searching multiple excel and word files for certain keywords?

[katie279]

Hi folks,

Have got masses of word and excel files from a recovered disk (their filenames have been scrubbed) so I'm trying to locate a particular set of files.

What I'm wanting to do is search the directory using some software for words that I know occur in the files I need...

Does anyone know of any software that'll let me do this (ie search within word and excel files)?

 

[katie279]

hi guys - thanks for the tips! Yes, am on Vista - thought it did this, but it didn't seem to be scanning the excel/word docs (know it does for text-based formats like txt, html etc).

Tried a quick test with a word I knew was available, but didn't popped up (have turned on full indexing etc in advanced options)

Hmm, will play some more!

 

[katie279]

If you don't have Vista or 7, use the Google Desktop and allow it to index your system.


edit: XP allows this also. Search | Files or Folders | All files and folders, then put in the search phrase in the "A word or phrase in the file:" field.

Great thought Raist - forgot about Google Desktop - that definitely searches through word docs (though I'll have to wait for it to index!). Will investigate, owe you one!