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[HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:53 am
by Gunthor
Today I needed to improve the search capabilities of my Windows 7 64bit client in order to find some files on my Asustor NAS shares:
  • First I was delighted to see that Windows Explorer search already displays all the files that contain the search criteria within the file names. ;)
  • Then I also wanted Windows Explorer to also display all my Office documents containing the search criteria: I switched the default setting from "in indexed locations,..." to "Always search file names..." within Organize >> Folder and Search options >> Folder Options >> Search >> What to search - knowing that the default will not allow network shares to be added to indexed locations. I was thrilled to see the results matching my expectations. :)
  • But the story is not over here, because I missed the .PDF files containing the given search criteria: I downloaded and installed the PDFlib TET PDF iFilter and was all the more thrilled that it worked immediately. :D
The good thing about the PDFlib iFilter is that it is without charge (for non-commercial usage). The awesome thing about the above settings is that our Asustor NAS now appears to offer a functionality usually reserved for resource hog machines running Windows Server 2008 together with indexing services...
...with the small restriction that we have to wait for the results longer.

I also looked at the NAS Activity Monitor while performing searches: CPU activity stays below 10% - so this is not an issue. Waiting time is primarily due to HDD activity. Kindly remember: This is for non-indexed searches - so you need to narrow down on specific folders! This is not for messy people who want to find a file somewhere on the NAS desireing to trigger this kind of search on all NAS shares at once.

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:54 pm
by Kerry
Hi Gunthor, have you tried the Searchlight on the top left corner (with search icon)? It also works with fuzzy file name or extension but it does search the content of files though.

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:00 am
by Gunthor
Hi Kerry, I don't know what you are talking about. You have a searchlight on the top left corner within the Windows-Explorer of a Windows 7 client?!? Then please attach a screenshot - I'd like to see it. Or is it a different kind of file explorer you are talking about?

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:41 pm
by Bertrand
Hi Gunthor,
Thanks for your post.
I am desperately looking for a NAS that provide an index compatible with windows 7 x64 clients (windows explorer), offering real instant search results and the ability to include Nas folders in my libraries as it is possible with a windows server.
It seems you go for a no index solution, is it a choice or does it mean you were not able to make your NAS provide a compatible index ?
Thanks !

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:00 pm
by Kerry
Hi Gunthor....woops...my bad....I comprehended wronly.
what I mean is the searchlight in ADM, not the microsoft windows. http://www.asustor.com/admv2?type=1&sub ... en#content

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:17 am
by ianinfrance
Bertrand wrote:Hi Gunthor,
Thanks for your post.
I am desperately looking for a NAS that provide an index compatible with windows 7 x64 clients (windows explorer), offering real instant search results and the ability to include Nas folders in my libraries as it is possible with a windows server.
It seems you go for a no index solution, is it a choice or does it mean you were not able to make your NAS provide a compatible index ?
Thanks !
I'd like to be able to do this too.

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:36 am
by Gunthor
Hi Bertrand / Hi IanInFrance,
From my understanding if you are looking for full index solutions similar to what a Windows 7 client offers you need resource hog machines in order to guarantee that your file server will not loose its capability to respond quickly. NAS systems are economic machines whose performance will never be a match to servers running e.g. Windows Server 20XX. This is why I think it is not a good idea to run an indexing service on NAS machines (especially if you host a lot of files). Therefore I never tried to investigate into this direction because I believe that the NAS server performance will stall... !!!
...maybe a Linux nerd is able to program an index service that updates ONLY when the machine is idle in order to alleviate the performance problem - but certainly not me.
I am very happy with the non-index solution I've found and shared and need nothing else. ;)
When I search within all files of a given folder I get the results within 10-20 seconds. For me this is awesome!!!
If you REALLY NEED an INDEXING machine: If I were you I would sell my NAS and INVEST INTO HIGH PERFORMANCE HARDWARE, because I don't think you will be satisfied with any NAS machine running this service...

Re: [HOW TO] search for file content w/o indexing...

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:46 am
by Gunthor
Hi Kerry,
The searchlight within the ADM File explorer only searches for file names within the active folder (no sub folders) and it also does not search the file content. I think in your post from 29 Aug 2013 you wanted to write "it does not search the content of files" instead of "it does search the content of files".