Spotlight won't search comments

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Spotlight won't search comments

I'm having a problem with Spotlight not seeing anything in the searchlight comments. Most of my photos have been tagged with comments, so that I can find them easier. Spotlight can find files based on file name, file content and even the folder they are located in. However, Spotlight is either not seeing the Spotlight comments, or is ignoring them. If I try a Spotlight search for a specific comment, Spotlight can't find it. I've tried re-indexing my hard drive and even specific folders, but to no avail.

MacBook Pro Unibody, Mac OS X (10.6.2), MacBookPro5,3

Posted on Dec 22, 2009 4:10 PM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 22, 2009 4:51 PM in response to J Vandehei

how exactly did you enter those comments? using finder?
or using some other software?

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Answer 2

J Vandehei Author

Level 1

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Dec 22, 2009 5:20 PM in response to V.K.

I highlight the file, Command-i, and then type them into the Spotlight comments section

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Answer 3

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 22, 2009 5:28 PM in response to J Vandehei

ok, then spotlight ought to find them select one of those files and do the following. open terminal and type this in the terminal window


mdls

press space. then drag the file in question to the terminal window. the result should look like this


mdls path/to/file

press enter in terminal. it should list all spotlight metadata for that file. is the comment listed there? if would be in the field kMDItemFinderComment.

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Answer 4

J Vandehei Author

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Dec 22, 2009 5:34 PM in response to V.K.

I tried that. I got back this:

kMDItemAcquisitionMake = "Canon"
kMDItemAcquisitionModel = "Canon PowerShot G2"
kMDItemAperture = 4
kMDItemBitsPerSample = 32
kMDItemColorSpace = "RGB"
kMDItemContentCreationDate = 2007-08-04 05:25:52 -0400
kMDItemContentModificationDate = 2007-08-04 09:25:50 -0400
kMDItemContentType = "public.jpeg"
kMDItemContentTypeTree = (
"public.jpeg",
"public.image",
"public.data",
"public.item",
"public.content"
)
kMDItemDisplayName = "IMG_0914.JPG"
kMDItemEXIFVersion = "2.2"
kMDItemExposureMode = 0
kMDItemExposureTimeSeconds = 0.004
kMDItemFlashOnOff = 0
kMDItemFNumber = 4
kMDItemFocalLength = 10.6875
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate = 2007-08-04 09:25:50 -0400
kMDItemFSCreationDate = 2007-08-04 09:25:50 -0400
kMDItemFSCreatorCode = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon = 0
kMDItemFSInvisible = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden = 0
kMDItemFSIsStationery = 0
kMDItemFSLabel = 0
kMDItemFSName = "IMG_0914.JPG"
kMDItemFSNodeCount = 0
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID = 20
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID = 501
kMDItemFSSize = 1727676
kMDItemFSTypeCode = ""
kMDItemHasAlphaChannel = 0
kMDItemISOSpeed = 100
kMDItemKind = "JPEG image"
kMDItemLastUsedDate = 2007-08-04 09:25:50 -0400
kMDItemOrientation = 0
kMDItemPixelCount = 3871488
kMDItemPixelHeight = 1704
kMDItemPixelWidth = 2272
kMDItemProfileName = "sRGB IEC61966-2.1"
kMDItemRedEyeOnOff = 0
kMDItemResolutionHeightDPI = 180
kMDItemResolutionWidthDPI = 180
kMDItemUsedDates = (
"2007-08-04 00:00:00 -0400"
)
kMDItemWhiteBalance = 0

The comment is "Walking Stick", which I'm not seeing in the data above

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Answer 5

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 22, 2009 7:36 PM in response to J Vandehei

yes, that comment is not there. that's bad. try reindexing the drive. add the whole drive for a few seconds to spotlight's privacy pane in system preferences and then remove it from there. this will force spotlight to reindex the drive. when it's done indexing try searching again.

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Answer 6

J Vandehei Author

Level 1

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Dec 23, 2009 6:46 AM in response to V.K.

I tried indexing my entire pictures folder, using the privacy option in Spotlight preferences. I didn't index the entire drive, mainly to save time. Anyways, here's some addition information that may help. Most of my files originated on my old G4 Sawtooth that was running Tiger. I recently bought a MacBook Pro, which is running Snow Leopard. My old files from the G4 were transferred to the new MacBook Pro. As of now, Spotlight can now find comments that were created on the MacBook Pro. This includes old pictures from the G4 where I have re-edited the comments on the MacBook Pro. Original comments from the G4 still cannot be found via Spotlight.

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Answer 7

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 23, 2009 6:50 AM in response to J Vandehei

I was afraid of something like that. can you see the comments when you select a file and do "get info" on it?

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Answer 8

J Vandehei Author

Level 1

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Dec 23, 2009 6:59 AM in response to V.K.

Yes, the comments are there. Like I said, if I go back to old pictures that originated from my G4, and then retype the comments, Spotlight will find them. If I don't re-edit them, Spotlight won't find them. As a last resort, I could retype the comments. However, I'd like to avoid that tedious task if possible.

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Answer 9

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 23, 2009 7:17 AM in response to J Vandehei

the problem is due to migration and differences between spotlight comments in tiger and snow leopard. this happens sometimes. in this case I'm afraid I don't see any way around this except for retyping.

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Answer 10

J Vandehei Author

Level 1

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Dec 23, 2009 7:37 AM in response to V.K.

Well, I found that if I cut out the old comments, delete them, then paste them back in, Spotlight will now find them. This will be less tedious than retyping them, but still a pain. Thank you for your help anyway.

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Answer 11

Dec 23, 2009 7:45 AM in response to V.K.

or just use EasyFInd and forget Spotlight.

http://www.devon-technologies.com/products/freeware/

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