There's a registry setting that controls what file extensions windows will explore. Found reference to it in this thread, it's somewhere halfway down http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=673595&messageID=3935013. I assume it's to avoid searching in binary files. Of course, grep will still say there's a match and warn you that it seems to be a binary file. Jon Gorman ---- Original message ---- >Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:18:12 -0400 >From: Joe Atzberger <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Cannot use windows search text inside .java .jsp or .bas files? >To: [log in to unmask] > >I can corroborate your experience here. Search for filename "*.java" and >get hits. View one of those .java files, copy a string out of it, and go >back to the search. Search for filename "*.java" again, with contents >matching the string you paste in. Get zero hits. Lame! > >Google Desktop search does the trick for me, however. Try that instead. > >-- joe atzberger > >On 7/20/07, Jeffrey Barnett <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >> Yes, I know I real programmers use grep ;-) >> But I still want an explanation! >> >> Jeffrey Barnett wrote: >> > Is this a well known feature or something I've managed to bring on >> > myself through an excess of customization? >> > >> > Try this: In the windows search tool specify >> > All or part of file name: .java >> > A word or phrase in the file: import >> > Look in: <some directory with java files> >> > >> > I've tried this on three different work stations and the result has >> > always been: >> > >> > "Search Complete: No results to display" >> > >> > Same thing happens searching for common statements inside .jsp and .bas >> > files. >> > >> > PS: I also have "search system files" enabled, so they are not being >> > skipped for that reason >>