HOW TO CUSTOMIZE SPOTLIGHT?

Question

Level 1

12 points

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE SPOTLIGHT?

Does anyone know how to get STOP spotlight from searching messages and emails when I am simply trying to search my computer for a saved document or photo. So frustrating to have to weed through thousands of archived emails and other documents that I never want searched unless I am using the program in which they are associated, ie; Mail.

Before you start schooling me on SETTINGS-SPOTLIGHT-SEARCH RESULTS and Privacy. This does not work. It is all or nothing. If I uncheck emails in spotlight then I cannot search my email when using the email program. This has the same results if I place it in my "Privacy" locations.

So frustrating, please advise. I will never have a reason to search for an email from spotlight, I will only do this wile inside the email program or by accessing my email archive folder which has been inserted into the "Privacy" settings. Please advise.

PLEASE do not associate this request with my operating system or my device. This happens on ALL apple devises new and old. It clutters up my workday and its extremely annoying to keep switching my email privacies just for basic search information.

Posted on Feb 1, 2019 12:18 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 1, 2019 4:42 PM in response to AkPaparazzi

Not that I'm aware of, but perhaps this search tool, whilst slower, might end up much faster...

EasyFind...

http://www.devon-technologies.com/download/

Near the bottom of the page.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 1, 2019 12:25 PM in response to AkPaparazzi

Search by file type or location

To search by file type, use the word “kind” and the file type. For example, type “kind:folders” or “kind:audio”.
To show the location of a file on your Mac, choose the file from the results list, then press and hold Command. The file’s location appears at the bottom of the preview. To open the file’s location, press Command-R.
To see all the results from your Mac in the Finder, scroll to the bottom of the results list, then double-click “Show all in Finder.”

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204014

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 1, 2019 6:47 PM in response to AkPaparazzi

Oh he's changed the site a bit, I just got it again by clicking on this link...

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Answer 4

AkPaparazzi Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 1, 2019 12:36 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for this detailed suggestions on how to search, I trust it can help others with the same issues.

This, however, is not what I am looking for. I do not want to search by kind. I am looking for key words. I do not what my mail associated with a keyword search. The only time I wish to search my email for keywords is when I am using my mail.

Is there a way to stop spotlight from including my emails in a keyword search WITHOUT blocking my ability to search while using the mail program? My keyword search works great when I add mail to the "privacy" page. But I have to keep taking it out and putting it back every time I use mail. Very frustrating.

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Answer 5

AkPaparazzi Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 1, 2019 6:13 PM in response to BDAqua

You had me excited for a moment, but I cannot make heads or tails of that link. I tried to find out information on several of those and I either get redirected to an unrelated link or I get an error message the product is not available at this time. Did I miss something?

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Answer 6

AkPaparazzi Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 4, 2019 2:35 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for your help with this. I have played with it a little, I do see who I may be able to set up my own filtering system so I am confident with a little work this is going to be a good work around for me. I really don't like using 3rd party venders, but if Apple will not give us the search tools I need then I guess I have not choice. One thing I noticed, it recognizes files I have attached to my computer much better than Spotlight. I think spotlight is just a cluttered mess -- too much information being thrown at you all at once.

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