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You can search the titles, contents, or properties of Microsoft Office files, Microsoft Outlook items, and Web pages.

1. On the File menu, click File Search .
2. Do one of the following:

   Search for a file or Outlook item containing specified text

   You can find a file or Outlook item containing text in its title, contents, or properties.

   1. In the Search text box, type the text to search for in Office files, Web pages, and Outlook items.

      Tips

      • Type a question mark (?) to match any single character in your search text, or type an asterisk (*) to match any number of characters. For example, s?t finds "sat" and "set"; s*d finds "sad" and "started."

        Note  The Windows Indexing Service (fast searching) supports the use of wildcard characters for file name searches only.

      • When searching for Outlook items, use natural language searches (natural language searching: A search method that lets you direct your search using conversational language. This enables you to give search instructions such as "Find all appointments for today."). Natural language searching is only supported in English versions of Microsoft Office 2003.
   2. To limit where to search, in the Search in box, select one or more drives, folders, Web sites, or Outlook mailboxes. To search everywhere, select Everywhere.
   3. To limit the types of search results, in the Results should be box, select the types of items to find. To find all types of files, Web pages, and Outlook items, select Anything.
   4. Click Search.

   Search for a file or Outlook item based on one or more properties

   1. In the Basic File Search task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.), click Advanced File Search.
   2. Enter one or more search criteria.

      How?

      1. In the Property box, choose a property from the list or type in a property name. The Property box displays the properties available in the currently open document.
      2. In the Condition box, choose a condition from the list, or type in a condition.
      3. In the Value box, enter the value to associate with the condition.
      4. If previous search criteria exist, click And to add a criterion that must be true in addition to previous criteria. Click Or to add a criterion that is sufficient regardless of previous criteria.
      5. Click Add to add the search criterion.

         Note  If the value is invalid for the condition or property, the Add button is unavailable.

   3. To limit where to search, in the Search in box, select one or more drives, folders, Web sites, or Outlook mailboxes. To search everywhere, select Everywhere.
   4. To limit the types of search results, in the Results should be box, select the types of files, Web pages, and Outlook items to find. To find all types of files and items, select Anything.
   5. Click Search.
3. In the Search Results task pane, take one or more actions on the items in the list:

   • To quickly view an item's properties, rest the mouse pointer over the item.

   • To open an item in its default editor, click it.

   • To open an item in an Office application, click the command button following the item, and then choose Edit with <application>.

   • To view a Web page in a browser, click the command button following the item, and then choose Open in browser.

   • To create a new document based on the selected item, click the command button following the item, and then choose New from this file.

   • To copy a hyperlink to the selected item onto the Office Clipboard, click the command button following the item, and then choose Copy link to clipboard.

   • To view all properties of an item, click the command button following the item, and then choose Properties.

Find a file from the Open dialog box