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I have a folder with a bunch of subfolders.

Some of the sub-folders have (+++) in their file-name.

I want to find just those folders.

Using name:"(+++)" or name:"+++" as a search term just returns every item in the folder, and all the sub-folders.

My knee-jerk response here would be "I just need to escape the special characters". However, name:"\(\+\+\+\)" and name:"\+\+\+" return nothing, and MSDN's "Advanced Query Syntax" doc page doesn't even mention how to escape a string (or that the + character is a special character, either).

How can I search for files or folders that have what are apparently special characters in their name?

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1 Answer

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Use filename:~=+++ to find all folders that have +++ in them.

If you want to search for (+++) use: name:~"*(+++)*"

For future reference ~ means literal string (with some exceptions, like *)

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I am doing this in windows explorer. A command line solution will not work here. (I need to do a right-click+drag operation on the selected results) – Fake Name Apr 19 '12 at 8:04
Why can't you use powershell? – soandos Apr 19 '12 at 8:06
Because I have a GUI, and really don't want to learn a whole new command-line system. Also, it's not what I asked in my question. – Fake Name Apr 19 '12 at 8:08
Windows has a very sophisticated search system built into the GUI. I should not have to descend to the command line just to search for certain file-names. – Fake Name Apr 19 '12 at 8:12
Try the above, should work – soandos Apr 19 '12 at 8:16
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