file search not work

[Alan He]

## info

 

alfred:v4.6.1

macOS:Monterey 12.0.1 （Recently updated new system）,  but i test in another mac old os, not found again. I think it's not os issue.

 

if you migrated your preferences from another Mac / previous install / Time Machine? no

 

 

## question

1. I add ~/Library/Containers to search scope

2. have a try to search file and not found.

    but the file exist in ~/Library/Containers

 

I want to know if this folder does not support search or need some other Settings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## File Search Troubleshooting

 

Starting Diagnostics...

File: 'hello_world.pic.jpg'
Path: '/Users/alanhe/Library/Containers/com.tencent.xinWeChat/Data/Library/Application Support/com.tencent.xinWeChat/2.0b4.0.9/e1514b04dd5a791bb440d688e4c47e5d/Message/MessageTemp/8d163fc79c0db1c14e4eacd363e66483/Image'

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file cache database...

✅ File cache integrity is ok

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if file is readable...

✅ Alfred has permissions to read this file.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if volume '/' is indexed by macOS...

✅ Indexing is enabled on this drive

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check direct file metadata...

✅ Direct metadata available

Display Name: hello_world.pic.jpg
 Other Names: 
Content Type: public.jpeg
   Last Used: 

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check mdls file metadata...

✅ Metadata contains required items

_kMDItemDisplayNameWithExtensions      = "hello_world.pic.jpg"
kMDItemBitsPerSample                   = 24
kMDItemColorSpace                      = "RGB"
kMDItemContentCreationDate             = 2021-12-10 14:58:05 +0000
kMDItemContentCreationDate_Ranking     = 2021-12-10 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate         = 2021-12-10 14:58:05 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate_Ranking = 2021-12-10 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentType                     = "public.jpeg"
kMDItemContentTypeTree                 = (
    "public.jpeg",
    "public.image",
    "public.data",
    "public.item",
    "public.content"
)
kMDItemDateAdded                       = 2021-12-10 14:58:05 +0000
kMDItemDateAdded_Ranking               = 2021-12-10 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemDisplayName                     = "hello_world.pic.jpg"
kMDItemDocumentIdentifier              = 0
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate             = 2021-12-10 14:58:05 +0000
kMDItemFSCreationDate                  = 2021-12-10 14:58:05 +0000
kMDItemFSCreatorCode                   = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags                   = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon                 = (null)
kMDItemFSInvisible                     = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden             = 0
kMDItemFSIsStationery                  = (null)
kMDItemFSLabel                         = 0
kMDItemFSName                          = "hello_world.pic.jpg"
kMDItemFSNodeCount                     = (null)
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID                  = 20
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID                   = 501
kMDItemFSSize                          = 275072
kMDItemFSTypeCode                      = ""
kMDItemHasAlphaChannel                 = 0
kMDItemInterestingDate_Ranking         = 2021-12-10 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemKind                            = "JPEG image"
kMDItemLogicalSize                     = 275072
kMDItemOrientation                     = 0
kMDItemPhysicalSize                    = 278528
kMDItemPixelCount                      = 2962440
kMDItemPixelHeight                     = 1170
kMDItemPixelWidth                      = 2532
kMDItemProfileName                     = "Display P3"
kMDItemSupportFileType                 = (
    MDSystemFile
)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file is in search scope...

✅ File exists within Alfred's default search scope

-----------------------------------------------------------

✅ Troubleshooting passed
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2021 by Alan He

[Vero]

@Alan He Could you please use Alfred's File Troubleshooter first and share the output?

 

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/

 

Could you also please let us know if you recently moved to Monterey, and if so, if you migrated your preferences from another Mac / previous install / Time Machine?

 

Remember, the more information you can provide, the more likely we can help you.

 

Cheers,
Vero

[Alan He]

35 minutes ago, Vero said:

@Alan He Could you please use Alfred's File Troubleshooter first and share the output?

 

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/

 

Could you also please let us know if you recently moved to Monterey, and if so, if you migrated your preferences from another Mac / previous install / Time Machine?

 

Remember, the more information you can provide, the more likely we can help you.

 

Cheers,
Vero

 

I have post File Search Troubleshooting output

Edited December 11, 2021 by Alan He

[Vero]

2 hours ago, Vero said:

Could you also please let us know if you recently moved to Monterey, and if so, if you migrated your preferences from another Mac / previous install / Time Machine?

 

Remember, the more information you can provide, the more likely we can help you.

