Find Files With Everything

Use es.exe as a read-only client for the running Everything index. Minimize tool calls and returned text.

Route the search

1. Use Test-Path or Get-Item for an exact known path.
2. Use rg --files for filenames inside a known workspace and rg for content in a known tree.
3. Use Everything first when the location is unknown, outside the workspace, computer-wide, or based on indexed metadata.

Run an efficient query

1. Check availability at most once per session, or after a failed query:

   Get-Command es.exe -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
   

   Otherwise, run the search directly. If ES is missing or returns IPC error 8, use a narrowly scoped fallback. Do not install, start, or repair software unless the user asks.

2. Narrow the query before increasing output:

   es.exe -n 20 "report"
   es.exe -path "C:\Work" /a-d -n 20 "ext:xlsx"
   es.exe -size -dm -n 20 "size:>1gb"
   

   Use /ad for folders, /a-d for files, -path for a subtree, and Everything search terms such as ext:, size:, dm:, and dc:. Quote paths and terms containing spaces.

3. When invoking from PowerShell 7 or later, put -argv first. Omit it in Windows PowerShell 5.1 and other shells.

4. Return plain paths by default. Use -json and extra columns only when structured metadata is required. Use -get-result-count only when the count matters or a capped query needs refinement.

5. Keep the default cap at 20. If the cap is reached, refine the query before requesting more results. Do not export results to a file unless asked.

Report the result

• Return the smallest sufficient set of exact paths and summarize omitted matches.
• State the query or scope when no result is found.
• Treat a zero-result search as evidence about the current Everything index, not proof that an unindexed location is empty.
• Avoid content: for a known project tree; it is not indexed by default and is usually less efficient than rg.

Keep searches read-only

Do not use ES state-changing options such as -exit, -reindex, -save-db, run-count setters, or saved-setting changes. Do not delete, move, copy, or open results unless the user separately requests that action.