Why doesn’t OS X Spotlight search inside .json files

searchspotlight

I am trying to search a folder for an ID number. The folder contains various different file types. The ID can be found in several .json files, but non of them show up.

If I rename the .json file to .json2 or .jsont then the files show up in the search:
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If I try and use terminal and mdfind it is the same, .json files wouldn't show up when searching for the ID.

Is there some setting I need to change such that spotlight/mdfind will search inside .json files? Or will I have to rename all files?

Note: Some of the .json files are quite large (~16 MB). Does this matter?

Best Answer

You could try adding JSON to the Spotlight RichText importer. The process for XHTML is described here, and should be analogous for JSON:

http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-archive/2013Jun/0079.html

Related Solutions

MacOS – Search a folder that is excluded from Spotlight

If you're happy with the terminal you can use the find command.

Something like opening Terminal in Utilities.

cd <folder name>
find . -name <whatever you're searching for>

Once found you can open it up with open

So, I can do something like:

alex@smiley:~|⇒  cd Desktop
alex@smiley:~/Desktop|⇒  find . -name Mac*
./Mac Pro.spx
alex@smiley:~/Desktop|⇒  open Mac\ Pro.spx

Notice that I used the * as a wildcard to match all files starting with Mac

Finder Search (spotlight) not finding all relevant results

The Spotlight window does not include files treated as system files by default. Try setting "System files" to "are included":

Or use mdfind:

$ mdfind -name tweetbot
/Applications/Tweetbot.app
/Users/lauri/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/Tweetbot_4C49445B-E14E-51E5-87DC-7CE59AE6A841.plist
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac/Data/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/Tweetbot_4C49445B-E14E-51E5-87DC-7CE59AE6A841.plist
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac/Data/Library/Application Support/Tweetbot
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac
/Users/lauri/Library/Speech/Speakable Items/Application Speakable Items/Tweetbot
/Users/lauri/Library/SyncedPreferences/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac.plist

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MacOS – Search a folder that is excluded from Spotlight

Finder Search (spotlight) not finding all relevant results

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