Search by File Extension

Question

Level 1

8 points

Search by File Extension

Is there some way to get Spotlight to search by file extension? Say I wanted to find all Adobe Illustrator files on my computer. The only way I have found to sort of effectively find adobe illustrator files on my computer is to do this:

kind:image .ai

It works somewhat, but if any image file contains .ai somewhere in it Spotlight'll show that.

I've found also that I can do it from the finder by clicking on the + then selecting "kind", then "other", then "Adobe Illustrator Document." This works after taking about 30 minutes to find all adobe illustrator files on my computer. This method is sort of useless to me since it takes quite a few clicks and keyboard inputs to do something that's so simple on other systems. Take windows for example:

*.ai

That finds all illustrator files on my PC. Is there something I've missed in spotlight that gives an easy method to search by file extension?

Powerbook G4 1Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Jan 29, 2006 9:56 PM

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Answer 1

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jan 31, 2006 2:41 AM in response to Khadgar

Hi, K.

Use the search criterion Name Extension.

1. To select this, in one of the search criterion slices, e.g. Kind, click the Kind pop-up button and select Other from the resulting menu.

2. In the resulting sheet, select Name Extension. Select "Add to Favorites" if this is one you'd like to use often, meaning it will be added to the pop-up button for search criteria as seen in Kind.

3. Now the Kind criteria has changed to Name Extension. Type ai in the search field and it will return all files whose file name extension is .ai.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 2

Khadgar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 31, 2006 7:27 AM in response to Dr. Smoke

Thanks. It worked beautifully.

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Answer 3

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jan 31, 2006 3:16 PM in response to Khadgar

You're most welcome. Glad to help.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 4

Feb 16, 2006 12:41 PM in response to Khadgar

I have had the same issue, but with file extensions of .vcf. I want to cleanse my drive of all unwanted .vcf files.

I tried the same search method as you did here for .ai, but the finder and/or spotlight will not locate files with vcf extension. I know they are there, as they pile up in my attachmetns folder from my email program.

I've always (until Tiger) been able to do a simple Command-F and type in ".vcf", and they would all be there (ready for me to trash!)

Why doesn't this same method work this file extension?

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Answer 5

Feb 16, 2006 9:20 PM in response to chakrasan

Probably because you used the default seach goodies which, for reasons best known to the programmers involved, explicitly and invisibly exclude vcards and some mail type file.

Try this:

1. Open your hard drive and hit command-f
2. In the search criterion use the drop down menu to select the "Other..." option
3. Pick Raw Query
4. In the Raw Query field type in, or copy and paste, this:

(kMDItemDisplayName = ' vcf'cd)

If that doesn't do it you'll have to resort to the free EasyFind software:

http://www.grunenberg.com/mainmenu.html

While not as fast, it actually searches everything you tell it to look for.

Francine
Schwieder

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Answer 6

Feb 21, 2006 10:37 AM in response to Francine Schwieder

Thanks Francine. Yes, I've also tried the Raw Query method to no avail.

Funny you should mention EasyFind, as last week I went to VersionTracker and found and downloaded that app.

It does exactly what I was wanting the Finder to do!

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