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 GBIC >> Software >> gbSearchLite
gbSearchLite

gbSearchLite is a freeware utility for finding files which contain a specified search string.

Searches may be limited to a single folder or may include subfolders. Multiple file specifications, wild card, and case-sensitivity are supported.

Line numbers containing the search string, as well as lines adjacent to matching lines, may optionally be displayed in the search result.

To install, simply unzip the installation file (gbsearchlite.zip) in a folder of your choice. In addition to the EXE, the installation includes gbSearchLite source code, the resource file, and image files.

Key Features

gbSearchLite provides a wide range of features, all focused on making it easier to find and manipulate information in text files.
  • List files containing search string
  • Search subfolders
  • Boolean searches (all words, any word)
  • Regular Expression searches
  • Whole Word searches
  • Case-sensitive searches
  • Show line numbers of lines containing search string)
  • Show context lines (lines adjacent to lines containing search string)
  • Merge matching files (into temp file)

Using gbSearchLite

Using gbSearchLite couldn't be simpler.
  1. Select the search criteria (toolbar)
  2. Enter a search string
  3. Enter the file specification
  4. Select a folder
  5. Press Search

That's it! The Search returns a list of files which match the selected criteria. Matching lines numbers and context lines may optionally be displayed. You can also double-click on a matching file to open the file in the default client for that file type.

That's it!

Alternate Displays

In addition to just displaying a list of files containing the search string, gbSearchLite can display matching lines, with their line numbers:

Optionally, lines immediately before and after the matching lines can be dislayed to show the context in which the match was found:

Toolbar

gbSearchLite's search commands are found in its toolbar (no menu is used). So going through it first will cover the main features of gbSearchLite. Each of the toolbar buttons are described here.

    Folder Opens a dialog from which to select the base folder.
    Search Search for files which match the file specifications and search terms, as modified by other settings)
    All Search for files which match the specified file specifications. This option ignores the search term.
    Subfolders Includes subfolders in the search
    Match Case Case-sensitive search for search string
    Settings Toggles display between Files, Lines Numbers, Context settings. Includes a dropdown menu (discussed in the next section).
    Online Help   Opens the gbSearchLite online Help page

Settings

The toolbar Settings button dropdown menu displays the following menu options:
    Files Display contains only a list of files which contain the search tring
    Line Numbers Display contains list of files which contain the search string. Also show lines/lines numbers within the file which contain the search string.
    Context Display contains list of files which contain the search string. Also show lines/lines numbers within the file which contain the search string. Additional lines before and after the matching lines are shown.
    Complete String Search looks for the complete search string, not the individual words
    All Words (AND) Searches for files containing all of the individual words
    Any Word (OR) Searches for files containing at least one of the individual words
    Regular Expressions Searches for files containing a match to the search term, which is treated as a regular expression
    Hidden Search will find hidden files.
    System Search will find system files.
    Whole Words   When searching for individual terms, terms must not be part of a larger word.

    Note: Whole words not supported at this time

    Words On Line   When doing an AND search, terms must be found on one line (in any order)
    Detect Unix Line Feed   Converts 0A bytes to 0D0A, if not already present as a pair
    Trim Search Term   Removes leading/trailing spaces, plus strings of > 1 space from the search term
    Color Lines Line background alteranates every 3 lines (easier for the eye to follow)
    AutoSearch On Startup   On startup, restores the last search session.
    Implied Search  
    All Toolbar Buttons   Toggles display of additional toolbar buttons (places the Files, Line Numbers, and Context menu options on the toolbar).
    Select Context Width Open dialog for entering number of context lines to be shown on either side of matching lines (Context Mode only).

Accelertor Keys

These accelerator keys are supported:
  • F1
    Online Help
  • F3
    Search (includes search terms)
  • Ctl-A
    Search (ignoring search terms)
  • Ctl-F
    Search (includes search terms)
  • Ctl-O
    Open folder selection dialog
  • Ctl-T
    Toggle display of toolbar Display options
  • Ctl-W
    Toggle display of toolbar Search options

Selecting a Starting Folder

gbSearchLite provide five ways to select the base folder.

  • Manual Entry
    The user may simply type in the base folder.

  • Toolbar Open Folder Button
    The toolbar Folder button displays a dialog from which the base folder (where the search starts) may be selected.

  • Use As Parent
    From the ListView context menu. Places the path of the selected file in the base folder combobox.

  • Select Base Folder From MRU List
    Whenever a search is made, the current base folder is added to a list of previous search folders, and is then available from the dropdown list associated with the folders combobox.

Searches

gbSearchLite provides a variety of options on how searches are performed.

Boolean Search
Three types of searches are supported.

  • Complete String
    Searches look for the complete search string
  • All Words (AND)
    The criteria for a matching file is that all of the individual search terms must be found in the file
  • Any Word (OR)
    The criteria for a matching file is that any one of the individual search terms must be found in the file
  • Regular Expression
    Searches treat the search term as a regular expression

Words On Line
By default, when doing an AND search, a file must contain all of the individual search terms. With the this option, the file must contain at least one line which contains all of the search terms.

Hidden/System
By default, Hidden/System files are not included in the search. This option includes those files in the search.

Implied Search
This option encloses the file specification with a pair of asterisks, "*". Some users like to type in a file specification such as "dog" and want all files whose names contain the word "dog". A file specification of "*dog*.*" will work, but this options avoids the need to type in the extra characters.

Trim Search Terms
By default, spaces types into the search string are used in the search. This options removes starting/ending spaces from the search term.

File Spec

Specifies the file name(s) to be found. Wildcards are supported. Multiple file specifications are allowed, and must be separated by a semi-colon: 

     *.bmp;*.jpg

ListView Context Menus

gbSearchLite does not have a main menu, as is often used by apps. Instead, the toolbar and control context menus provide the user with all available features.

Each of the context menu items are discussed below.

ListView Context Menu

  • Copy List
    Copies the list of files (full path) to the clipboard.

  • Clear List
    Clear the results list.

  • Open File Location
    Open a window to the path of the selected file

  • Use As Parent
    Place path of selected file in the base folder combobox.

  • Select Font
    Select font to use in the results ListView control.

  • Create Merge File
    Places content of all files in a file named "mergfile.txt" and opens that file in the default client. This command supports text files only. It does not detect files with binary content.

Search String ComboBox

  • Cut
    Copy selected text to clipboard, then delete the selected text
  • Copy
    Copy selected text to clipboard
  • Paste
    Insert clipboard text content at the cursor
  • Clear Search Strings
    Empty the search term history list

Name Filter ComboBox

  • Cut
    Copy selected text to clipboard, then delete the selected text
  • Copy
    Copy selected text to clipboard
  • Paste
    Insert clipboard text content at the cursor
  • Clear File Specs
    Clear ListEmpty the name filter history list, then add the single entry "*"

Parent Folder ComboBox

  • Cut
    Copy selected text to clipboard, then delete the selected text
  • Copy
    Copy selected text to clipboard
  • Paste
    Insert clipboard text content at the cursor
  • Up One Level
  • Clear Folder List
    Empty the base folder history list

Other Comments

This sections contains miscellaneous additional information about using gbSearchLite.

INI File
gbSearchLite saves all of it's options in an INI file, which is placed in the same folder as the EXE.

Comments and suggestions are welcome!