Quick Favorites Search

"very fast search, deep search, easy..."

You can now download version 3.0.0

 

1. Disclaimer
2. What is QFS?
3. What is not?
4. How to [un]install?
5. How it works? (recommended)
6. Known bugs
7. What's new?
8. ToDo list
9. System requirements
10. License information
11. Contact the author

 


[ 1. Disclaimer ]

QFS is provided AS IS. So, as you may have read many other times, there's no guarranty on data lost, computer malfunction, etc..

However, as you can read in [2. What is QFS?], QFS does very few things and does not interoperate with other programs (only with the OS), so it's very dificult to QFS to damage anything anyway.

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[ 2. What is QFS? ]

QFS is a tiny program that fast searches on the "Favorites" directory for a string in the name (or in the URL) of your Internet's shortcut files.

I've done it because the fact that, althought maintaining a structured and kindly sorted favorites folder, it's lots faster to search for a favorite than navigating the long structured favorites tree.

If you have hundreds of favorites, and usually use it most, try QFS! It's a highly worth download!

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[ 3. What is not? ]

· QFS is not a websearch engine, portal, spider, program, etc...
· QFS is not a favorites manager. You manage your favorites as always and QFS just search it.
· QFS is not a database of your favorites. You store your favorites as always.
· QFS is not a virus, not a trojan, not a worm, not a backdoor.
· QFS doesn't search the content of the HTML pointed by the Internet's shortcut, just the local file.

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[ 4. How to [un]install? ]

Unzip and run. No installation required.

QFS (v2.0.0 and above) creates a few registry keys (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Quick Favorites Search) just for storing your preferences
You can delete that keys manually (with your favorite registry editor) or with "\r" from the QFS search text box
Previous versions doesn't create configuration files nor registry keys, so no uninstallation is required

You must have VB6.0 runtime libraries. (msvbvm60.dll)

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[ 5. How it works? ]

When QFS is first loaded, you ought to set your program preferences typing a "\p" in the text box. Then the preferences screen is shown:

preferences screen

All of them can also be set by typing the following strings in the main screen text box:

main screen

· "\n" : Search Favorites by name
· "\u" : Search Favorites by URL content
· "\b" : Search Favorites by both name and URL
· "\sn" : Sort results by name
· "\su" : Sort results by URL
· "\ss" : Sort results as searched
· "\dn" : When Favorite is launched in browser, do nothing
· "\dm" : When Favorite is launched in browser, minimize QFS
· "\dq" : When Favorite is launched in browser, quit QFS
· "\mn" : When QFS is minimized, stay at explorer bar
· "\mt" : When QFS is minimized, put it in system tray (little icons beside your clock). To recall double-click on it

There's also three special strings that you can enter in the main screen text box that are:
· "\enable_debug" : QFS will append a .LOG file in your application folder, and store information about QFS actions
· "\disable_debug" : QFS stop logging
· "\r" : QFS will remove all registry keys and close. Use it to uninstall QFS

When searching by name, QFS will search for any file whose name contains that string. Note that the file must contain, and not begin with or end with the searched string. So, for the case of searching the string "new" both newfavorite and inthenewmiddle will match the query.

When searching by URL, QFS will do the same process, but using the URL that is pointed by each Favorite. Note that this kind of search is lots slower than searching by name, because QFS HAVE TO access every Favorite in your folders, in order to get the URL.

For last, searching both of them simultaneously will return all values than have the searched string in Favorites name OR in Favorites URL. Because QFS is still searching in URL, this is the slowest search method.

When QFS finish its search (QFS searches by name about 1,000 files per second in a Pentium 200) it shows the results. If only one file match the query, it's automatic launched in your preferred browser. If more than one matching file is found, a sorted dropdown combo is show with all the results. If you are sorting by name, the combo shows first the Favorite name, and is sorted this way:

sort by name

If you are sorting by URL, the combo shows first the URL, and is sorted this way:

sort by url

When the file you are searching is selected, hitting "Enter" launches it in the browser. If not desired results are found, you can hit "Esc" to return to main screen

Hitting "Esc" from main screen will exit QFS

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[ 6. Known bugs ]

All bugs reported to the date have been fixed

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[ 7. What's new? ]

in version 3.0: preferences screen added, with some new functions. You can now select your search and sort method, do something when Favorite is launched, and minimize to tray. You can now record a log of your QFS session

in version 2.0: now you can search by name, by URL o both. Some registry keys added for preferences

in version 1.4: Sorting is now done by QuickSort algorithm

in version 1.2: Faster directory access

in version 1.0: first release

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[ 8. ToDo list ]

· Integrate as a bar in Internet Explorer (difficult, if possible, to do with a VB project)
· Make QFS as Netscape's bookmarks compatible

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[ 9. System requirements ]

· Windows 9x, NT, 2k
· VB6.0 runtime libraries (msvbvm60.dll)
· Windows Favorites folder (QFS does NOT work with Netscape HTML bookmarks)

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[ 10. License information ]

QFS is absolut freeware, now and ever.
But if you like and use QFS, please, feedback me! It will take you a minute.

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[ 11. Contact the author ]

QFS homepage is : QFS HomePage

You can found me at : mailto:kikerl@excite.com

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Visitor:

Enjoy QFS...

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