Visual Studio Code Advanced Search Wildcard in Files to Include

Question

I am trying to find a line of code to all my files with a specific file name criteria. I am trying to take advantage the Advanced Search of the Visual Studio Code by putting a wildcard in the files to include field of the search. But I wasn't able to achieve that. I tried to use asterisk (*) symbol, but I think the Visual Studio Code does not accept that. So I tried to search the internet and found this solution by using the .+?; however, it still does nothing.

Search Keyword: ICustomMatColumn

files to include: (wildcard)viewmodel.ts

Rich · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-10T15:46:21.110

Apparently, Visual Studio Code supports glob syntax which is really great. To achieve the desired result in the question, you just need to follow this format:

./**/*< partialFileName >

Example

Folder Structure:

|-- app
    |-- users
        |-- list.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|html|css|viewmodel
    |-- cars
        |-- list.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- configurator.ts|html|css|viewmodel
    |-- app.component.ts|html|css
    |-- app.module.ts
    |-- user.service.ts
    |-- car.service.ts
|-- index.html
|-- main.ts
|-- style.css

Let's Assume that every ViewModel file has this word/code/string ICustomMatColumn

Search Keyword: ICustomMatColumn

Files to Include: ./**/*ViewModel.ts

Search Result:

|-- app
    |-- users
        |-- list.ts|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|viewmodel
    |-- cars
        |-- list.ts|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|viewmodel
        |-- configurator.ts|viewmodel

It will strictly include only the files with the partialFileName that you entered in the files to include field

Note: You can add this after a path like: "./folderA/folderB/**/*ViewModel.ts" Self-explanatory, but maybe the short example above is not understandable for everyone. ;) — user706420, Aug 05 '22 at 08:33
Thanks. For `glob syntax` see => https://mincong.io/2019/04/16/glob-expression-understanding/ — A. Morel, Sep 16 '22 at 12:55
Extending on this answer: I wanted to search in a specific folder, and all of it's subfolders - limited by file extension. some-folder/**/*.java — eitama, Mar 09 '23 at 12:58

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 28 '19 at 06:34

So I found that the asterisk (*) works when you put in the files to include field the higher level folder name as the criteria

The format will be higherLevelFolderName*

Example:

Folder Structure:

|-- app
    |-- users
        |-- list.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|html|css|viewmodel
    |-- cars
        |-- list.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|html|css|viewmodel
        |-- configurator.ts|html|css|viewmodel
    |-- app.component.ts|html|css
    |-- app.module.ts
    |-- user.service.ts
    |-- car.service.ts
|-- index.html
|-- main.ts
|-- style.css

Let's Assume that every ViewModel file has this word/code/string ICustomMatColumn

Search Keyword: ICustomMatColumn

Files to Include: app*

Search Result:

|-- app
    |-- users
        |-- list.ts|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|viewmodel
    |-- cars
        |-- list.ts|viewmodel
        |-- form.ts|viewmodel
        |-- configurator.ts|viewmodel

But the CONS of this solution is in case your search criteria is present in the other file, it will be included to the search result.

Visual Studio Code Advanced Search Wildcard in Files to Include

2 Answers2

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