How do I search for files in Trados 2021?

Question

I have to perform a very simple operation: I need to look for a file I translated some days ago whose name contains the name "lab50". It is in one of the projects I have worked on in the last weeks. If I click on "Files" at the bottom left of the screen, I do find a file search engine (see screenshot), but it only allows me to search for the files contained within a single project which is currently highlighted under "Projects". I tried to highlight them all, but it didn't work. It should be such a simple operation, yet with Trados it becomes supercomplicated, as usual. Can anybody help me please?

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[edited by: Trados AI at 8:33 AM (GMT 0) on 29 Feb 2024]

Steve Rawcliffe · Answer

Hi Alex, 
 Despite the sdlppx extension, a Trados project file is simply a standard zip file. So with a bit of luck you should be able to search your project files using Windows File Explorer, without having to open each one to see whether it contains "lab50". I say "should" because I'm currently away from home and don't have any project files on my laptop so can't test my wonderful theory ;-) 
 Useful info here about how to get Windows to index zip files for searching: https://superuser.com/questions/1252895/how-do-i-do-a-search-in-file-explorer-that-includes-subfolders-of-zip-archives 
 You may need to tell Windows to index sdlppx files, in a manner analogous to that described for zip files on the above page. 
 dtSearch would also work. 
 Good luck! 
 Steve

Jerzy Czopik · Answer

Alex Dall'Asta (AlexDall'Asta) 
 Sorry, I beg to differ. You can compare this to InDesign, where you add text and pictures or some other elements to get a document ready. Studio is a text editing software in the end. Expecting sophisticated file management there is unnecessary. This can only lead to more problems, as it would require completely new module with a database functionality in the background. 
 I really welcome functions supporting translating, but I'd like RWS to concentrate on the core business and not develop a flying version of Studio to get us to the moon. There are certainly better tools for that. And as we German say, a "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" is good for nothing.

Jesús Prieto · Answer

Hi Alex Dall'Asta (AlexDall'Asta) , 
 I don't think there is a Studio plugin to do it. 
 Anyway I'd look for files in Windows Explorer itself. Alternatively, I like a tool called Everything from voidtools (free download from https://www.voidtools.com/ ).

Jerzy Czopik · Answer

Alex Dall'Asta (AlexDall'Asta) 
 Trados Studio is NOT a file manager. It was always users responsibility to manage files in Windows. To avoid such problems in the future I'd recommend you using a decent project management software. Studio cannot perform this. Similar as you would not find such a function in MS Word or any other text editing software. This is simply not a function to be expected there.

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How do I search for files in Trados 2021?

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