How to create Smart Folder that limits search to a specific folder or drive

Open the folder you want to search, cmd-F, and select the folder name instead of "This Mac" or whatever the default is. Set up whatever criteria you want, and then save the search and put it on sidebar.

When you select the saved search, you can put something in the search field to limit the search. However, for whatever reason, the default location switches to "This Mac" instead of the folder, so you will also have to reselect the folder name from the search criteria. So, unless you have additional criteria in the saved search, just going to the folder and typing cmd-F gives you the same thing.

I would like to further exclude subfolders from a search/Smart Folder so that the results are just the items in the actual folder I specified in the search.

Any ideas?

Barney-15E wrote:
Open the folder you want to search, cmd-F, and select the folder name instead of "This Mac"

*What do you mean select the folder name?*

I only see two options, "This Mac" and the name of the current user. The folder that I had open when I typed cmd-F is not a selectable option anywhere.

iHatePC wrote:

Barney-15E wrote:
Open the folder you want to search, cmd-F, and select the folder name instead of "This Mac"

*What do you mean select the folder name?*

I only see two options, "This Mac" and the name of the current user. The folder that I had open when I typed cmd-F is not a selectable option anywhere.

I see the folder name when I try it on my laptop. I changed the systems default find settings a few months back and I assume that this is preventing it from now working properly.

I reset the "default_smart.plist" file back to the factory default but it did not correct the problem. I still do not get the option to search only within the selected folder like I can on my laptop.

I created a new user account but it did not solve the problem.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

For the love of Steve Jobs, does anyone have a solution to this problem before I perform a dreaded clean install of Leopard?

From what you describe, it sounds like the folder that is open when you invoke find is your home folder. That is why your username shows up.

If you are in column view, it works on the selected folder as that is the one that is technically open in that view. However, you can't just select the folder in icon or list view.

Other than that, I don't know what is wrong. I can't imagine there is a setting that would affect that behavior.

1.) Performed Archive and Install. This did not correct the problem.

2.) Performed clean install to new hard drive. This corrected the problem.

3.) Performed a user migration (to the fresh new OS and new HD) using the migration utility and the problem returned.

So it seems pretty clear that there is something related to my user identity that is causing the problem. I called Apple tech support but they were not able to resolve the problem.

Sure, I can just create a new user and spend the next week or so reinstalling a bunch of software...but certainly based on the description of the problem (and the trouble shooting that I have already performed) someone at Apple should be able to pinpoint what files I need to delete or replace to correct this problem.

There is another thread on the same topic that indicates others have the same experience as you.

I just got off the telephone with Apple tech support. Finally (after three tech support calls, and after wasting hours of my time) Apple escalated my call to a support specialist that knew what he was talking about.

He had me drag the following two files to my desktop:

*> com.apple.finder.plist*
*> com.apple.spotlight.plist*

The files are located in your user home folder:

*> user/home/library/preferences*

After moving the files you will need to restart your computer. If it corrects the problem simply drag the two files into the trash.

Barney-15E wrote:
There is another thread on the same topic that indicates others have the same experience as you.

You did not post any link Barney!

I didn't post a link because there was no new information. I was just pointing out that there are similar problems.

Good work on powering through AppleCare.

I just wish they'd put a link in the list of actions when you right click on a folder

this solved it for me


http://www.macosxhints.com/index.php?topic=system104&page=20

10.4: Easily limit a Smart Folder to a specific folder
Mon, Sep 19 2005 at 9:17AM PDT • Submitted by horhey23 System 10.4
Tiger only hintAt the risk of submitting the obvious ... I had a hard time when first using Tiger's Smart Folders feature to just find recent items in my Freelance folder. I created a new Smart Folder, but just couldn't find any search criteria to limit things to a certain folder.

The solution? First navigate to the folder to which you want to limit the search. Hit Command-F, or in the menu, go to File -> Find. The "tab bar" at the top of the search criteria window now shows the folder you are currently in as one of the options. Select it, and then you can (as always) specify the other search criteria to your liking. Hit the Save button, and you now have a Smart Folder restricted to a specific folder (and its sub-folders).

[robg adds: You can do this directly from the New Smart Folder window, but it's quite time consuming -- click the Others... button and drag your destination folder into the list of locations, then uncheck all the others. The problem with this is that the changes you make to the Others list will remain in force -- the next time you create a Smart Folder, the Others pop-up will look just like you left it. So the above method is the best way to create a folder-specific Smart Folder. And yes, this is a fairly obvious hint, but not everyone may be aware of it. I find the behavior a bit confusing, as you have to remember to first move to the folder you wish to search, then create the Smart Folder...]
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10.4: Easily limit a Smart Folder to a specific folder
By: idleFingers on Mon, Sep 19 2005 at 12:11PM PDT
for this to work, you need the 'Allways open folders in new finder window' option in finder prefs turned off. Otherwise, when you hit cmd-f, a new window will pop up without the selected folder's name in the bar.
Reply to This • #

* 10.4: Easily limit a Smart Folder to a specific folder - By: beepotato on Tue, Sep 20 2005 at 4:20AM PDT

10.4: Easily limit a Smart Folder to a specific folder
By: mccabem on Tue, Sep 20 2005 at 7:20AM PDT
So how can one limit a Spotlight to ONLY the present folder - even to the exclusion of sub folders?

Finding subfolder names along with file names is expected, but what if I only want to search the contents of the folder - nothing broader nor anything deeper?
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* 10.4: Easily limit a Smart Folder to a specific folder - By: sjk on Tue, Sep 20 2005 at 7:19PM PDT