Include only certain file types when searching in Visual Studio

Question

Often when I want to search through my code in Visual Studio, I know the thing I'm looking for is in some C# code. However, as I've used the same variable name in a JavaScript file, I have to wade through all those search results too. This gets even worse when the text I'm looking for is also used in a third-party JavaScript library that we've brought into the project: this can result in hundreds of search results.

To compound things, our designers include HTML mock-ups of the pages in the same project, so I often find I'm hitting loads of search results in there too.

I guess what I really want is to see results in my .cs, .aspx, and .ascx files, but not .js or .htm.

Is there any way to do any of the following:

• Search only in files of a particular type (search only .cs files).
• Search only in files of any of a given set of types (search only .cs, .aspx and .ascx files).
• Search in all file types except a particular type or types (search everything except .js).

I suspect not, in which case is there any crafty way of working around this?

Solution 1

In the Find in Files dialog (Ctrl+Shift+F), there should be a field called Find Options. You should be able to enter the extensions of fields you want to search in a field in this dialog:

*.cs; *.aspx; *.ascx; 

Solution 2

Instead of Ctrl + F, I think it is Ctrl + Shift + F which gives you the choice to specify file types, you wish to look into.

Solution 3

You can choose file types from default or type your own. Regular expressions available for complex search.

Solution 4

Another way to limit file searches is by only choosing certain folder sets.

Solution 5

I like to exclude js files by using the following search: *.a*;*.cs*;

Most of the times, I end up searching for stuff in aspx, cs, cshtml files so this is quite helpful. Notice how I use *.cs* instead of *.c* since the latter would select jquery custom files such as jquery.custom1234.js (which I usually use in most of my projects), of course if you don't you could just use *.c*.

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Comments

[nicodemus13]

The last option doesn't seem to be available- the file-type selector is only additive, you can specify what to include, but not what to exclude.

[liquidcow]

We can all vote for the feature in Visual Studio here: visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio-2015/‌​… Doooooo it!

[Ibrahim Quraish]

+1 the Find-in-Files dialog saves your recent extension choices, so it is easy to choose what set of extensions you want to search.

[Andrew]

Correct on the Ctrl + shift + F. It also does a find all, which is nicer because with the find, it stops once it finds something, so you have to babysit it to find everything you want.

[arserbin3]

I found this one to be the best, although it does include .css files, which may not be desirable. I also like to add two more for Web.Config's and Site.Master (if that exists):

[arserbin3]

to omit css files: *.a*;*.cs;*.csh*;*.Config;*.Master;

[Travis]

This also works in the replace in files dialog, and replace has a few extra buttons, notably "Skip File," which allows you save even more time.

[alexanderbird]

You can do find all with the regular find menu also, it's just hidden under the dropdown to the right of the "find" arrow

[Matt]

That's a great option! What might also help is to change "Look in:" to "All open documents" and then open just the documents you want to search.

[Wade Hatler]

Dude! Great option. Been using VS since the dawn of time and never saw that before.