Is indexing by file extension possible in windows 10

0

Current Version of Windows

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Version 10.0.18362 Build 18362

Indexing Options

If I open up the indexing options using the very good example shown here.

Question

There are only options that I can see to index folders without any further customisation like file extensions.

The reason is, that I've reformated my PC and have gotten all the possible portable apps I could get and place them in one path like so W:\Apps (Portable) and I only want to index by file extension such as .exe. This would prevent any other non-crital files to appear in any searches via the start menu.

Would there be a location in the registry where there could be modifications done to it to allow only .exe files to appear in in the start menus search?

Here's a screenshot of the folder structure I'm working with.

enter image description here

Ste

Posted 2019-06-24T21:18:04.393

Reputation: 361

Answers

1

AFAIK, there is no option to change Windows Search to find only executables. However, you can save a Windows search that would display all executables sorted as you want.

  • Open Windows File Explorer to W:\Apps (Portable) by double-clicking it.
  • In the Search box, type ext:exe.
  • Sort the results on a column, e.g., Filename.
  • Drag the "pages" icon from the address bar to the desktop.

Any time you need to find those apps, reopen the saved search. Click in a blank area on the right pane and start typing a filename; it will scroll to it.

The data kept is search criteria, so the it's executed each time it's opened. A wee bit slow, but it finds any changed files.

DrMoishe Pippik

Posted 2019-06-24T21:18:04.393

Reputation: 13 291

This would be a great workaround if there was a way to limit the nested folders windows goes through. 4 subfolder deep would be a good sweet spot as it's digging too far like this example W:\Apps (Portable)\Utilities\Utilities (Apps Folder)\cmder\vendor\git-for-windows\mingw64\libexec\git-core\git-config.exe. But, I not only use File Explorer but Freecommander too and I'm only after finding out it's possible to create a file container which is proprietary to FC using Find... cont

– Ste – 2019-06-25T00:23:09.617

... and then with those search results: File → Export to file container to create a container. This has to be searched and a new file container created every time there's a change.

– Ste – 2019-06-25T00:23:19.543

I suppose another workaround would be to type app:stickies in the start menu search or stickies then click on the Apps tab. – Ste – 2019-06-25T00:31:56.610

Asked: 2019-06-24T21:18:04.393

Viewed: 38 times

Active: 2019-06-24T21:56:44.290