FreeCommander Forum

Either something is not working I am just a stupid user despite couple of years of experience using FC


I want to find hidden files. I press CTRL+F and the search window shows up. I write in the File name box in the Location tab. I have the checkbox for the Regular expressions in a not selected state. But after clicking Find no files are found

So I go to Timstamp / Size / Attr tab and try out repeating the search but with the Hidden check box in a different stare [as there are 3 for each of the Attributes]. I still find nothing. I then choose the third state for the Hidden attribute

So I change to and still nothing [times 3]

So I search for to check out if the Search is working - and it does as I have a list of TXT files. And yet, as described above, I cannot find only the hidden ones



So the question is: how to find hidden files using the Search window?

With *.* you can find only files with extension.
If your file is without extension try with: *

But they have extension

What I am trying to do is to search by an attribute, disregarding the extension



And now I see that a way to do this is to leave the File name box completely empty and leave all of the attributes in that i-between state [with a square in their boxes] - but with the exception of the Hidden attribute which needs to be changes to "checked"

Is that a correct behavior? What is this in-between state for attributes in FC [the one between being unchecked and checked]?

Hey Forez, I think I know what you mean.

Whether using an external search application or the search function in windows explorer, they followed a specific logic:

1
*file name part*.*
this would deliver a list of files in which file name part is contained
irregardless of the position of file name part in the file name and
irregardless of file extension, i.e. txt, log, doc, pdf etc.

2
*file name part*
this would deliver the same as 1 but with the addition,
that the list included directories in which file name part is contained.

Edit: (tested again)
This logic is followed in the search function of FC.

Search function works as it should.
This includes searching with and without containing text.

Best regards,

FreeCommander XE 2021 Build 844 64-bit donor
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Version 20H2 Build 19042.844

What about those three states of attributes in FC: not selected, in-between and selected

How can a file be in a state of between having an attribute and not having it?

I guess I will never know

Forez wrote: 22.05.2021, 16:15 What about those three states of attributes in FC: not selected, in-between and selected

How can a file be in a state of between having an attribute and not having it?

Thats easy.
Selected or not selected means of course the attribute must be as set.
The 3rd state says that this attribute should be ignored.

horst.epp wrote: 20.08.2021, 15:34

Forez wrote: 22.05.2021, 16:15 What about those three states of attributes in FC: not selected, in-between and selected

How can a file be in a state of between having an attribute and not having it?

Thats easy.
Selected or not selected means of course the attribute must be as set.
The 3rd state says that this attribute should be ignored.

Maybe if I hadn't have read all those books about physics of particles, my mind would not have automatically wonder towards the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

Thanks for clearing that out. I just hope I will remember this [now quite logical] meaning / behavior