Use Spotlight instead of searching for documents or applications.

Post date: Oct 13, 2011 8:37:59 PM

Spotlight provides a powerful search tool from the Finder menu bar or any Finder window. Select the Spotlight search window by clicking on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right in the Finder menu bar or a Finder window.

Spotlight searches all files and folders in your user space, including your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, and Pictures folders. Which folders are searched can be customized in System Preferences.

Spotlight under the Apple in the Finder menu bar, or by selecting Spotlight Preferences at the bottom of the Spotlight search window. Spotlight supports searches using Boolean logic such as AND, OR and NOT. Search for exact phrases using quotation marks, or search for items by dates or ranges using the > and < symbols.

Note the Show All option. Selecting Show All will open a finder window listing the search results. The location of the highlighted file or folder will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Click on the file or folder in the main window list or at the bottom of the window to open the file or folder. Spotlight search results will include everything containing the search criteria as part of the name or content.