bad search results with Google Desktop

Discussion in 'General Questions' started by august, Jan 4, 2007.

  1. august

    august Bit poster

    Messages:
    8
    Hi,
    I am running WinXP with parallels for several weeks now and it works fine. I share files between both operating systems by making the complete home directory in the MacOS a shared directory.
    I heavily rely on Google Desktop for searching in the hundreds of pdf files. But Google Desktop seems not to index the shared folder properly. The search results are pretty bad compared to the time when the same bunch of files was on my old Windows machine.

    Does anyone know how to fine tune Google Desktop when used in combination with a shared folder?

    Thanks,
    august
     
  2. Purplish

    Purplish Forum Maven

    Messages:
    521
    I know this is not responsive to your question, but have you tried the Finder on the MAC side? It can find anything.
     
  3. august

    august Bit poster

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    8
    sure, the finder is a nice tool. Especially if you know some elements of the file name. However, when it comes to find terms scattered within pdf files, Google desktop is far more efficient.
    ... if it can be persuaded to index the files ...
     
  4. palter

    palter Hunter

    Messages:
    243
    Never hear of Spotlight? Try it. You'll like it. (Hint: It's that little magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the menu bar.)
     
  5. Purplish

    Purplish Forum Maven

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    521
    Yes, Spotlight is within Finder and can find text within files. Even within e-mails.
     
  6. august

    august Bit poster

    Messages:
    8
    hi,
    of course I was referring to spotlight, not to finder, sorry.
    It seems not to be possible to connect keywords with AND. If I type more than one word, spotlight finds also files that contain only one of it.
    The search within pdf files seems very limited. If you know how to fine tune spotlight, please tell me
    I am using Thunderbird as mail client. This is not supported by spotlight (Google desktop would..)
    @palter: Have you tried Google Desktop? I am sure you realize a big difference.

    regards,
    august
     
  7. alkalifly

    alkalifly Hunter

    Messages:
    139
    I have, I realize that Spotlight does not collect my personal information and send it back to some central database for 'markeing analysis' :eek:
     
  8. august

    august Bit poster

    Messages:
    8
    hi,
    why not trying to use the best application available? In this case it is Google Desktop.
    As long as you refuse that any data is send to Google I trust them not to analyze my data. You can select this option and Google poses this question very explicitly. Are you sure that apple is not analyzing your data when you use the iDisk services?

    but this is not the point here. I am looking for making Google Desktop work with the shared folders on the Mac side. Any ideas how this could work?

    thanks,
    august
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2007
  9. alkalifly

    alkalifly Hunter

    Messages:
    139
    hi august, you are probably correct, the safest assumption to make is that EVERYONE collects your personal info, and Google are just the only ones who admit it
     

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