Limit search to specified Folders or File Types in Visual Studio?

Question

Is there a way to limit a search (via the \"Find and Replace\" dialog) in Visual Studio to specified folders or file types?

Answer 1

Fastest folder search in VS:

As said in other answers, there is no immediate way to limit your search to a given folder within the current solution. (There are at least 3 feature requests for this in visualstudio.uservoice.com that have all been closed for lack of upvotes.)

But here is the fastest workaround that I could find.
Works without leaving VS and with keystrokes only (no mouse action required):

• In Solution Explorer select the folder to search within.
• Press Ctrl-C (copies folder path to clipboard).
• Press Ctrl-Shift-F to open "Find in Files".
• Enter your search term, then press Tab to forward the cursor to the "Look in" field.
• Press Ctrl-V to paste in the folder path from clipboard.

Answer 2

1. Click Find in Files
2. Choose search folders three dots button "..."
3. Choose desired folder
4. Verify folder name and click desired action

Answer 3

I can't believe this issue still exists in VS2015. We have a solution explorer folder tree. Why is "Current Selected Folder" not an option in the drop down. The "..." doesn't default to starting in the solution folder, I have to browse across the network to t the share, then drill down through all the folders to get at a folder that is ALREADY right there and selected in the solution explorer. Dreamweaver has had this functionality for its search for at least a decade (maybe longer).

Answer 4

While the Choose Search Folders works, it could be much better. I would really like to choose folders to exclude as well as include because sometimes folders are nested. You may want a folder but only some of the subfolders.

But by far the worst inconvenience is that it is not stored with the solution. If I go to the trouble of defining a search, and close VS, then reopen, I have to define it all over.

Answer 5

Yes, in the find/replace window you can:

• specify the file types in the "Look at these file types" option
• and choose the folders in the ... button of the "Look in" option.

Answer 6

2020-Update: Actually you can select the folder (also the current directory with two clicks) and define file types in Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2019, Version 16.7.5