Overview

EF Find is a search program for the Windows desktop. The program can search for specific file names using wild-card searches in any area of a hard drive. Textual content can be searched for using intensive search processes that find text inside files, including hex computer values too. Search the specific folder or recursively further into sub folders many layers deep. Search for whole words or with case-sensitive searches.

Pattern-matching searches are possible using Regular Expression searches which are extremely powerful in capturing files that match specific patterns that include some items, and exclude others, in an exacting manner. Search inside archives like ZIP, TGZ, 7-ZIP, LHA, RAR, CAB and ISO file containers. Use filters to narrow down the search results still further.

Installation

The installation process went normally and without any difficulty. There were no additional files added that were not part of the EF Find package.

EF Find requires Windows 95 to Windows 8. Windows Server versions are also likely to work too.

30 day trial software.

Interface

The interface includes the menus and small toolbar buttons. Below these is the search box with options to search for file names using wild-card (*) searches. Change the “Look in” drive selection and click the […] browse button to find the exact folder(s) that the user wishes to search. The [>>] button will execute the search based the user set parameters.

Any search for specific text or hex code includes in a file can be searched from the “Containing text” entry box.

The "Option" text link can be clicked to expand out the additional search parameters. These include searching recursively inside sub folders, checking for whole word matches only, using case-sensitive searching, using additional filters, searching inside file archives, or by using Regular Expressions which get extremely specific about what results are being sought.

Pros

• Run searches in folders or across whole drives in Windows
• Search inside file archives like GZIP, 7-ZIP, ISO, ZIP, CAB, RAR or LHA
• Use Regular Expressions to use exacting search parameters
• Search for textual content or hex programming values inside files
• Use whole word or case-sensitive search parameters
• Filter results to narrow down what is being looked for

Cons

• 30 day trial for a capable but not exceptional search package

Alternatives

Everything, Locate32, SearchMyFiles are worth checking out.

Conclusion

EF Find is a decent search package for anyone who is really intend on narrowing down the search for certain types of files and wants many different ways to achieve that.