![Actually find a file with spotlight.
This has been driving me nuts since spotlight came out. You know how sometimes you know that a file exists, but spotlight absolutely refuses to find it? You type the EXACT name of the file, and it still just stares at you blankly? The answer is simple, but so not obvious.
First, get as close as you can to where you know the file is. For example, open the Music folder if you’re looking for something in there, open the Library folder if you’re looking for a preference file.
Then, type [Cmd] F in the finder, which will bring up a spotlight window with 2 bars across the top.
In the top bar, change Search: to the folder you are in. Optionally, select “File Name” to speed up the search.
In the second bar, change the first dropdown pill to “Name”, and the second pill to “contains”
Now, type what you’re looking to find in the box on the second bar.
This method still uses spotlight for search, but it seems to force it into finding your files better. It still won’t search through hidden files—which means that as fast as it is, it’s still not as good at finding files as the old school find function was—but this just made my day.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/GufDaCmWqgpqmau5nZKS5Ybho1_500.png)
Actually find a file with spotlight.
This has been driving me nuts since spotlight came out. You know how sometimes you know that a file exists, but spotlight absolutely refuses to find it? You type the EXACT name of the file, and it still just stares at you blankly? The answer is simple, but so not obvious.
- First, get as close as you can to where you know the file is. For example, open the Music folder if you’re looking for something in there, open the Library folder if you’re looking for a preference file.
- Then, type [Cmd] F in the finder, which will bring up a spotlight window with 2 bars across the top.
- In the top bar, change Search: to the folder you are in. Optionally, select “File Name” to speed up the search.
- In the second bar, change the first dropdown pill to “Name”, and the second pill to “contains”
- Now, type what you’re looking to find in the box on the second bar.
This method still uses spotlight for search, but it seems to force it into finding your files better. It still won’t search through hidden files—which means that as fast as it is, it’s still not as good at finding files as the old school find function was—but this just made my day.
