The Windows “Search … for Files or Folders” function produces a list of files that satisfy some user-entered criteria.
How can I capture the list of file names that appears on the right side of the Search window as text? I don’t want the contents of the found files. I just want to get that list of file names into a text file.
As far as I know you can’t capture the results of the Windows search box into a file. However, you can do more or less the same thing from DOS if you’re just searching for certain filenames.
If you type
dir *.exe /b /s
it will list all executable files in the current folder and its subfolders. You can direct this output to a file by using the “>” operator:
dir *.exe /b /s > FileList.txt
If you need to search on the content of the files as well then I think you’re into more difficult territory.
DOS is a good way to go, as Armilla suggests.
But if you’re more comfortable with Windows, you can use WinDirLister or similar software.
You can take a screenshot of the window by hitting alt+print screen, then paste it into the Paint program that comes free with any Windows OS. It’s not a text-readable format, but it can be printed out.