Help silver and older surfers deal with with masses of data

Sigurd · Jul 19, 2023

I am sure there are many other silver surfers in this forum, or even older ones, with similar problems to me. After using computers since the days of the Tandy TRS 80 Model1. I have masses of data. Fortunately most of my data stores don't go that far back, but they go back far enough to be a problem when it comes to finding things, despite a reasonable filing system. The age of my brain doesn't help either!
Looking for Search apps, I find plenty, each trying to sell itself by saying how good it is.
So I ask for some recommendations to help me find that document, email, whatever that I filed away so sensibly in 2007, give or take 10 years, The app needs to look a bit deeper that just the file name, in the body of the file as well, and take other criteria into account like dates..
Nice if it was free, but happy to pay for one (within reason).
I do use the Explorer Advanced search so I do know about that option.

TM21 · Jul 19, 2023

As far back as I can remember, long before Windows, I've categorized my data files in folders, for easy retrieval. An extensive search is never necessary. Before folders, separate floppy disks, sufficed for categorizing my data files.
Remember those?

Silver surfer? At 80, I think I'm beyond Silver. Maybe "Platinum". But some things just never change.
Windows Search has always been so lame I won't even use it. If I need to search for a file, I use the DOS "Dir" command at a Command Prompt.
If you feel that you must have a Search program, I wish you luck. I cannot recommend any.

Good Luck,
TechnoMage

Winuser · Jul 19, 2023

Sigurd said:
silver surfers

I like that!

Sigurd · Jul 19, 2023

Silver surfers - can't claim credit for that term.
And I can even remember the original floppy disks 5 1/4" inch ones. Even worse, loading an app into my TRS80 Model 1 from a cassette tape.
My search for a Search app continues. At 84 I don't have time to do my own searches.
(I should change that photo!)

Ghot · Jul 19, 2023

I've never found a decent search app.
I rely on nested folders. Any folder full of things, can have other "more specific" folders created inside it.

Once you get things set up properly, finding something is... "faster than a speeding bullet".

For example... my Pictures folder...

Here, I just nested folders of a similar type in other folders...

Try3 · Jul 20, 2023

Sigurd said:
So I ask for some recommendations to help me find that document, email, whatever that I filed away so sensibly in 2007, give or take 10 years, The app needs to look a bit deeper that just the file name, in the body of the file as well, and take other criteria into account like dates..

Ian,

Windows Search, including the search facility in File explorer, can do that. To get the best out of it, such as applying date constraints, see
Using Search - ElevenForumTutorials
Search in File Explorer - TenForumsTutorials
and there is also some useful guidance in
How to Search in Windows 11 - NC

NirSoft SearchMyFiles [which is free] can also do contents searching and it has the added bonus of being well-documented & easy to use. Even combining contents searching with date constraints is all easily set up in the interface without having to use any memorised syntax or looking things up in a reference list.
I routinely use SearchMyFiles for contents searching and it does it well - Using SearchMyFiles for contents search [post #8] - TenForums
Its contents searching capability includes the contents of MSOffice Word, Excel, Access & PowerPoint files as well as pdf & text files.

If I know that the text I'm searching for is definitely in a pdf file then I use Foxit Reader advanced search - TenForums instead.
It's an excellent facility.
Several other pdf readers have the same facility [SumatraPDF does not have it].

All the best,
Denis

hdmi · Jul 20, 2023

Use google to search for everything.

Fabler2 · Jul 20, 2023

Senecio · Jul 20, 2023

Sigurd said:
I can even remember the original floppy disks 5 1/4" inch ones.

As a fully paid up pedant, I should point out that the original floppy disks were 8" until 1976 when 5 1/4" disks were introduced.

History of the floppy disk - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Not that they could hold much data, though.
In answer to your question, I just use windows search and as logical a file system as I can manage. I doubt that it will serve me well in the future, when dementia starts knocking. Eventually, you just have to let go.

John

hdmi · Jul 20, 2023

As searching the file contents can be very slow and the ability to use Filters still has a few limitations, you could always decide to use this as an added solution:

Tag files and folders in Windows (Everything vs. RecentX) – Conceptworld's Blog

Another free tool that can also be handy sometimes especially with the ability to run multiple instances of it is this:

GitHub - Hofknecht/SystemTrayMenu: SystemTrayMenu - Browse and open your files easily

SystemTrayMenu - Browse and open your files easily - Hofknecht/SystemTrayMenu

github.com

Sigurd · Jul 20, 2023

Thank you all for your comments.
Dennis, as usual very useful information which I will study and in no doubt adopt.
Re filing and folders - I already do this - in some areas several layers of folders. I occasionally tweak these to make them better. However this does not address the problem of not remembering where I put a file and the more folders the more difficult it becomes. It's a dual edged sword - the older one gets, the worse the memory becomes, and the more information one has that they may need to retrieve . And that's a triple edged sword! Consistency in the ability to file sensibly doesn't mean consistency in the ability to retrieve.
Tagging would be a huge retrospective task. I'll have a look at GitHub

John - I stand corrected. Forgot about the 8" ones!

Try3 · Jul 20, 2023

Try3 said:
I routinely use SearchMyFiles for contents searching and it does it well - Using SearchMyFiles for contents search [post #8] - TenForums

Sigurd said:
Dennis, as usual very useful information which I will study and in no doubt adopt.

Ian,

If you do decide to use SearchMyFiles then do let me know if you need help with it.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that the explanation in the link I posted is a bit specialised [for the OP I originally wrote it for].

If you decide to use one of the tools mentioned by other members then I'm sure that that member would be equally ready to guide you in that tool's use.

All the best,
Denis

Sigurd · Jul 20, 2023

Thanks for the offer Dennis.
I'll try and sort it out myself first - learn more that way - and call on your help if needed.
Ian

telepro21 · Jul 20, 2023

A long time ago (circa 1998), when it was free, I used to use Copernic Desktop Search.
I have not ever found a tool capable of finding files as effectively.
See--> Copernic Desktop Search Software | Find What You Need, Fast

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