they releasing dtSearch 8 with newer User Interface, so it will look better

https://www.dtsearch.com/ReleaseNotes.html

michaelkenward · « **Reply #892 on:** August 18, 2016, 09:07 AM »

The latest build is less then a month old. Not all software has to ride the never ending upgrade cycle.

Most "updates" are really just cosmetic changes to keep it in line with what Windows looks like.

cjpeltz · « **Reply #893 on:** September 01, 2016, 03:03 AM »

I have been a loyal use of X1 for years, but have run into countless issues with indexing so looking for an alternative. Key requirements are that it indexes files and their contents, email and attachments, is fast and accurate, and has an Outlook plugin. I do like the X1 UI (column searching) so anything that is similar to that is preferred. It doesn't have to be free.

So far based on posts here, I'm looking at Exselo and Looken. What are others experiences with these tools and are there others I should consider given my needs?

gt13013 · « **Reply #894 on:** September 07, 2016, 01:06 PM »

Sorry, I have no experience about Exselo and Lookeen.

I have finally bought Archivarius in order to do a full testing. I really do not like it, and as far as I have tested it, I find X1 far more reactive and much simpler to use.

That is the reason why I would like to keep X1 and improve my X1 5.2.3 version behavior.
My main concern with this version of X1 is that it does not index the content of docx, xlsx, pptx, odt, ods, odp, and xml files.
Has somebody found a trick in order to solve this?

utomo88 · « **Reply #895 on:** September 09, 2016, 05:31 AM »

Quote from: michaelkenward on August 18, 2016, 09:07 AM

The latest build is less then a month old. Not all software has to ride the never ending upgrade cycle.

Most "updates" are really just cosmetic changes to keep it in line with what Windows looks like.

mostly minor update .X is just small update and cosmetics.
but what I suggest is Major update from version 7 to 8.
it is better if they can implement Artificial Intelligence search

MilesAhead · « **Reply #896 on:** September 15, 2016, 10:25 PM »

Currently I am trying out UltraSearch. I have used Everything for years, and Locate32 before that. UltraSearch uses MFTs as Everything does but has the advantage of a content search option.

It takes a bit of time to adapt to it. But I do like the checkboxes for Files and Folders. I don't have to type in a prefix to tell it to look for folders too.

For a freeware it seems to function fine.

Nod5 · « **Reply #897 on:** September 17, 2016, 03:49 PM »

Quote from: MilesAhead on September 15, 2016, 10:25 PM

Currently I am trying out UltraSearch. I have used Everything for years, and Locate32 before that. UltraSearch uses MFTs as Everything does but has the advantage of a content search option.

Everything can also search content, though that feature is tucked away in the advanced search window ( menubar > search > avanced search) and there is no pregenerated index. Does UltraSearch index content?

Off topic: I might as well mention in this thread that I made a small helper tool, Everything Efu Explorer, for using Everything as a offline disc cataloger and browser tool (replacing e.g. Cathy).

MilesAhead · « **Reply #898 on:** September 17, 2016, 04:30 PM »

Quote from: Nod5 on September 17, 2016, 03:49 PM

Everything can also search content, though that feature is tucked away in the advanced search window ( menubar > search > avanced search) and there is no pregenerated index. Does UltraSearch index content?

Thanks for the info. No, UltraSearch scans the MFTs as you type. If you delete the search string and type something different it scans again. One thing I have a bit of trouble adjusting to is the context menu. If you right click the Desktop you have two commands. Run UltraSearch and Search with UltraSearch. If you click the Search, even if you had two partitions selected as default searches, it adds the Desktop folder and removes those. ~~I don't know of any quick way to get them back. You have to click the + button and add them all over again. A bit annoying.~~ Edit: Ok right clicking the area brings up a history with check boxes. I can just check the drives to get them back. Not bad.

I may end up returning to Everything since I have used it for so long. When I search for text it is usually in a source code folder so it does not really slow me down to use SearchMyFiles by Nir Sofer.

Happily Everything seems to have solved that problem that needed the index file to be erased now and then. It seems to be working smoothly now.

Considering I am still in the learning curve with UltraSearch I have to say it is growing on me quickly.

MilesAhead · « **Reply #899 on:** September 17, 2016, 06:35 PM »

Preliminary trials indicate that unless I guide Everything right to the folder, content search with UltraSearch is much faster. Everything searching for *.au3 files containing the word _Singleton churned along for minutes. UltraSearch the annoyance was it popped up a dialog asking if I really wanted to do it because it would slow things down. As soon as I clicked to continue results started showing up. Not all that slow. Now I just have to look for the switch to disable the dialog.