Six quick Spotlight tips
Sometimes it can be just as challenging to find a file on your own Mac as on the Web. A few tips will put you on the right path.
1. Brush up on Spotlight basics
You can access OS X’s built-in Spotlight search capability in several ways, including via the systemwide Spotlight menu (Command-Spacebar), the Finder’s File > Find (Command-F) command, and the search fields in individual Finder windows.
However you access Spotlight, pay special attention to the Criteria bar, which appears below the Search bar. (If it’s not there, click the plus (+) button on the right side of the search scope bar.) A search criterion is a file attribute, such as Kind, Name, or Last Modified Date. After choosing a criterion, you can use additional pop-up menus or fields to narrow or expand your search. For example, you can choose “Kind is PDF” or “Last Modified Date is within last 3 days.” To add more criteria, click the plus (+) button again.
Choose ‘Other’ from the criterion pop-up menu, and you'll see this: a long list of additional search options. Select ‘System Files’ (or any other option) to add it to the pop-up menu permanently.
2. Explore ‘Other’ criteria
Although the pop-up criterion menus initially display only six options, you can choose from any of dozens of additional criteria by choosing Other from this menu. One criterion I recommend adding to the menu, and then using regularly in your searches, is System Files. By default, Spotlight excludes system files—for example, everything in folders such as /System, /Library, and ~/Library. But if you want to search for files tucked away in those and other hidden folders, such as preference files, AppleScripts, Automator actions, and desktop pictures, you need to set the pop-up menus to read System files are included.
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