How Can I Search for Specific Characters in .html and .txt Files Offline?

[Ara macao]

So I want to look for specific characters within my .html and .txt files offline. But even when I google offline search engine, I can't find a suitable search engine. Windows Vista Search doesn't seem to have a search engine that works for strings within particular files (it just seems to work for filenames).

 

[NeoDevin]

I haven't used Vista, I'm running xp, but in the xp search there is a box to search for a phrase within files... anyone with vista want to comment?

 

[Alkatran]

The first thing I would try is the XP search mentioned above. Then I would probably check out Google desktop search or program one to do it myself.

 

[BoredNL]

There is a "find" command in windows xp's command window. Try going to start, run, type in "cmd," then type "find /?" and see if this will work for you if the "search for a phrase within files" suggestion doesn't work right for you.

Actually, here's the printout from running "find /?"

C:\>find /?
Searches for a text string in a file or files.

FIND [/V] [/C] [/N] [/I] [/OFF[LINE]] "string" [[drive:][path]filename[ ...]]

/V Displays all lines NOT containing the specified string.
/C Displays only the count of lines containing the string.
/N Displays line numbers with the displayed lines.
/I Ignores the case of characters when searching for the string.
/OFF[LINE] Do not skip files with offline attribute set.
"string" Specifies the text string to find.
[drive:][path]filename
Specifies a file or files to search.

If a path is not specified, FIND searches the text typed at the prompt
or piped from another command.