Windows Explorer is the basic file browser and manager for the Windows operating system. It has quite a few usability problems which sparked the creation of Windows Explorer replacements and add-ons. One problem that is encountered by users is the inability to filter by file name. Imagine downloading dozens of songs from several music albums that are all placed in one directory. Some users might want to create folders for each album for manageability reasons. This might take a long time in Windows Explorer if songs of each album begin with a number as the songs are then mixed and not listed together. This makes it much harder to copy the files to their directories in Windows Explorer.
The Windows Explorer plugin Stexbar extends the functionality of Windows Explorer. One of the new features that is added by the extension is the ability to filter by file name. The software program adds a new toolbar to Windows Explorer. It might be necessary to restart the computer or the explorer.exe process before the toolbar can be selected under View > Toolbars. It can then be moved around in the toolbars to customize the look and feel of it.
The form at the end of the toolbar can be used to filter by file name. Pressing enter after entering characters in the form will display only files and folders that are matching the phrase that has been entered by the user.
The extension comes with additional features that could be interesting to some users like the option to copy folder or file names and the system path, open a console window or to create custom commands.
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hi! but does not search in subfolders.
You must open the subfolder
This article is inaccurate.
Windows Explorer does have the ability to filter file names. It is done On Windows 2000/XP, in a folder, the F3 key will enable search for the current directory. From there a search may be performed by name, which effectively filters by name.
On Windows XP, the search assistant should be first disabled or removed to gain access to Windows Search.
Nice find!!! This is possible with QTTabBar also; but with the advantage that it filters-as-you-type. Is faster, and also has the ability to add tabs to explorer. Been using it for years, works flawlessly, and you can change ths skin. Wonderful app.
Q – Unfortunately while you can search by file name using F3 in XP and above, it is not very powerful or customizable, and is definitely not the same as a filter.
For instance, for whatever reason I find myself with a directory of hundreds of files, many of which have the string ” — ” (space, dash, dash, space) as part of the file name. I also have many with the string ” – ” (space, dash, space) as part of the file name.
I would like to find just the files with the single dash in the filename.
Using the built-in tools in Windows Explorer I do not believe this is possible.
I am hoping that one of the other tools mentioned in this article and comments might have this functionality.
Cheers.
I have installed the Stexbar but I can’t see the toolbar in Windows Explorer. I have restarted my computer and I have checked the Stexbar in toolbars menu but I cannot see any new toolbars. My system is Win XP SP1.