Windows 8 Bible

Wrap-Up

Windows 8’s searching and indexing features pick up where Windows 7 left off. Windows 7 was a vast improvement over earlier versions of Windows and the add-on Search Companion used in Windows XP. Windows 8 searching isn’t really about finding lost files, although you can certainly use it for that. But if you use it only for that, you’re missing out on the big picture and some key features of Windows 8.

Windows 8 searches use an index of filenames, properties, and file contents to make searches quick and nimble. It also looks only at files in the search index because that’s a lot faster than slogging through the entire file system to look at every file in every folder. But it only works right if your index includes all the locations where you keep your frequently used document files.

One thing is for sure. If you’ve been managing thousands of files in hundred of folders, and are sick of opening programs and folders to get to things, you’re sure to love the new search index. Maybe not at first, because you really have to understand what it is and how it works. And you may have to spend some time tweaking settings in a couple of dialog boxes. But once you’re past that small bump in the road, you’ll spend a lot less time getting to things, and a lot more time doing things!

This chapter introduced the following points:

• The search index includes information about files stored in the file’s properties sheets.
• When you select a file in a folder, the Details pane shows the properties ...