OpenSUSE 11.1 KDE User Guide - Finding Data on your Computer or in the File System

openSUSE 11.1 Reference Guide
Previous Page	Home	Next Page

2.4 Finding Data on your Computer or in the File System

KDE provides more than one application for finding data on your computer or in the file system. With Kerry, you can very easily search your personal information space (usually your home folder) to find documents, e-mails, Web history, IM/ITC conversations, source code, images, music files, applications, and much more. For more information, refer to Section 5.0, Searching with Kerry.

With KFind, you can locate files on your computer or in the file system using a variety of search criteria, such as file content, dates, owner, or file size. Start it from the main menu with Applications > Find Files/Folders. Alternatively, press Alt+F2 and enter kfind.

Figure 2-1 Finding Files with KFind

2.4.1 Finding Files

To perform a search for certain filenames, proceed as follows:

Start KFind from the main menu or command line.
Click the Name/Location tab to perform a basic search.
Specify the name of the file to find in Named. You can use the following wild cards:

Asterisk

The asterisk (*) stands for any number of missing characters (even zero). For example, searching for marc* can find the files marc, marc.png, and marc_must_not_read_this.kwd. Searching for mar*.kwd can find marketplace.kwd and marc_must_not_read_this.kwd.

Question Mark

The question mark (?) stands for exactly one character. For example, searching for mar? can find marc, but marc? cannot find anything if your files are named marc and marc.png. You can put as many question marks in the search term as you want. It finds exactly that number of characters.

You can combine those two wild card symbols in any search term.
Specify the folder to search in Look In or click Browse to find the folder you want. Select Include Subfolders to also search all subfolders starting from your specified folder.
Press Enter or click Find.

2.4.2 Performing an Advanced File Search

For a more detailed search, you can also specify further options, such as a text the file to find must contain:

Start KFind from the main menu or the command line.
Click the Name/Location tab.
Specify the name of the file to find in Named.
Specify the folder in which to search in Look In or click Browse to find the folder.
Click the Contents tab.
In File Type, specify the type of file to find.
In Containing Text, enter the word or phrase the file you are searching for must contain.
If you want to specify further options, click the Properties tab and choose the options you want.
Click Find to perform the search.

For detailed information about the search options available, refer to the KFind online help.

openSUSE 11.1 Reference Guide
Previous Page	Home	Next Page