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Difference between Spotlight and Finder-search

There seems to be a difference between spotlight-search and finder-search.
If I search for "Spotlight" via the Spotlight-Window, I get more search-results than if I search via "Finder+F". This is really confusing as the search-filters of the finder-search exactly match those of the spotlight search.

Message was edited by: Oliver Matuschin

PowerBook G4 1.5GHz 17", iMac Core2Extreme 2.8GHz 24", Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Nov 26, 2007 5:09 AM

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3 replies

Nov 26, 2007 11:55 AM in response to Oliver Matuschin

The Spotlight menu bar search will return results on things, such as the contents of Safari cache and history files, which are not automatically included in a Finder search. Thus the number of items returned for any given search will often be quite different. To get a match between the two you need to add the criterion "Spotlight Items" to the Finder search. Don't remember whether that is in the default list or not, if not go to Others in the criteria drop down, then scroll down to "Spotlight Items" and select it, and put a check mark next to it so it will always be available quickly in the drop down menu. Oh, and when you bring it up the default is selected of "don't include" (which is asinine) so you need to select include. Every time.
Francine

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Francine
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Difference between Spotlight and Finder-search

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