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University of Wyoming

Microsoft Office
Search - I Lost My File!

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How many times have you gone to open a Word or Excel file and realized you do not remember where you saved it?  A search feature is available from the Open dialog box to locate files.  This feature is available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.  The following example uses Word to demonstrate the process.

  1. Open Word.
  2. Click File > Open.  The Open dialog box displays.
  3. Click the Tools down arrow.
  4. Click Search.  See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Searach in the Open Dialog Box

Figure 1.  Search in the Open Dialog Box
  1. The Search dialog box displays.  Type the text to be used to search for the file.  File names and document text are search.
  2. Click the Search in down arrow.
  3. Click the plus sign in front of My Computer to expand the locations.
  4. Check the boxes where documents are normally saved.  See Figure 2.

Figure 2. Search Options

Figure 2.  Search Options
  1. Click the Results should be down arrow.
  2. Click the plus sign in front of Office Files.
  3. Check the boxes for the document types being searched.  See Figure 3.

Figure 3. File Types

Figure 3.  File Types
  1. Click the Search button.
  2. Highlight the file in the Results section.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click the Open button.

Ed.  11/2004

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Updated 09/15/2006