neoSearch

[rhiannon]

neoSearch can index both both local and network drives/folder
Network Search - you can index shared folders from networks you are connected to.
Supports wildcards
Feature List
1. Indexes your computer in a matter of seconds.
2. Presents you with dynamic results that keep changing as you type in your query.
3. Presents you with a full list of files that match your query (when the search button is clicked or 'Enter' is pressed) in as little as 0.01 seconds.
4. Lets you quickly navigate to any file or folder on your system using Super-Navigation.
5. Tiny hard-drive footprint and RAM usage (1.5MB).
6. Paths to be included and excluded can be explicitly specified.
7. Indexing can be scheduled and can also be run on demand.
8. Can be set to start with your system and can be launched from the tray icon later.

Executable name................. neoSearch.exe
Version............................... 2.00
Last Updated....................... 21 November, 2009
File Size.............................. 519KB

Windows............................. XP/2003/Vista/2008/7
Administrative account......... Not required

[kendall.a]

The biggest question is can it search within files? There are lots of alternatives for searching for files and folders, but not near as many that can search for words within files.

[rhiannon]

Originally Posted by kendall

The biggest question is can it search within files? There are lots of alternatives for searching for files and folders, but not near as many that can search for words within files.

Hi Kendall,

It doesn't search inside documents............I downloaded DocFetcher this morning but I haven't installed it yet. I try not to install anything before I've had some coffee.

Here's the description from the author's site:
DocFetcher is a desktop search application: It allows you to search the contents of documents on your computer. - You can think of it as Google for your local document repository. The application is available for Windows and Linux.

More details on the program are at Lifehacker, where I ran across it.

[kendall.a]

As this is one of the areas that I am responsible for on the main site, I am particularly interested in this topic.

My primary focus, up to this point, has been desktop search utilities that address 2 needs:

1. Can search for words within files
2. Can search across networks or network shares

There are lots of alternatives for search utilities that do not index and/or do not search within files. There are far fewer alternatives that you can use at work that will index network shares (files saved on a computer/server other than your primary computer).

Neosearch may be fast, but it cannot search for words within files. DocFetcher appears to be able to search within files, however, I can't tell if it can/will search or index network shares.

Windows Search, Google Desktop, and Copernic (at least it used to) all met these criteria. Agent Ransack is another tool that also meets the criteria.

If DocFetcher can index network shares, I am more than willing to review it.

P.S. Exalead also meets the criteria. However, I cannot recommend it for networked environments. The index on my work computer took up my entire hard drive and was over 90 GB (yes, that's Gigabytes!)! It almost caused me to have to reformat my computer. Even upon uninstall, it left the index file (all 90 GB's) on my computer.

[kendall.a]

One other point about DocFetcher (and probably the reason that I did not review it afterall):

At least two things set DocFetcher apart from other desktop search applications, such as Google Desktop. First, it defaults to indexing only what you need, not to indexing the entire harddrive, and second, it indexes documents only - pictures, music, videos, etc. are omitted.

This could be seen as both a positive or a negative. For some, this is a good thing. For others who might be used to a full-blown desktop search tool, this might be a "deal-breaker".

[rhiannon]

Originally Posted by kendall

DocFetcher appears to be able to search within files, however, I can't tell if it can/will search or index network shares.

I don't have a network so I'm not able to test this. From what I gather from the wiki on the project, you can search network files, but it requires a workaround.

Here's the relevant information:

Using DocFetcher in a network
DocFetcher was mainly written for single users. However, it is also possible to use DocFetcher in a network, where the document repository is located on a single computer X.

* On computer X, install the portable version of DocFetcher.
* Put the documents in the DocFetcher folder and index them.
* In the user.properties file of this DocFetcher instance, set the AllowRepositoryModification flag to false. This will prevent users from accidentally deleting files in the document repository. For more information concerning the user.properties file, see the section below.
* On each user computer, create a launcher (shortcut, script, etc.) that launches the DocFetcher executable on computer X.

Admittedly, this is only a temporary workaround, because each time a user starts DocFetcher, the whole DocFetcher installation has to be loaded over the network. In a future release, we may add a real web interface.

[rhiannon]

Originally Posted by kendall

One other point about DocFetcher (and probably the reason that I did not review it afterall):



This could be seen as both a positive or a negative. For some, this is a good thing. For others who might be used to a full-blown desktop search tool, this might be a "deal-breaker".

Good point. You'd want the biggest bang for the buck with a search tool.

[Anupam]

I came across this just few minutes ago.

Ultra File Search

with this description :

Ultra File Search is a Search Utility which is able to find quickly Files, Folders and Text on your Local, Network, DVD, CD-ROM, USB Hard or Flash Drives.

Might be useful.

[kendall.a]

An interesting note on their website:

More Info

For its characteristics, this Utility does not enter into competition with desktop search softwares which index and search documents according to their contents, but it complements them.

I wonder what that means?

As this program appears to meet both of my criteria (searches within files and searches across network shares), I'm going to check it out. Right now, I find myself using Locate32 more and more. I've kind of given up on both Copernic (my current Editor's Pick) and Google Desktop. Both take up a large amount of system resources. I've actually been considering naming a new top pick.

Before I do, I'll have to give this one a try.

[Anupam]

Yes, that note had confused me too. I think you would be able to tell about it better, after you test out the program. You are the right guy for it .