Why doesn't Lightroom Search work?

[nicholas Harvey]

So I try to search for a file name, or a name and I always get "No photos match the filter". I have always found this with LR and so have never used it as a database, since it's pointless if you can't search it!

I am trying to find a picture which I was working on last week which is not showing up in the Library where it is in my finder, ie in Pictures. It is not there and when I try to Import it again it won't let me, but won't show me where it is in the Library.

I have tried highlighting all photographs still no luck

How do I sort this out! ?? Any help on this gratefully received.

Thanks, Nick

[Hal P Anderson]

Nick,

It works. Go to the Grid view of All Photographs. Type  '\' to get the filter bar. Click on Text. Choose Filename, Contains (not Contains all), and some substring of the name you want. The image (and maybe a few others) will appear in the view.

Hal

[nicholas Harvey]

Hi Thanks, Hal. That does seem to work - I was sure I had tried that, but maybe not the precise settings. Anyway, thanks - I appreciate it.

[josephwiecha]

Yes - that's the proper search string - but my LR seacrh is not (not) working . LR import alerts do work (file already imported) but I cannot find the file with athe file name as you describe.

Any ideas would be much aappreciated!

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

You’ve posted to an ancient thread. It is highly unlikely that the issue described in this thread, though not impossible, is the same one you are currently experiencing. Rather than resurrect an old thread that is seemingly similar, you are better off posting to a new thread with fresh, complete information, including system information, a complete description of the problem, and step-by-step instructions for reproduction. 

If the issue is the same, we will merge you back into the appropriate location. 

This thread will be locked. 

Thank you!