Search Function on iMac

Question

Search Function on iMac

I was a PC user where the search seemed so simple. On the iMac, I do a search and I get an unbelievable amount of files that have nothing to do with my criteria.

Here are the two things I would like to do:

1. I want to search for a file name in a specific directory/folder and all it's subdirectories/subfolders. Nowhere else.

2. I want to search for files in a specific directory/folder and all it's subdirectories/folders that contain a specific phase such as "forbidden trees."

No matter what I try, I get way too many files that don't fit my criteria at all. Can anyone help?

iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Jan 5, 2017 12:13 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,222 points

Jan 6, 2017 8:58 AM in response to pat from west palm beach

By default, Spotlight searches your entire Mac. You can select the current folder in the search header bar.

Or, you can set Finder preferences to Search the current folder.

To search by name, select the "name matches" search token after entering the search criteria.

Or, in a regular search window use "name: filename"

Or, use the Find By Name window, cmd-ctrl-shift-F

To search content, just type in the phrase. That will search both content and name. I don't know if there is a token (like name: ) for contents. You can click the + button and add a "Content contains" criteria, among others.

Reply

Answer 2

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,308 points

Jan 5, 2017 2:17 PM in response to pat from west palm beach

Mac Basics: Spotlight helps you find what you're looking for - Apple Support

Get to know the Finder on your Mac - Apple Support

Reply