Including the content of ePubs in Windows 10 indexed search

[Brett Merkey]

A search indicates that this issue is of interest to Calibre users and I did not find in Google a clear set of instructions, so here they are...

Windows 10 will not index contents of ePub files by default; you must install and configure a special add-in called an ifilter.

1) Download and install the ifilter available at:
https://www.zabkat.com/blog/epub-ifi...ows-search.htm
(There is also an AZW/mobi ifilter available on this page.)

2) Type "indexing options" into the W10 taskbar search box. An app by that name should be available to select.

3) From the Indexing Options screen, select Advanced.

4) In the Advanced dialog, select File Types.

5) Select 'epub' in the file types list. Confirm the file handler "SumatraPDF EPUB IFilter." In the bottom of the same dialog, select the option "Index Properties and File Contents." OK

[JSWolf]

But you really don't want to index ePub especially if you have some DRMed ePub. They won't index well at all.

[stumped]

and the more folders you index, the more windows resources you use up, which will slow your PC

indexing is a left over stupid "feature" from old , slow systems which were too slow to do real time searches as needed.

e.g. do you really need the content of internet explorer's history files indexed? - windows thinks you do - by default.

searchindexer is a huge resource hog. open task manager and watch, next time you start windows.

if your system drive is an SSD, then having windows build and constantly maintain an index for it was a waste of time, & will shorten your drives lifespan with endless scans for changes.

& finally, microsoft largely broke search in file explorer for many users ,with recent windows 10 updates, & have not bothered to fix it yet.

see here for how to reduce the impact:
https://windowsreport.com/fix-search-indexer-high-cpu/

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by stumped

and the more folders you index, the more windows resources you use up, which will slow your PC

indexing is a left over stupid "feature" from old , slow systems which were too slow to do real time searches as needed.

e.g. do you really need the content of internet explorer's history files indexed? - windows thinks you do - by default.

searchindexer is a huge resource hog. open task manager and watch, next time you start windows.

if your system drive is an SSD, then having windows build and constantly maintain an index for it was a waste of time, & will shorten your drives lifespan with endless scans for changes.

& finally, microsoft largely broke search in file explorer for many users ,with recent windows 10 updates, & have not bothered to fix it yet.

see here for how to reduce the impact:
https://windowsreport.com/fix-search-indexer-high-cpu/

That is an excellent point. Well said.

[Brett Merkey]

indexing is a left over stupid "feature" from old , slow systems which were too slow to do real time searches as needed

Excellent point. Then this would be a good thread for you to publish in this forum how you would do a real-time search in your Calibre library for those books which mentioned "Lucretius" somewhere in the text.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by stumped

and the more folders you index, the more windows resources you use up, which will slow your PC

indexing is a left over stupid "feature" from old , slow systems which were too slow to do real time searches as needed.

e.g. do you really need the content of internet explorer's history files indexed? - windows thinks you do - by default.

searchindexer is a huge resource hog. open task manager and watch, next time you start windows.
… ETC

All true. I've been disabling Indexing service and related since about 2002 on Windows NT ( XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10). It's pointless and possibly even broken. A real time search is more accurate and often pretty quick. Basic XP type search, not the separate Search the Internet & LAN etc even when outside browser.
File Explorer: I missed multiple panes File manager. Then from win7 onward instead of fixing bugs since Win95 they removed features, added confusing different locations for the same content and finally added adverts!
Also Windows is NOT MacOS or Linux. The File Endings need to be displayed, hiding them is a stupid option.

OS indexing of Epubs sounds like a bad idea.

Windows OS indexing might be a good idea if it worked, currently it's just a way to wear out SSDs, use up CPU and RAM and generally make the computer seem like it's got a virus.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Brett Merkey

Excellent point. Then this would be a good thread for you to publish in this forum how you would do a real-time search in your Calibre library for those books which mentioned "Lucretius" somewhere in the text.

Done already ==>> Content Search EPUB

Added: I use it regularly. A search of a 180+K 'book' calibre library + 20+K emails + 3+K spreadsheets etc, is done in a second or two, and I have this to narrow the search ==>> Advanced Query Syntax

BR

[Brett Merkey]

Yes, BR, we are pointing to the same ifilter.

It works better on my Windows 7 file explorer (non-indexed) than on my indexed Windows 10.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Brett Merkey

Yes, BR, we are pointing to the same ifilter.

It works better on my Windows 7 file explorer (non-indexed) than on my indexed Windows 10.

'cept I was a year and half ahead of the curve

I'm surprised you say it (the iFilter) works better on "Win7 file explorer (non-indexed)", I thought iFilters only came into play when indexing is enabled.

However, it works fine for me on Windows 10, as it did on Windows 7, but I search from File Explorer not xplorer², never upgraded beyond 2.5.0.4

FWIW: results from a number of Windows search/find tools can be hooked into a calibre library via the Drop Search Results plugin, I use it to create Reading Lists.

BR

[Brett Merkey]

I'm surprised you say it (the iFilter) works better on "Win7 file explorer (non-indexed)", I thought iFilters only came into play when indexing is enabled.

That's what I thought too. However, I installed the ifilter on my venerable and *never* indexed W7 machine and it worked immediately from File Manager -- without the final tweak necessary with W10 I outline above. About as cheap and as happy a hack as you could want.

[BetterRed]

"never indexed" - R U sure, what shows in Control Panel->Indexing Options ?

BR