On an earlier PocketPC I had, I could use the search program to find
text in text files on the SD card. On the one I have now, it doesn't
work. In fact, the only thing "Search" finds is help files.

How can I get Search working properly?

First, you are correct that the built in FIND is limited, but it does
work well within it's limits.

Pull the TYPE down (which defaults to the app calling it) and select the
type of data you are looking for.

When looking in files, it _only_ searches in the "My Documents" folders
and I'm not sure how WM5+ handles searches on memory cards...

....but there are third party file explorer replacements which have the
same file search capabilities as the pc's file explorer... the best
known is Resco.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:
> First, you are correct that the built in FIND is limited, but it does
> work well within it's limits.
>
> Pull the TYPE down (which defaults to the app calling it) and select the
> type of data you are looking for.
>
> When looking in files, it _only_ searches in the "My Documents" folders
> and I'm not sure how WM5+ handles searches on memory cards...
>
> ...but there are third party file explorer replacements which have the
> same file search capabilities as the pc's file explorer... the best
> known is Resco.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Thank you, Beverly, but I omitted an important detail: I'm flat broke
and will continue to be until October at the earliest (when I'll still
have to be quite frugal). :-(

When searching for text in files of type "Word Mobile" in the "My
Documents" folder in main memory (as well as "All data"), WM5.0's
"Search" program is failing, always. It's pitiful. I looked in vain
for a free third-party file explorer replacement, but I'd rather get
Microsoft's software working properly.

It was such a joy using it in the past on other Pocket PCs to find text
in All data, including all folders on the storage card, including text
files created on old computers years ago and copied to the SD card!

I never used the CD that came with my HP Ipaq hx2795b, fearing trouble
I'd had earlier with other Pocket PC's. I've tried avoiding ActiveSync,
but did install a version of it once. But not from the CD, nor did I
install any of the programs, such as Outlook, on the CD.

Any further advice?

As has been explained in some of my articles (please follow my blog), the
free (!!) Total Commander has excellent in-file text search capabilities -
just the same way as on the desktop.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Marshall Price" <d021317c******.com> wrote in message
news:eX1BqxG7HHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:
>> First, you are correct that the built in FIND is limited, but it does
>> work well within it's limits.
>>
>> Pull the TYPE down (which defaults to the app calling it) and select the
>> type of data you are looking for.
>>
>> When looking in files, it _only_ searches in the "My Documents" folders
>> and I'm not sure how WM5+ handles searches on memory cards...
>>
>> ...but there are third party file explorer replacements which have the
>> same file search capabilities as the pc's file explorer... the best
>> known is Resco.
>>
>> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>
> Thank you, Beverly, but I omitted an important detail: I'm flat broke
> and will continue to be until October at the earliest (when I'll still
> have to be quite frugal). :-(
>
> When searching for text in files of type "Word Mobile" in the "My
> Documents" folder in main memory (as well as "All data"), WM5.0's
> "Search" program is failing, always. It's pitiful. I looked in vain
> for a free third-party file explorer replacement, but I'd rather get
> Microsoft's software working properly.
>
> It was such a joy using it in the past on other Pocket PCs to find text
> in All data, including all folders on the storage card, including text
> files created on old computers years ago and copied to the SD card!
>
> I never used the CD that came with my HP Ipaq hx2795b, fearing trouble
> I'd had earlier with other Pocket PC's. I've tried avoiding ActiveSync,
> but did install a version of it once. But not from the CD, nor did I
> install any of the programs, such as Outlook, on the CD.
>
> Any further advice?

Marshall Price wrote:
> I looked in vain
> for a free third-party file explorer replacement, but I'd rather get
> Microsoft's software working properly.

A noble sentiment, but surely the rest of the world has given up on that!

For instance the only thing it appears to be possible to do when a file has
been found is to open it. Not even to find the containing folder. But not
all files can be opened and often the purpose of the search (especially for
large files) is to purge, so all that is needed is to delete; no such
function!

It's worse... the Search function in WinXP is less capable and more buggy
than versions in earlier OSs. You'd think that M$ could get something so
basic right every time by now!

Mike.
--

Mike Coon wrote:
> Marshall Price wrote:
>> I looked in vain
>> for a free third-party file explorer replacement, but I'd rather get
>> Microsoft's software working properly.
>
> A noble sentiment, but surely the rest of the world has given up on that!
>
> For instance the only thing it appears to be possible to do when a file has
> been found is to open it. Not even to find the containing folder. But not
> all files can be opened and often the purpose of the search (especially for
> large files) is to purge, so all that is needed is to delete; no such
> function!
>
> It's worse... the Search function in WinXP is less capable and more buggy
> than versions in earlier OSs. You'd think that M$ could get something so
> basic right every time by now!
>
> Mike.

It seems that each new PocketPC I get has less features than the one
before. I used to be able to click on a MIDI file (which can contain a
lot of music in a small space) and have it play without any additional
software. I also could search a text file on an SD card containing
names and addresses of old customers (originally from a Smith-Corona
word processor) for a string, using "Search" (All Data), and it worked
great. The salesman who sold me this iPAQ 47xx told me I wouldn't be
losing anything! And the only reason I "upgraded" to it was because I
was scared off by the T-Mobile contract that came with my last one,
which had a T-Mobile phone built in, and I figured I might have more
speed and RAM available. About all I can do nowadays is play Solitaire. :(

> It seems that each new PocketPC I get has less features than the one
> before. I used to be able to click on a MIDI file (which can contain a
> lot of music in a small space) and have it play without any additional
> software.

Only PPC Phones / MS Smartphones play MIDI files by default - or, standalone
PPC's with HTC's Album (for example, the Pocket Loox 720). The hx4700 isn't
one of them.

See my MIDI Bible for more info (make a search on my blog) if interested in
what MIDI players there are, how they compare, which the best is etc.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Marshall Price" <d021317c******.com> wrote in message
news:uO0D6Dl7HHA.1148@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Mike Coon wrote:
>> Marshall Price wrote:
>>> I looked in vain
>>> for a free third-party file explorer replacement, but I'd rather get
>>> Microsoft's software working properly.
>>
>> A noble sentiment, but surely the rest of the world has given up on that!
>>
>> For instance the only thing it appears to be possible to do when a file
>> has
>> been found is to open it. Not even to find the containing folder. But not
>> all files can be opened and often the purpose of the search (especially
>> for
>> large files) is to purge, so all that is needed is to delete; no such
>> function!
>>
>> It's worse... the Search function in WinXP is less capable and more buggy
>> than versions in earlier OSs. You'd think that M$ could get something so
>> basic right every time by now!
>>
>> Mike.
>
> It seems that each new PocketPC I get has less features than the one
> before. I used to be able to click on a MIDI file (which can contain a
> lot of music in a small space) and have it play without any additional
> software. I also could search a text file on an SD card containing
> names and addresses of old customers (originally from a Smith-Corona
> word processor) for a string, using "Search" (All Data), and it worked
> great. The salesman who sold me this iPAQ 47xx told me I wouldn't be
> losing anything! And the only reason I "upgraded" to it was because I
> was scared off by the T-Mobile contract that came with my last one,
> which had a T-Mobile phone built in, and I figured I might have more
> speed and RAM available. About all I can do nowadays is play Solitaire.
> :(