Why does the Windows search miss strings in .vsd drawings?

[rmgators]

I'm attempting to search a folder containing several .vsd drawings for
various strings. The criteria I'm using to search is "a word or phrase in the
file." I'm finding that the search will miss files where the string may be
located.

For example, string "hello, world" may be in drawings x, y, and z. When I
run a search of drawings x, y, and z for this string, Windows will only tell
me that the string is found in drawings x and z, or just in drawing x, etc.

 

[MAllen]

I have also found that with the built in XP search. I don't think it is just
Visio files it has problems with. I have experieinced this when trying to
search Word documents. I believe it is connected with an issue in the the
Indexing Service in XP

Try this excellent little utility instead: http://www.wingrep.com/

Cheeers,

MAllen

 

[rmgators]

Thanks for the reply, wingrep wasn't able to find the strings either,
unfortunately. I've tried a few different search programs with no success, I
think the way Visio formats its files may make it impossible to search
externally (at least in the way I am using it).