If you’re looking for a deeply hidden folder or file on your drive, you may be able to do so with Windows’s built-in search function. That works, but we don’t really like that position. We see FileBadger as a handy (er) alternative.
FileBadger
price
Free
Language
English
OS
Windows 8.1 and above
Website
www.molliesoft.com/filebadger 7 Score 70 
- Pros
- Operable from one window
- Beginner mode available
- Powerful search language
- Negatives
- Searches file and folder names only
To be clear, FileBadger does not use an indexing service like the search function of Windows nor does it search the documents themselves. The program is limited to folder and file names, possibly in combination with properties such as creation date and file size. The search is also limited to the folder (s) – and associated subfolders – that you set yourself.
Basic functions
FileBadger can be operated from one main window and is otherwise hardly adjustable. But that doesn’t mean the tool isn’t powerful! Working with FileBadger can be as simple as typing a search term and selecting one or more search folders (or unc paths of network shares). But it can also be more complex.
This way you can limit the search to files within a certain period and / or with a specific size. In addition to the name and location, the results list also shows the file size, as well as the creation, access and modification time. With a mouse click on a result, you open Windows Explorer at that location. The results can also be exported to a CSV file.
Searches
Uncheck the box Simple Search then, after entering the desired search folders, there is little more than a bar in which you have to enter the search query yourself, for example something like [$fileName has “Computer!Totaal”]. You have to be familiar with the used search language (MFQL).
Such a query can be quite complex, especially since you can use Boolean operators and priority brackets. Real RegEx commands are also possible, and you can add all kinds of variables, operators and constants from a drop-down menu. Luckily, your favorite searches can be saved and retrieved. A built-in help function gives you more text and explanation, including examples.
Conclusion
The ‘all-in-one-window’ design makes FileBadger quite a handy tool. The program is suitable for both beginners and advanced users who like to juggle with variables, operators and RegEx instructions. The fact that both the searches and the search results can be saved is a nice bonus.
