how to search files & folders by 'a word or phrase in the file'

[sallam]

I have never managed to do this:
I have a folder, containing subfolders. They have many text files in them. Now: I need to search these text files to find the one which has a specific word or phrase in it. What I do is to hit Ctrl+f to open the search left pane. Then I click 'All files and folders', type the extention of the files I'm searching in (example: .php) and type the word(s) I'm looking for in 'a word or phrase in the file'. Searching within that folder starts. BUT IT NEVER RETURNS A THING, EVER!

Am I doing it wrong? how on earth can I do this?

[bkdc]

Try this:
Click START; click SEARCH; then click DOCUMENTS: click use ADVANCE SEARCH OPTIONS. Enter your search requirements.... should work.

[trailertrash]

Also, if you are trying to search by file extension or name, you need to make sure to have an asterisk in there.

Example:

*.php - would return all .php files.
application.* - would return all files named application regardless of file type.

[sallam]

thanks a million. I used the asterisk alone '*' as document name, and worked
Thanks very much

[trailertrash]

You're quite welcome, sallam.