HoudahSpot Features

HoudahSpot is a file search tool based on Apple's Spotlight technology. It enables users to quickly create and store powerful search queries.

Complex Searches. Made Easy!

HoudahSpot has been designed from the ground up with ease of use and convenience in mind. You will feel right at home. We feel it is not the user who needs to be educated, but the software that should be made to the user's need.

Versatile

It all starts with a basic query form. Take it from there to pinpoint the files you are looking for.

With HoudahSpot you may search by name, contents, date, type or any other file attribute. HoudahSpot knows all attributes indexed by Spotlight. You can query, show or sort by any of these attributes.

Highly Customizable (HOT !)

HoudahSpot may save your queries as documents. These documents remember not only the search criteria, but also the list of displayed columns, the sort order, whether the query is active or not, …. Documents saved as templates are always available from the menu bar.

Create a preferred template to serve as starting point for all your future HoudahSpot documents. That's right: you can preset all aspects of a new document.

Find by Example (HOT !)

It's never been easier to find similar files. Drag a file to a criterion and it will reflect the file's property.

To find all Microsoft Word files, just drag one such file onto the "Content Type" criterion.

(Note: the file should be dragged anywhere on the criterion row, but on a text field)

BlitzSearch (new in 2.1)

Combine the ease of use of Spotlight with the power of HoudahSpot.

Query Stationaries

You may save your queries for later reference. A query set up with a few basic criteria and a search scope might serve as a starting point for future searches.

Saved Searches

Saved searches are much like smart folders. When saving a search its run state and result sort order are saved along with the query. A search saved while running jumps back to life as soon as it is opened.

All-in-one Interface (new in 2.0)

See the search results next to the query criteria. Results are updated as you modify the criteria.

Exclude by Location (new in 2.0)

Alongside a scope for the search you may define a list of places to ignore.

Limit Output (new in 2.0)

E.g. show only the 100 most recently opened files

Unlimited Columns (new in 2.0)

Show and sort by any attribute you can think of.

Fast

HoudahSpot leverages Apple's powerful and fast Spotlight engine. It does not waste this engine's horsepower to run searches before you are done entering criteria. The search starts when you are ready: at your command.

Powerful

Behind the pretty interface hides the power to find files hidden in the darkest corners. Boolean logic allows you to pinpoint files with deadly accuracy.