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Finder "Search" exclude one folder!

Finder "Search" isn't searching anymore in ~/Library/Preferences !!!

I don't know what happened but I used to have a saved search in Finder sidebar that searched in All HDD for All files, system and invisible included. I used it for complete uninstalling of programs and for being sure to have a very clean Mac.

Now, if I want to delete .plist files related to one program I have to enter that directory and search directly inside it, searching All HDD searches everywhere but that folder….! I'm going crazy.


I tried:

  • reindexing HDD
  • delete com.apple.finder.plist
  • repair permissions


Using a program like "Easyfind" I can find everything as usual, but I don't want external programs for doing something Finder could perfectly do before!

Posted on Jul 7, 2013 3:55 AM

Reply
27 replies

Jul 7, 2013 4:26 AM in response to Fedux

Have you set the Finder to search "This Mac"?


Check the Finder's preferences in the "Advanced" panel:

User uploaded file

And to prevent "plist" files from being excluded, add a search rule: "Kind is Other > Property List" or "File Extension is plist"

User uploaded file

For me this finds all property lists.



Start the search from the hidden Library folder and save this search.

Jul 7, 2013 5:00 AM in response to léonie

Everything is correctly set up but it didn't search inside that specific folder: ~/Library/Preferences.

It seems like there's a special rule for that...

I also tried to add this folder to the privacy tab in Spotlight and then to remove it, to force reindexing only for that folder, but nothing happened.


Everything has always worked, I don't know what I did to make it stop!

Jul 7, 2013 6:39 AM in response to Fedux

😊 I just noticed - I reindexed the Library folder, and after reindexing Spotlight "~/Library/Preferences." does not work any longer on my mac either 😠 I cannot see, what is keeping this folder from being indexed in the latest version.

Until an hour ago, the Preferences folder did show in the Finder search. Just like you are reporting, only the Preferences folder is excluded all of a sudden.

As a workaround, while we are searching for a solution - how about adding ~/Library/Preferences to the Finder's sidebar? Drag the folder directly below the heading "Favorites (Preferiti) in your sidebar and you have always easy access to start your search from there.

Sep 13, 2013 1:19 PM in response to Fedux

Try unhiding the library as follows:


NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder. Will have to be reapplied after any major update or upgrade.


I'm able to search my ~/Library with a Command + F search or with the Spotlight search window in the menu bar.


OT

Sep 13, 2013 1:49 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for replying but I think you didn't understand the problem... I made home folder visible since Lion was released but here the problem is that it's impossible to search for files stores under the path above even adding the right criteria to finder search tab... I always used it and never had such problem... Right now I'm trying to reindex spotlight from terminal with mdutil command... Hope to solve it... I'll keep you informed. Thank you very much!

Finder "Search" exclude one folder!

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