 

Did you read the rest of my post? Please don't just answer the first question and ignore the rest of what I asked.

[Alan He]

10 minutes ago, Vero said:

 

Did you read the rest of my post? Please don't just answer the first question and ignore the rest of what I asked.

 

Could you also please let us know if you recently moved to Monterey? yes, but i test in another mac old os, not found again. I think it's not os issue.

 

 if you migrated your preferences from another Mac / previous install / Time Machine? no

 

 

 

[Vero]

@Alan He Could you please try installing the workflow linked below and search for files using the "pb" keyword. This workflow uses a simplified version of Alfred's built-in file search and may narrow down why the default search isn't working for you. 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/63vgpclmapf74q9/Pared Back File Search Test.alfredworkflow?dl=0

 

Let me know what your findings are with this, and try with various files in various locations, such as a newly created file on your desktop. I can then guide you further to using a workaround so that you don't have to use the workflow every time.

[Alan He]

50 minutes ago, Vero said:

@Alan He Could you please try installing the workflow linked below and search for files using the "pb" keyword. This workflow uses a simplified version of Alfred's built-in file search and may narrow down why the default search isn't working for you. 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/63vgpclmapf74q9/Pared Back File Search Test.alfredworkflow?dl=0

 

Let me know what your findings are with this, and try with various files in various locations, such as a newly created file on your desktop. I can then guide you further to using a workaround so that you don't have to use the workflow every time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

desktop is ok. but not found in ~/Library， I think because of ~/Library is hidden folder. 

 

So the question now becomes how to search for files in hidden folders.

 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Alan He

[vitor]

16 minutes ago, Alan He said:

I think because of ~/Library is hidden folder. 

 

So the question now becomes how to search for files in hidden folders.

You’re jumping to conclusions. Hidden directories simply have a set attribute to make them invisible in the Finder, it affects nothing else.

 

While it is possible the hidden flag could play a role—e.g. if Alfred deliberately chose to ignore those—you can’t extrapolate from a single data point.

 

The next step isn’t to figure out how to search in hidden directories, but if hidden directories play a role at all. Try it: chflags hidden PATH_HERE (do the same command with nohidden to revert). If Alfred finds files inside that directory (which it should, I just tried it), then that’s not the problem.

[Alan He]

2 hours ago, vitor said:

You’re jumping to conclusions. Hidden directories simply have a set attribute to make them invisible in the Finder, it affects nothing else.

 

While it is possible the hidden flag could play a role—e.g. if Alfred deliberately chose to ignore those—you can’t extrapolate from a single data point.

 

The next step isn’t to figure out how to search in hidden directories, but if hidden directories play a role at all. Try it: chflags hidden PATH_HERE (do the same command with nohidden to revert). If Alfred finds files inside that directory (which it should, I just tried it), then that’s not the problem.

 

 

 

 

I have set show Library. but search not work.

 

 

 

[vitor]

Then that settles it, it’s not due to the hidden directory flag.

[Pascaline]

Hello,

 

I tried to read the messages until now... But I'm not english native speaker and really, I didn't understand nothing... So here is my question / problem : I just installed Alfred and impossible to find files... I write in Alfred (for exemple) : 'membres 

and all the time, it's google, amazon and wikipedia who are offered. No files !

My computer is MacOSMonterey.

I downloaded Alfred for the first time this morning.

 

I don't know if it's a bug or if I missed something ?

 

Thank you in advance,

Pascaline

 

[vitor]

Welcome @Pascaline,

 

Your issue is likely not related. See the troubleshooting steps.

[Alan He]

On 12/13/2021 at 10:57 PM, Alan He said:

 

 

 

 

I have set show Library. but search not work.

 

 

 

 

Waiting @Vero to follow up on the question.

 

 

1. ~/Library can't not search

2. It has nothing to do with hiding or showing ~/Library

3. same behavior in big sur/montery 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2021 by Alan He

[Vero]

@Alan He This thread is quite a mess of questions and unclear responses, so could you please help me understand more specifically where you're at by answering the questions below.

• Are files in standard locations found on your Mac, such as Documents, Downloads, Desktop, etc?
• If you are specifically having issues locating files in ~/Library/ - what are the files, and exactly how are you searching for them?

The macOS ~/Library/Containers/ folders are not really intended for browsing and searching, and are usually files an app needs to function. 

 

If you must find files in that location, you may be able to create a File Filter workflow, but if you can be clear on why you're searching that location, it may help us guide you further.