This tip is useful if you are using any of the Microsoft Desktop Search Technologies including Windows Vista/Office 2007/Windows Desktop Search/MSN Toolbar Search. Many times you will find yourself scratching on how to do a power search that the UI doesn’t expose.

Recently I came across this help file on Advanced Query Syntax (ADS)) in Windows SDK (Unexpected place to find it). Check it out.

There are some jewels there like:

  • size:>50<70 – Search for a file within this limit
  • kind:im – Search only IM conversations
  • kind:email – Search only email communications
  • store:outlook – Limit search to Outlook Store alone

One tip which is not in the document:

  • folderpath:Microsoft – Limit search to what is on “Microsoft” folder (Outlook folders)

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