Help Way to search for files on Android (root folder, too) created (modified) within mins/hours?

[Tristan Raghnall]

Hi,

Every search app I've tried at most searches for files created (I also assume modified) today. I haven't been able to find anything that will let me search for something created within the last hour or two or even within however many minutes one designates. When one is searching for something one doesn't know the name of, many hits will be returned by such a broad search. But if one can narrow it down via a time restriction, that usually works very well.

I've not had luck even though I tried all the handful of search apps I found but even a file manager, in this case, ES File Explorer. Nothing worked. I got a gazillion hits (or what felt like it) but no go. If anyone knows of a way, please advise.

(I did find reference to a couple of scripts but I'm not able to do anything like that yet and wouldn't know where to begin or what app to use to evoke scripts so definitely don't want go that route.)

Thanks.

p.s., did try my hand again to see if I could find a way to search from my Win10 desktop, but the Android path not recognized by the 4 desktop search utilities I have any better today than any other time I've tried <lol>! Bummer.

 

[eshieldsvx4]

Hi,

Every search app I've tried at most searches for files created (I also assume modified) today. I haven't been able to find anything that will let me search for something created within the last hour or two or even within however many minutes one designates. When one is searching for something one doesn't know the name of, many hits will be returned by such a broad search. But if one can narrow it down via a time restriction, that usually works very well.

I've not had luck even though I tried all the handful of search apps I found but even a file manager, in this case, ES File Explorer. Nothing worked. I got a gazillion hits (or what felt like it) but no go. If anyone knows of a way, please advise.

(I did find reference to a couple of scripts but I'm not able to do anything like that yet and wouldn't know where to begin or what app to use to evoke scripts so definitely don't want go that route.)

Thanks.

p.s., did try my hand again to see if I could find a way to search from my Win10 desktop, but the Android path not recognized by the 4 desktop search utilities I have any better today than any other time I've tried <lol>! Bummer.

ES File Explorer (pname:com.estrongs.pop.explorer) allows you to view any directory (even /system, although without root you're not writing to any of it) if you just wanna peek.

When you search for an app on Google Play, using "pname:" followed by the app's package name will show exact results.

 

[Bg260]

Solid Explorer has a decent search engine. Plus it can filter out certain file types. It can also list your directories in order of time modified, down to the second.

 

[scary alien]

There will be some system-protected (and by "system", I don't just necessarily mean "/system") will undoubtedly be unavailable for viewing (even if read-only) if their directory's area read-protected from the utility being used--unless you're rooted, of course.

That's statement is also without regard to any SE Linux context policies that might be in-effect, too for later/newer devices.

 

[Tristan Raghnall]

When you search for an app on Google Play, using "pname:" followed by the app's package name will show exact results.

Thanks, eshieldsvx4! I sure as heck didn't know that trick. Next time I'm searching in the Playstore, versus my phone, that sure will be a huge help.

Cheers.

 

[Tristan Raghnall]

There will be some system-protected (and by "system", I don't just necessarily mean "/system") will undoubtedly be unavailable for viewing (even if read-only) if their directory's area read-protected from the utility being used--unless you're rooted, of course.

That's statement is also without regard to any SE Linux context policies that might be in-effect, too for later/newer devices.

Re the former, figured that would be a possible issue, of course. It's always how generous the dev is, when it comes down to it, even if this is a Linux creation. Getting too be too much like Windows, seems to me <bleck>. That might be the case here esp. with the way the devs changed the software. But before giving up on this one completely, and all the work invested, need to exhaust all avenues I can. I honestly didn't realize I should go look into what they were changing when the new permissions came along. It just seemed more of the same. I have the odd app or two I stopped upgrading long ago because of their drastic change in nature. But I know more now what to look for esp. since latest doesn't always mean greatest the tactic that is used then they try to scare you into things by throwing up threats of what might happen (valid, in some cases, of course).

About the latter, not sure what you mean. I've been off Linux since May and back on Windows <sigh>. Yeah, don't like it but my productivity/functionality was way down. There just isn't the software available for Linux as for this stupid Windoze. So I'll look into what you mean with that. Thanks! Much appreciated.

So, looks like I'm still no closer. Well, I'll still keep trying to find an app that can filter out results that are newer than a day's-length.

 

[Tristan Raghnall]

Solid Explorer has a decent search engine. Plus it can filter out certain file types. It can also list your directories in order of time modified down to the second.

Yep, I have two that do that already. Thanks for the tip for an extra one, though. I will definitey check it out. Might be there's some extra abilities there not in the ones I have already. Cool.

But this isfrustrating. I really hate to say it but my two search utilities on this stupid Windoze desktop that I'm posting from, one application that is years old and yet that still works quite well even though it's 32bit, is darned powerful and can filter out down to seconds and bytes, if I so chose to go that far, and by a whole host of other extensive criteria! And it was freeware! Even the old WinXP Windows Explorer had more search power that I've been able to achieve so far on my Nexus. Though I have to say that stupid Win10's is as limited! <g> Windoze is devolving, of course <g>. But the joys of open source, or things that have their origins in, at any rate! <lol> I love it. As a GIMP and VLC user from many years back, pre-Linux and even pre-Android days, I do know the score, it's just somewhat aggravating that in the 2+ years I've had my awesome Nexus that I still haven't found a way to search for files out-of-the-box with advanced search criteria and the 3 pretty-good ways I've found so far still don't have the ability to really drill down...

But thanks. I'll check that app out pronto. If I find anything in the meantime, I'll report back.

Cheers.

 

[Dannydet]

What exactly are you searching for?

 

[Bg260]

I usually just know where to look.

 

[Dannydet]

If you have edited a photo, document, etc... Are you renaming the file or just overwriting the file?
Are you being careful as to what directory it's being saved in?
A simple file explorer installed on the device can find it, or you can search for it folder by folder.

 

[eshieldsvx4]

There will be some system-protected (and by "system", I don't just necessarily mean "/system") will undoubtedly be unavailable for viewing (even if read-only) if their directory's area read-protected from the utility being used--unless you're rooted, of course.

That's statement is also without regard to any SE Linux context policies that might be in-effect, too for later/newer devices.

Good point. Samsung especially. The new boot signing is a pain in the arse.