The Portable Freeware Collection Forums

Posted: **Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:16 pm**

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for a search program that can read a list of items to find, then it will find it one by one, showing me the result one by one.

sample process

1. i will have a text file with search terms per line

searchlist.txt
apple
banana
orange
pineapple
burger
brownies

2. i will open the search program, import the searchlist.txt

3. the search program will search the searchlist.txt, one line at a time.

4. once the search program find term "apple" in files or folder, it will show us the matches result. after the a "apple" then it will search the term "banana"

is there such a program exist? i find myself searching for files/folders one at a time, every time, i want to at least automate it.

TIA!

Posted: **Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:36 am**

You could create a batch file to do that if willing too.
something like that thru a command prompt:

Code: Select all

 dir /p c:\windows\system32\*.exe c:\windows\system32\*.dll c:\windows\system32\*.sys

a good start:

Code: Select all

@echo off
set /p UserInputPath= What Directory would you like to scan?
cd C:\%UserInputPath%

If you go this path here is an excellent reading about batch file: http://commandwindows.com/batch.htm

A bit of advertising for the site.
If the batch file is done and would like to create an executable file here is a link of a software doing it: http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1660

OR you could read here:

From Microsoft:
for win 95 and 98
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/169477
for XP and 7
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 254?auth=1
or this advanced tips for 7 and onward:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/wind ... in-windows
From How to Geek
http://www.howtogeek.com/192997/how-do- ... windows-8/

Using your example:

searchlist.txt OR apple OR banana OR orange OR pineapple OR burger OR brownies via explorer search.

Extract from how to geek:

Open Windows Explorer and in the top right search box type *.extension. For example, to search for text files you should type *.txt.

For multiple file types use Ext:.doc OR Ext:.txt OR Ext:.pdf. Hope this helps you.

Hope it helps.

I doubt any software existence doing only that type of task when it is supported natively by the OS and the task is performed well. Why reinventing the wheel?

Have a nice day.

Posted: **Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:55 pm**

starstuff wrote:I'm looking for a search program that can read a list of items to find, then it will find it one by one, showing me the result one by one.

I've tried and used a lot of search programs and not run across any with this particular feature.

If you don't find one you might consider an alternative method.

When I have a set list of things to search for I use a clipboard manager (Clipmate (commercial)) to store the list and then just paste each entry into the search field. A couple of advantages I found were -

1. A clipboard manager can be used with whatever search task you have. The advantage is that lists stored in a clipboard manager can be used with any search program that will let you paste text into a search field.

2. The ability to store, modify, and reuse multiple lists in the clipboard manager. It saves a considerable amount of typing time.

Although I really like Clipmate, and have used it for about a decade, it's a commercial application and it can be intimidating.

If interested in some free clipboard manager alternatives you could check out this topic http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... hp?t=21501

Optional:
For "automating" some of the repetitive keystrokes I use Clavier http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=983 which is an easy to learn and use (in my opinion) macro program. Definitely not needed to do what you're wanting but it can save a few extra keystrokes.

Good luck in your quest.
Bill

Posted: **Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:30 pm**

@Billo255

I've tried and used a lot of search programs and not run across any with this particular feature.

Neither me.

If you don't find one you might consider an alternative method.

When I have a set list of things to search for I use a clipboard manager (Clipmate (commercial)) to store the list and then just paste each entry into the search field.

Good thinking. Another way to achieve the asked task.

@starstuff
Search and delete can do that too as a recursive search by filter as one of it's main features but not dedicated to that typical task.
It is submitted here:http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=2767
Its forum page is here: http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... =4&t=22479
It is published here too: http://www.geocities.ws/tactictoe/SearchAndReplace.html

Have a Nice day.

Posted: **Fri Feb 26, 2016 4:03 am**

@starstuff
Did Billo255 or I solved you problem?

Posted: **Sun Feb 28, 2016 5:57 am**

According to our database, Ultra File Search Lite "allows you to specify several file masks and drives/folders at the same time".

Posted: **Mon Feb 29, 2016 11:24 pm**

@tactictoe and Billo255

so sorry for the late reply, i reviewed all the options given here and chosen the option given by the SYSTEM, its part of the search program so its easier for me to use it.

@SYSTEM

thank you for suggesting Ultra File Search, its what i've been looking for.

@all
Now, i just need to concatenate all the strings into one long search string. do you guys have any tips to do this?

Posted: **Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:28 am**

starstuff wrote:@all
Now, i just need to concatenate all the strings into one long search string. do you guys have any tips to do this?

Open the list of search strings with Notepad++. Press Ctrl-A (Select All), and then Ctrl-J (Merge Lines).

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:30 am**

Thank you very much SYSTEM!

one more thing how to add "OR" at the end of every string? would it be possible in Notepad++?

im planning to use libreoffice calc just to combine the two, but if this can be done in Notepad++ alone that would be better.

Thank you!

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:24 am**

starstuff wrote:Thank you very much SYSTEM!

one more thing how to add "OR" at the end of every string? would it be possible in Notepad++?

im planning to use libreoffice calc just to combine the two, but if this can be done in Notepad++ alone that would be better.

Thank you!

Yes, it's possible in Notepad++. Record a macro with these keypresses:

End
Space
Shift-O
Shift-R
Down

Then play the macro until the end of the file.

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:08 am**

starstuff wrote:one more thing how to add "OR" at the end of every string? would it be possible in Notepad++?

You could use a macro, but a find & replace would be what I'd use.

Open the file in notepad++

Press ctrl+h to open the find/replace window
Tick the "Extended (\n)" checkbox
Find: \n
Replace: OR
(insert a space before the OR)
Replace All and you're done

If you want to OR and Join at the same time:

Tick the Regular Expression box

Find: \r?\n
Replace: OR
Replace All
(OR has a space before and after)

The Portable Freeware Collection Forums

Any search program that can import a list of items to find?

Any search program that can import a list of items to find?

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Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi

Re: Any search program that can import a list of items to fi