Is it possible to search a group of SW drawings for a string of text in a note?

I need to go through several thousand drawings to see which drawings
have a note with text containing "ETCH". Is this possible without
creating a macro to do this?

 

SW explorer ( 2007 with SW 2007 ) does this just using the search
funtion. I get results for items that appear only in the notes fields. Not
sure of other versions.

 

It's possible. Use something that searches text strings inside
files. I do it often.
I've also used a hex editor to change text before, but I'll admit
that's risky. (It worked perfectly though)

I highly recommend the file search tool called Agent Ransack. It's
faster than anything I've seen, and has the ability to save search
results
to text files, which will allow you to create a list to know what
drawings contain the word "ETCH".

Get Agent Ransack here, it's free:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

--Matt Schroeder

 

Correction, I've used the replace text string to change drawing notes,
and it worked perfectly.
My memory failed me for a short time...

--Matt Schroeder

 

Thanks for the replies.

@Brian,
I am not using SW 2007 yet, so I cant test the functionality in SW
Explorer.

@Matt,
Ill check that software out, thanks

 

@Matt,

Agent Ransack finds "ETCH" in my drawing files, but it also finds
"SkETCH". Any ideas how I can narrow my search to just "ETCH"?

 

Is it possible to search for ................................" ETCH "?

 

Nope, its not possible to search for "etch". In fact, I tried
"Sketch" and it doest find anything. I guess its looking for the
quotes also, unlike doing a search query in google.

 

That's one that'll require more research for me to answer...

In the help file there are logic functions that you can apply to file
name character strings, but I'm not sure if those same
logic functions can apply to the search for text strings.

Also, looking briefly at those logic functions I don't see one that
immediately jumps out as a "NOT" function or a way to create a
"this, but not that" type of function.
I'm no logic function expert though...

One thing you could try is searching your drives for *.slddrw and in
the text string box key in ^ETCH

--Matt Schroeder

 

I realize you stated that you were not yet on 2007. However, the
searching that I did with SW explorer was with the stand alone application.
It 'should' work just fine on files from earlier versions of SW. Installing
it should also not screw up any files ( especially if you're simply
searching file locations for future reference ).

 

I had SW 2007 installed on a test machine, since we plan on upgrading
within the next month. We have an IT department that handles this,
and they didnt install Windows Desktop Search. It looks like SW
Explorer 2007 uses this, and its required to search local files. Our
IT department chose not to install WDS because it integrates into the
OS and can effect other programs. This leads me to my question.
Since it uses WDS, how does it search inside of SW files? I tried
using this hack, but it didnt work.
http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2004/07/28/search-within-files-using-microsoft-windows/

My next step is to convince IT to let me install WDS.

 

I didn't realize it was using windows desktop search engine. During my
initial install of 2007 I told SW to NOT install it, which the install
program promptly disregarded. I then removed it after the installation
completed. Now, after a couple service packs, like a case of herpes, its
back.

An option you might try. Is to use an unimportant computer to search
for you. Like your 4 year old laptop or whatever. Install desktop search
and SW explorer on it, and allow it to index everything so you can search.
If it hoses your OS on it.... who cares? Just a quick re-install when you
are done. Or image the drive before hand and restore it after.

 

@Brian,

I was unable to get SW Explorer 2007 to search for notes. I called my
VAR, and they said the only notes that you can search for is custom
propertys.

Any ideas?