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Search for words in docx files without opening the document in Word

I have several Word files in docx format (Office 2016) in a folder. If I fill in the search field on the right top corner of Windows Explorer a term, and press ENTER, Windows shows me a list of docx files where that term appears. If I switch on the preview pane I can also see the content of the specific file without opening it, but there is no way to search the term inside the preview pane. I have to open each file, one by one, to search all occurrences of that term.

Is there a way, without using additional application, applets, plug-ins or add-ons, to see all occurrences of a term in a group of docx files so that I open ONLY the one I am really interested to change when I find the specific occurrence that I was really looking for?

You want use the Windows Search function. This article describes setting it up and using it in Win 7

http://lifehacker.com/5887848/make-windows-search-a-million-times-more-useful-with-these-simple-tweaks

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As computer scientists we are trained to communicate with the dumbest things in the world – computers –
so you’d think we’d be able to communicate quite well with people.
Prof. Doug Fisher

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That article doesn't answer my question. I wonder why the search features of Windows are so primitive. Windows Search is really raw with respect the old good Google Desktop and the search cababilities of Gmail are far better and faster than those of Outlook. 

Search is a must for users, a major feature. Microsoft should invest more in search features in its operating system, in my opinion.

Dario de Judicibus

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OK, can't argue with that. I use a 3rd party tool for file name search myself.

Making the suggestion/observation here is OK, but it is "better" if you make it on one of the "suggestion box" sites, like the Windows one:

Suggestion Box / Feedback

MS has finally added web sites to allow users to make suggestions similar to the “smiley”/”sad” face buttons you may have seen in the pubic beta versions of Office.

NOTE: when you post comments / suggestions it is best to limit each submission to one issue. That way replies can be specific to that error. And it makes it easier for MS to assign a submission to a specific development group or person.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-desktop/ms-suggestion-box-sites-at-uservoicecom/7397119c-6d48-49e6-8d94-7bd0a50d214f?tm=1447217971960

PS       I suspect there are more, but there is no single “master” page that shows all of the sites, and not even adequate cross links between the sites. I actually found several just by changing the app name.

Some of these sites have options for the various versions of each application, ie Desktop vs Oneline vs Android vs Mac etc.

<edit> replaced individual links with link to wiki with collection of links

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*****
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As computer scientists we are trained to communicate with the dumbest things in the world – computers –
so you’d think we’d be able to communicate quite well with people.
Prof. Doug Fisher

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I did not know of that. Thank you, Rohn007.
Dario de Judicibus

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The problem is that the Windows Search function is really primitive and does not provide any help to identify where in a document a match occurs. As I said in my question, by the way.
Dario de Judicibus

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You have to sign in before you can reply.

Did you notice the "sign in" link in the upper right corner of the page?

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*****
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As computer scientists we are trained to communicate with the dumbest things in the world – computers –
so you’d think we’d be able to communicate quite well with people.
Prof. Doug Fisher

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Yes, I did. No way.
Dario de Judicibus

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Does "no way" mean that you were signed in to the correct account and that did not work ...

Sorry, I'm out of ideas. I am not very familiar with that forum, I've only just started using it myself.

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*****
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As computer scientists we are trained to communicate with the dumbest things in the world – computers –
so you’d think we’d be able to communicate quite well with people.
Prof. Doug Fisher

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Last updated August 22, 2024 Views 7,900 Applies to: