Newbie questions

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

Hi there,

I have a few questions about Everything:

1) I know I can assigned a system-wide keyboard shortcut to Everything, but I don't see how to assign Shift-Esc as that shortcut. Is that possible?

2) I can change the font and size of the search results window pane, but can the font and size of the search entry field itself be changed?

3) Can the search results when opening Everything start off empty? When I open the app, since I haven't searched for anything yet, I'd like to see empty search results.

4) For many years I used an excellent piece of software called Avafind to search for files. It looks like it's been abandoned and I've run into too many issues with Windows 10 to continue using it. One of it's very helpful features was a window pane called "Scout Bot", which would show recently changed files in real time. Does Everything have something similar?

Thank you.

[NotNull]

Welcome "newbie" Good questions!

1) I know I can assigned a system-wide keyboard shortcut to Everything, but I don't see how to assign Shift-Esc as that shortcut. Is that possible?

I don't know what you mean. but the answer is likely yes
Could you explain what you mean with a system-wide keyboard shortcut to Everything?

2) I can change the font and size of the search results window pane, but can the font and size of the search entry field itself be changed?

Yes. Those can be configured in the INI file:

Code: Select all

search_edit_font=
search_edit_font_size=

You can only edit Everything.ini when Everything is not running (otherwise the changes will be overwritten):
Right-click the Everything icon in the system tray and choose Exit

3) Can the search results when opening Everything start off empty? When I open the app, since I haven't searched for anything yet, I'd like to see empty search results.

Yes. Go to Menu:Tools > Options > General > Results and enable Hide results when the search is empty

4) For many years I used an excellent piece of software called Avafind to search for files. It looks like it's been abandoned and I've run into too many issues with Windows 10 to continue using it. One of it's very helpful features was a window pane called "Scout Bot", which would show recently changed files in real time. Does Everything have something similar?

Yes. Enter

rc:

in the search bar. (rc stands for recently changed).
For this to work, you need to enable Index recent changes (under Menu:Tools > Options > Indexes)

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

I don't know what you mean. but the answer is likely yes
Could you explain what you mean with a system-wide keyboard shortcut to Everything?

In Tools > Options > Keyboard I've assigned Shift-ESC to the "Show window Hotkey". For the few years that I used Avafind, I got very accustomed to using Ctrl-ESC to open the window. I haven't figured out how to enter/assign those keys instead of Shift-ESC, since that opens the Start Menu.

Yes. Those can be configured in the INI file:

Code: Select all

search_edit_font=
search_edit_font_size=

You can only edit Everything.ini when Everything is not running (otherwise the changes will be overwritten):
Right-click the Everything icon in the system tray and choose Exit

Perfect! That worked. But will the settings I've added there be overwritten by future updates to Everything?

Yes. Go to Menu:Tools > Options > General > Results and enable Hide results when the search is empty

Excellent. That worked as well.

Yes. Enter

rc:

in the search bar. (rc stands for recently changed).
For this to work, you need to enable Index recent changes (under Menu:Tools > Options > Indexes)

Also excellent! Avafind had the "Scout Bot" / recent changes window pane always visible together with the search results window pane. Is that possible with Everything?

Thanks very much for the quick answers!

[NotNull]

I haven't figured out how to enter/assign those keys instead of Shift-ESC, since that opens the Start Menu.

Ctrl-Esc is indeed a reserved Window keyboard shortcut.
To bypass that, there are a couple of options (that I know of)

• Use some progam that loads a "keyboard listener", like AutoHotKey or AutoIt.
  A 5 line script is enough to intercept Ctrl-Esc and redirect this to starting Everything
• Edit the registry. See this thread
• Use Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center to redefine shortcut keys
• There was a third party tool to do (approximately) the same. If I remember it's name, I'll let you know.

ut will the settings I've added there be overwritten by future updates to Everything?

No. But maybe settings change in a future upGRade (= new major version).
Short version: as long as you are running 1.4. xxxx, settings won't be overwritten.

Also excellent! Avafind had the "Scout Bot" / recent changes window pane always visible together with the search results window pane. Is that possible with Everything?

Not exactly like that, but you can start a separate Everything window with Menu:File > New Search Window and run your rc: command there.

