I use Textpad (www.textpad.com) a lot when I'm in Windows. Textpad itself is a very powerful text editor, but its "search and replace" function includes the ability search for text in all files in a directory. What you want is "grep" for Windows. Here are a couple of references to free versions: http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/grep.htm http://www.tucows.com/preview/401897 I've never used either of these, so I can't say how well they work. Kraig --- "n.east" <[email protected]> wrote: > The Windows Search is very basic and would not "delve" into the text > of files such as a GEDCOM. There is an application which will do a > thorough search for any word or phrase you specify but it is not > freeware. > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] > > Sent: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:33:18 -0600 > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [GEN-COMP-TIPS] Windows XP Search and GEDCOMs > > > > Is there any way to search a directory full of GEDCOMs for specific > > contents? > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! Music Unlimited (http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited)