Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

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BernardIE5317
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:39 pm

Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by BernardIE5317 »

Greetings Kind Regards The attached GIF demonstrates results found when searching for ".exe" w/o regex enabled However w/ regex enabled and searching for ".+\.exe" no results are found I expect ".+\.exe" w/ regex to find all files w/ an "exe" extension Kindly Advise Thank You
Attachments
Everything RegEx.gif
Everything RegEx.gif (383.93 KiB) Viewed 7256 times
void
Developer
Posts: 16678
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by void »

The path search will not match when in regex mode.
(Use \\ to escape a literal \)



With regex disabled, please try the following search:

regex:.+\.exe C:\Users\Bernard\source



-or-

with regex enabled:

C:\\Users\\Bernard\\source\\.+\.exe
Mizufluffy
Posts: 62
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:22 am

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by Mizufluffy »

I'd like to add a few things. For example, if I'm using the following regex (with regex mode enabled)

Code: Select all

C:\\ProgramData\\.+\.exe
Then I tend to get a lot of paths like this as a result:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_bugreport.exe_ec1b91a6a9698ccf61669c441f8de1782d859144_e02b4590_1e832a8e-6aaa-4950-8f3a-577d2aa30eec
It has .exe as part of the path but it's not used as an extension. To make the regex actually find .exe files I can use the following regex:

Code: Select all

C:\\ProgramData\\.+\.exe$
Adding the $ indicates a string ends there so .exe can be found only at the and instead of anywhere in the string.
This little change can more easily find paths such as this:
C:\ProgramData\GOG.com\Galaxy\redists\GalaxyUpdater.exe


However, if I'm looking for .exe files then I rarely enable regex mode for that. In fact, I rarely enable regex mode at all and use regex: function whenever I need regex because it doesn't force the whole search input into regex mode.

Anyway, what I would usually do is something like this (with regex mode disabled):

Code: Select all

C:\ProgramData\ ext:exe
This has the path as before but without escaping \ character and additionally it has ext: function for finding extensions. One good thing about this that it's easy to search for multiple extensions at once, for example ext:jpg;png;bmp

void, if I try something similar to your example (.+\.exe C:\\Users\\Bernard\\source)
and search for .+\.exe C:\\ProgramData\\ with regex mode enabled (basically the same as my earlier example but the path and the other part taken apart, reversed and separated by a space), I do not get any results.
The same if I search for C:\\ProgramData\\ .+\.exe (notice the space between C:\\ProgramData\\ and .+\.exe). So, what I gather from this, is that the whole search field acts as a single regex search similarly how regex: function does if you surround it with double quotes.
For example, with regex mode disabled, regex:"C:\\ProgramData\\.+\.exe" finds results but regex:"C:\\ProgramData\\ .+\.exe" does not.
void
Developer
Posts: 16678
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by void »

Thanks for your reply Mizufluffy,
The regex search should have been:

C:\\Users\\Bernard\\source\\.+\.exe


The following will work with pure regex disabled:
.+\.exe C:\\ProgramData\\


To disable pure regex (use Everything search syntax where space == AND):
  • In Everything 1.5, type in the following search and press ENTER:
    /pure_regex=0
  • If successful, pure_regex=0 is shown in the status bar for a few seconds.
BernardIE5317
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:39 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by BernardIE5317 »

Thank You for your kind assistance May I suggest it not be necessary to escape the directory separator as the path was selected via the "Advanced Search -> Locate In Browse ..." control Therefore Everything knows it is a path and can process it as required Also I am surprised the full path of the found files does not seem to be an option for display in the found list I am unable to locate such an option other than to hover over each file name May I suggest such an option be provided as it is more convenient to view the entire list than to hover over each entry separately Thank You Kindly
void
Developer
Posts: 16678
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by void »

The Advanced Search will disable regex so the \\ escape is not required.

The Advanced Search uses the regex: search modifier for the regex search.


Also I am surprised the full path of the found files does not seem to be an option for display in the found list I am unable to locate such an option other than to hover over each file name May I suggest such an option be provided as it is more convenient to view the entire list than to hover over each entry separately Thank You Kindly
I don't understand sorry, could you please clarify:

Are you trying to display the full path and filename in the result list?

Are you trying to search anywhere in the full path and filename? -If so, please try enabling Match Path from the Search menu.
Mizufluffy
Posts: 62
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:22 am

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by Mizufluffy »

BernardIE5317 wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 3:13 amAlso I am surprised the full path of the found files does not seem to be an option for display in the found list I am unable to locate such an option other than to hover over each file name May I suggest such an option be provided as it is more convenient to view the entire list than to hover over each entry separately Thank You Kindly
If I undersrtood this correctly, you would like to have Full Path (basically the same as Path + Name) column in the result list?
For example, if a file path is C:\Users\User\Pictures\
and a file name is S8wpDa77jlmyvps.png
then full path would be C:\Users\User\Pictures\S8wpDa77jlmyvps.png

If so then right click any column > Add Columns... > search "Full Path" column from the list > Click "OK".
This adds Full Path column to your result list.
BernardIE5317
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:39 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by BernardIE5317 »

... right click any column > Add Columns...
I see no "any" column There is only the list of file names in the results list Right clicking in the results list window does not display an "Add Column" option only "View" "Sort" "Refresh" options Kindly advise
void
Developer
Posts: 16678
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by void »

Add columns... is in development.



To show full paths and filenames in the name column:
  • In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
    /display_full_path_name=1
  • If successful, display_full_path_name=1 is shown in the statusbar for a few seconds.


To show only the name in the name column (default):
  • In Everything, type in the following search and press ENTER:
    /display_full_path_name=0
  • If successful, display_full_path_name=0 is shown in the statusbar for a few seconds.
BernardIE5317
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:39 pm

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by BernardIE5317 »

It appears version 1.5 has the features I prefer I will wait for that version - Cheerio
Mizufluffy
Posts: 62
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:22 am

Re: Request Assistance re/ Regex Search

Post by Mizufluffy »

BernardIE5317 wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:26 pm It appears version 1.5 has the features I prefer I will wait for that version - Cheerio
Ah, right. Sorry about my last message then. I've been using 1.5a for months as my main Everything (I still have 1.4 but not in active use) so it's easy for me to forget what 1.5a features are missing from 1.4.

However, if you want to try out 1.5a then you can use it along with 1.4 because installing it does not replace your 1.4. In addition void has made it easier to import things like filters and bookmarks from 1.4.
Sure, it's still an alpha version and some bugs, missing features and other flaws can be expected but I've found it to be quite stable and reported bugs are fixed quickly.
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