Search for files and folders



You can search for files and folders with Adobe Bridge by using multiple combinations of search criteria. You can save search criteria as a smart collection, which is a collection that stays up to date with files that meet your criteria.

Search for files and folders with Adobe Bridge

  1. Choose Edit > Find.
  2. Choose a folder in which to search.
  3. Choose search criteria by selecting options and limiters from the Criteria menus. Enter search text in the box on the right.
  4. To add search criteria, click the plus sign (+). To remove search criteria, click the minus sign (-).
  5. Choose an option from the Match menu to specify whether any or all criteria must be met.
  6. (Optional) Select Include All Subfolders to expand the search to any subfolders in the source folder.
  7. (Optional) Select Include Non-Indexed Files to specify that Adobe Bridge search uncached as well as cached files. Searching uncached files (in folders that you have not previously browsed in Adobe Bridge) is slower than searching just cached files.
  8. Click Find.
  9. (Optional) To save the search criteria, click the New Smart Collection button  in the Collections panel when Adobe Bridge displays your search results. The Smart Collection dialog box automatically includes the criteria of your search. Refine the criteria if desired, and then click Save. Type a name for the smart collection in the Collections panel, and then press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).

Perform a Quick Search

You can use the Quick Search field in the Adobe Bridge application bar to find files and folders in Adobe Bridge. Quick Search lets you search using either the Adobe Bridge search engine or Windows Desktop Search (Windows) or Spotlight (Mac OS). The Adobe Bridge engine searches filenames and keywords. Operating system engines look for filenames, folder names, and image keywords. Adobe Bridge search looks within the currently selected folder and all subfolders, including My Computer (Windows) and Computer (Mac OS). Operating system search engines look in the currently selected folder or in My Computer (Windows) and Computer (Mac OS).

  1. Click the magnifying glass icon  in the Quick Search field and choose Adobe Bridge, Windows Desktop Search (Windows), or Spotlight (Mac OS) as your search engine.
  2. Enter a search criteria.
  3. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).
Note: Windows Desktop Search is installed by default for Vista. Windows XP users can download and install it from the Microsoft website. Adobe Bridge detects if Windows Desktop Search is installed and enables the functionality accordingly. The default Windows Desktop Search only indexes to the Documents and Settings directory. To include additional locations, modify your options in the Windows Desktop Search Options dialog box.