Alfred not finding a file Spotlight does find [resolved]

[bartzy]

Hi,

 

I have a PNG file called ssd_speed.png in ~/ssd_speed.png.

Spotlight finds the file easily with the query "ssd", however Alfred does not show it with either "open ssd" or "find ssd" and not even "open ssd_speed.png".

 

I've gone through the guide @ http://support.alfredapp.com/kb:indexing and tried to rebuild OS X metadata (from Alfred's advanced tab), but this didn't help.

 

Any idea?

 

Thanks,

Bar.

[Tyler Eich]

Did you add your home folder to the search scope? Alfred does not search for files in your home folder by default, and the "Include folders in Home" checkbox will not search for files either.

 

First, open Alfred Preferences > Features > Default Results. Then drag your home folder into the Search Scope list

[bartzy]

Cool! Thanks so much.

 

Unrelated question - why Alfred really likes the "Dragging" configuration scheme for files/folders/file types? Is it convenient because you can drag these from Alfred itself? I hate using the mouse (which is why I want to use Alfred )

[johnyull]

I have been using Alfred for 2 years and this is the first time Alfred is not finding items that Spotlight does; in this case it is just a screenshot on my desktop.  I moved it to another location in my "home" folder, which are all within Alfred's "scope of search" and still nothing.  I converted the PNG screenshot on my desktop to PDF and Alfred found it.

 

I also created a workflow year ago to search only for PNG files and this does work.  But the general file search (space bar) does not find the PNG screenshot.

 

Any thoughts?

[Vero]

I have been using Alfred for 2 years and this is the first time Alfred is not finding items that Spotlight does; in this case it is just a screenshot on my desktop.  I moved it to another location in my "home" folder, which are all within Alfred's "scope of search" and still nothing.  I converted the PNG screenshot on my desktop to PDF and Alfred found it.

 

I also created a workflow year ago to search only for PNG files and this does work.  But the general file search (space bar) does not find the PNG screenshot.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Could you do an mdls on the file (https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/mdls/) and post your results? 

 

Your workflow and the general file search essentially search the same index, so are you sure the png isn't just further down the results than you expect?

[johnyull]

Here's a screenshot of PNG search that works and the PNG screenshot that mdls cannot find.

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1700881/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-19%20at%206.21.50%20PM.png

[Andrew]

Here's a screenshot of PNG search that works and the PNG screenshot that mdls cannot find.

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1700881/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-19%20at%206.21.50%20PM.png

 

 

You need to use the full escaped name in shell / bash, i.e. if my file is called "file i want to mdls.png" I'd type:

 

mdls file\ i\ want\ to\ mdls.png

 

or

 

mdls "file i want to mdls.png"

 

It's also case sensitive, but to help you, bash has autocomplete by pressing Tab, so once you start typing the filename, you can press tab to complete or part complete it.

 

Cheers,

Andrew

[Andrew]

I also created a workflow year ago to search only for PNG files and this does work.  But the general file search (space bar) does not find the PNG screenshot.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Also, if a workflow filter can find the png, Alfred's spacebar should should be able to find them too. Try duplicating the file and giving it a new name, then searching for the new one.

 

Cheers,

Andrew

[johnyull]

I did everything you said and more.  Check out the screenshots.  Copying the png file and renaming it on desktop does not yield a search hit.  However, as I said before I can find the PNG file using my own filter and I can find the screenshot if I convert it to PDF.  Also, as you can see spotlight can find any of them.

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1700881/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%206.31.38%20AM.png

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1700881/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%206.35.07%20AM.png

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1700881/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%206.38.35%20AM.png

[johnyull]

Um...er.  Problem fixed.  I downloaded some JPEGs do desktop and couldn't find them.  I checked my file settings and sure enough Images were checked "Not to Show".  I guess that would explain why file filter would work, but general search wouldn't.  Sorry about that.

 

Best,

 

John