kmos9: Mac OS 9: Indexing - on or off

Indexing is only necessary if you use Find By Content searches - it creates a database of the text contents of files, so that you can search for a file whose contents include a given word or phrase. Indexing is not needed if you only search by filename or other file characteristic (File Type, date modified, invisible, etc.).

To disable indexing completely - it's rather easy, but not at all obvious (or intuitive). Open Sherlock. Select "Index Volumes..." from the Find menu - this won't start the indexing process. In the window that initially opens, uncheck all volumes in the list. Close the window, and you're done - no more indexing.

If you have disabled indexing completely, you can then also disable these extensions in Extensions Manager - FBC Indexing Scheduler and Find By Content.

If you just want to change the time of day and day(s) of the week that indexing happens, then leave the volumes selected in that window, and click the Schedule button - you can make those changes in the new window that opens.

You can reduce some of the indexing time by going into Sherlock's Preferences, click the Languages... button, and deselect all languages except the one you use.

(This suggestion compliments of Kurt Weber) - You can index specific folders (not the whole hardrive) by holding down the control key and selecting the folder. From the menu that pops up select, "index selection." Your Mac will index that folder only, allowing you to search by content the files in that folder. (If you have a lot of files in that folder it may take some time.)