Choose a method
Use the clue you have to choose the next action.
If the location is known, start there. A managed search scope helps with repeated searches across folders. Content and Smart Search below are AIClue modes, not universal File Explorer commands.
Clue → method → when to switch
| Clue | Start with | Conditions and next action |
|---|---|---|
| Exact folder and name | Open the folder in File Explorer | An occasional lookup in a familiar folder needs no new index |
| Rough location, date, or type | Browse likely folders in File Explorer and inspect dates or types | Try another location; consider managed search if cross-folder lookups recur |
| Name fragment across folders | AIClue Filename | Add the relevant folders first; searches names and paths, not body text |
| Words inside the document | AIClue Content | Text must be read successfully; use content troubleshooting if absent |
| Name, location, or text could match | AIClue Smart Search | Inspect the matching evidence rather than trusting rank alone |
Two different starting points
Known location: use the existing folder
If you remember which client folder contains the quotation, inspect names and modified times there. Do not add the entire computer just for this lookup.
Known text: prepare a useful scope
If only a distinctive term remains, add likely document folders, let text processing finish, and search Content. Narrow the folder scope if needed instead of copying everything into a new folder.
Start searching in AIClue
AIClue supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 and searches filenames, paths, and content across folders. Add the document folders you search regularly, then choose a mode based on your clues. For Office and PDF files, use matching snippets and previews to confirm the content.