Content search guide
Search remembered text, then verify what matched.
Content search uses document text that has been read successfully. A file appearing in the list does not prove that its content is ready to search. Check the mode, scope, and processing state first.
Choose the field you want to search
| Mode | Searches | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Filename | Filenames and locations, not document content | You remember a name fragment or folder |
| Content | Successfully read document text | You remember a phrase or reference number inside a file |
| Smart Search | Filenames, locations, and content | The clue could appear in more than one field |
Prepare the folders you intend to search
Filename searches filenames and locations without searching file content. Add the folders you use; file records may appear before background text processing finishes. Check the status bar for the mode and result count. Search initially shows up to 1,000 relevant results: narrow the scope if you reach the limit. Adding a folder does not move or rewrite source files.
A search exercise you can verify
Prepare a known document
Save a plain TXT file in a test folder. Give it a neutral filename and put a distinctive phrase only in its body. Use the same phrase to check the search mode and result.
Add the folder and search its content
After text processing, select Content and search the phrase you know is present. Use at least two characters. Filename mode cannot establish whether body text was read.
Confirm the evidence
Check the full path and matching snippet. Preview or open the document to confirm it is the intended file; one matching word alone is not enough.
Close the loop if nothing matches
Follow the table below, correct the scope or state, and retry the same known phrase. If the text cannot be extracted, use the format guide or locate the file by name rather than repeatedly changing the query.
Troubleshoot in this order
| Observation | Check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No filename result either | Added folders and the path in Settings → Scan Exclusions | Correct the scope and rescan as prompted |
| Name matches but content does not | Mode and restrictive directory or tag filters | Select Content, clear restrictive filters, and retry |
| A large folder was just added | Background content processing | Wait and retry; a file record count is not a content-ready indicator |
| Content is still missing | Readable text in the original app, supported format, and file state | Use the Word/PDF diagnosis; names and locations remain useful |
| Too many results or the 1,000-result limit | A more specific phrase and directory scope | Confirm paths and snippets; date sorting only reorders displayed results |
Confirm a file from result evidence
