Search examples

A few ways to find and work with files in Simply Search.

Find the most recent version

You have several copies of a document in different folders.

  1. Search for part of its filename.
  2. Sort the results by modification date.
  3. Open the likely matches to check their contents. The newest file is not always the version you want.

Find a file on another drive

You remember the filename but not whether it is on your Mac, an external drive, or a network drive.

  1. Connect the external drive or mount the network drive.
  2. Include the folders you want to search in settings and let them finish indexing.
  3. Search for the filename and check the path shown beside each result.

Find files from a particular time

You remember working on a file last month, but not what you named it.

  1. Leave the search field empty, or enter part of the filename if you remember it.
  2. Open the calendar control and choose a start and end date.
  3. Review files modified during that period.

Review duplicate files

You want to compare copies before deciding what to keep.

  1. Find and select two or more files with matching names.
  2. Right-click the selection and choose “Combine Duplicates…” to review the copies.
  3. Review the files and their paths before confirming any changes. Matching names do not guarantee identical contents.

Exclude a folder from results

Temporary files or old exports keep appearing in your searches.

  1. Right-click a result and use the exclusion options for its folder, or add the folder to the exclusion list in settings.
  2. If you still need one of its subfolders, add that subfolder to the include list.
  3. Check your search again. Excluding a folder removes it from search, without deleting its files.

Copy several file paths

You need a list of file locations for a message or document.

  1. Select the files in the results list.
  2. Use the right-click menu to copy their paths.
  3. Paste the paths where you need them. Sharing a path does not give someone access to the file.

Try it with your own files

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