Spotlight Search for Folder Name

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Level 1

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Spotlight Search for Folder Name

I have an external drive that is always on and always connected to my iMac. What I want to do is search that drive for a folder. For example, say I know I have a folder called "BikeTour" but I don't know where it is. I want to do a search of that drive to find it. It seems this doesn't work and Spotlight will only search for filenames. So to find it I would have to know a filename of a file IN that folder. I want to be able to just search for the folder name.....can this be done ? (without installing Google Desktop which does do this or any other "extra" app.) It really seems like something a "search" engine should be able to do!

iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Dec 18, 2008 11:28 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Dec 18, 2008 11:32 AM in response to Jamie Dickie

Jamie Dickie wrote:
I have an external drive that is always on and always connected to my iMac. What I want to do is search that drive for a folder. For example, say I know I have a folder called "BikeTour" but I don't know where it is. I want to do a search of that drive to find it. It seems this doesn't work and Spotlight will only search for filenames.

that's no correct. spotlight will find the folder. Just enter BikeTour in spotlight or in a finder search window.

P.S. if that doesn't work for you you should reindex the external drive. add it for a few seconds to spotlight's privacy pane in spotlight system preferences.

Message was edited by: V.K.

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Answer 2

Jack Ball

Level 2

225 points

Feb 27, 2009 11:40 AM in response to V.K.

Same problem. Searching under 10.5 gives only documents. 10.4 is fine 9.2.2 is fine.
This is killing our workflow.
I need to search for job folders which have job numbers. Now I only get the contents of the folders (which are quark and pdf documents) when I type in the name.

Spotlight has "folders" checked and "documents" checked.

OS9 sherlock searches much better and much faster too.

NOTE this is a search on a network drive.

Message was edited by: Jack Ball

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