File Searching

[James]

We have a need to search through an entire drive for a specific file name.
The process is currently written with recursive loops through each directory
and the Scripting.FileSystemObject. Problem is, it takes forever. When I
do a standard file search through Windows Explorer, it typically finds the
file I'm looking for within 5 seconds. Is there another approach to file
searching, or am I stuck with trying to make this recursive loop somehow
more efficient?

Thanks!
James

 

[Richard Gutery]

Easiest thing that I did for this kind of problem for a client, was to
create a ActiveX component in VB6, then used this component on the client
web site.

Typical time to find a file was less than 10 seconds when the file was
located in a 20 level folder structure on a 100GB drive that was 85% full.

Hope it helps.

 

[Roland Hall]

in message : We have a need to search through an entire drive for a specific file name.

How unorganized is this drive?

: The process is currently written with recursive loops through each
directory
: and the Scripting.FileSystemObject. Problem is, it takes forever.

And if your file was the last one searched, wouldn't Search also take a long
time although subsequent searches I believe are cached. So, if you cached
your search in FSO, would you get the same results by first searching your
cache?

: When I
: do a standard file search through Windows Explorer, it typically finds the
: file I'm looking for within 5 seconds.

This particular file or just in general. Define typically.

: Is there another approach to file
: searching, or am I stuck with trying to make this recursive loop somehow
: more efficient?

Perhaps a COMponent that can use APIs might be faster. Without seeing your
code, who knows if your routine can become more efficient?

--
Roland Hall
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[Daniel M. Hendricks]

You need to index your data. Have a process that spiders your
site/files and then search that index. MS Index Service is probably
easiest, as it's built into Windows.
http://www.kevinroth.com/projects/project.asp?id=371
Cheers,
Daniel
http://www.danhendricks.com