search contents in php files in Windows 7

Question

I have spent a long time looking for a way to search a phrase across some of my php files in Windows 7.

Things I have done include:

• enabling “Always search file names and contents” in Windows Explorer;
• adding php in the list of “Index properties and File Contents to enable content search” in Indexing Options;
• making sure the directory is indexed;
• making sure I have the permission to that directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs).

What else should I try? Is that even possible to do that in Windows 7? If not, I’ll have to install Cygwin, which I am reluctant to do now.

Solution

Are you attempting to search the contents of each of the .php files themselves?

Or are you searching for a phrase in filenames with the corresponding .php file extension?

If your goal is the former, the following text editors can easily "Find all in open files" and even "Find all in folder(s)":

• http://www.sublimetext.com/
• http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

If what you're looking for is a command line option, the findstr command should serve you just fine. More information on findstr here.

If you're attempting to do the latter, then the link provided by Dany Caissy looks like it'll have just what you're looking for.

Comments

[Maria Genko]

The method in Dany Caissy's link didn't work for me. The findstr command is exactly what I want. Thanks, everyone, particularly Justice Cassel.

[tony gil]

notepad++ did the trick (especially since its my editor of choice - no need to install and test) UPVOTED! :)