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

Ctrl-Esc is indeed a reserved Window keyboard shortcut.
To bypass that, there are a couple of options (that I know of)

I did already just install AutoHotKey to do this. But after reading the thread you posted and seeing how often Microsoft has changed reserved keyboard shortcuts, I think I'll just re-train myself to use Shift-ESC instead.

No. But maybe settings change in a future upGRade (= new major version).
Short version: as long as you are running 1.4. xxxx, settings won't be overwritten.

Good, thanks.

Not exactly like that, but you can start a separate Everything window with Menu:File > New Search Window and run your rc: command there.

That doesn't quite have the same utility that I was hoping for. Avafind had search results, recent changes and equivalent to favorites, called "My Picks", all in one window -- which provided to be very handy. (See http://www2.think-less-do-more.com/avaf ... l_full.jpg.)

Is it possible that support for results in tabs or even multiple searches in the same window might be implemented in Everything in the future? (I'm not sure if you're one of the developers.)

Thank for your help with this!

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

And one more question: I have the preview pane turned on to preview images. Is there a way to show image attributes in that preview pane? Attributes like resolution in particular, but other data pulled from EXIF info would be brilliant.

[NotNull]

Not in the current version of Everything. But ..

.. it was suggested before, so it might end up in a next major version of Everything.

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

Okay. I've been productively using Everything for the last few hours. Smooth sailing so far.

Thanks again for your help. Cheers!

[NotNull]

Is it possible that support for results in tabs or even multiple searches in the same window might be implemented in Everything in the future? (I'm not sure if you're one of the developers.)

The only thing I develop are bad habits
Some general advice: Just start using Everything for a while and get the "feel" of it. It has many, many functions and features that are not obvious at first sight. There is some logic behind it all; just different from what you were used to with Avafind.
(I like Everything especially because of it's clean interface .. )

I think I'll just re-train myself to use Shift-ESC instead.

(the Avafind webpage mentions Shift-Escape to start it (?))
For some time I used CTRL-Z as that was very convenient to type (on my keyboard at least). Now I have Everything pinned as the 3rd icon on the taskbar on all my systems and start/activate it with Win-3.


I liked the folder-/filename+path combined view in the screenshot you posted. Listary has the same layout (another utility with filesearch capabilities) and it works very well there.
Could be useful for Everything too to show longer paths.

Thanks for your insights /fresh view on things!

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

The only thing I develop are bad habits

AND a great habit of answering my questions.

Some general advice: Just start using Everything for a while and get the "feel" of it. It has many, many functions and features that are not obvious at first sight.

I'm seeing that.

There is some logic behind it all; just different from what you were used to with Avafind.
(I like Everything especially because of it's clean interface .. )

That was what first got me using Avafind. Clean UIs are where it's at.

(the Avafind webpage mentions Shift-Escape to start it (?))

Hmmm. Maybe that was an option I set. I don't remember. After using it for well over a decade it kept crashing on my current machine so I had to install it a few months ago.

I liked the folder-/filename+path combined view in the screenshot you posted.

Yep, that was a useful feature.

I'll have a look at Listary as well, but so far I'm very happy with Everything.

Cheers.

[FrostyOfTheNorth]

I have to say, I'm loving Everything in the cast couple of weeks. Especially the rc: switch, which I wasn't aware of until you pointed it out.

Thanks very much!

[drmusti]

[949] Fixed an issue when permanently deleting folders with really long filenames.
from phisicial disk???? OMG??
please answer..

[void]

Permanently deleting folders with Shift + Delete in Everything with really long filenames (>= 260 characters) would fail.

949 fixes this issue allowing you to permanently delete empty folders with really really long paths.

[ccoder]

For some time I used CTRL-Z as that was very convenient to type (on my keyboard at least). Now I have Everything pinned as the 3rd icon on the taskbar on all my systems and start/activate it with Win-3.

OMG, that was exactly what I needed! Who knew there was such an awesome feature hiding in my taskbar
Win-1 will now forever lead to Everything!

[raccoon]

... which would show recently changed files in real time. Does Everything have something similar?

You could sort the Date Modified column to show the most recently modified files, first. The only problem is you'll have to contend with any erroneously "future dated" files that also clamber to the top. Either delete or redate those files, or use this Everything syntax to filter them out:

dm:<=today

[NotNull]

.. or simply sort by Date Recnetly Changed (Ctrl-9)

Showing the Date Recently Changed column is optional for this.