The Egnyte Desktop App provides efficient access to files and folders from the cloud directly to the local device. Search and Recents are two key features that allow files and folders to be located faster.
Benefits of Using Egnyte's Search and Recent in the Desktop App
- Egnyte's Search is faster than the native search in File Explorer or Finder, providing quicker access to files.
- Files and folders from the cloud can be viewed from the app's UI without syncing them to the local device. This is different from the native search in Explorer or Finder, which only shows synced or downloaded files.
- Open the file or navigate to its location directly from the search results with a single click.
- The search results also show who updated the file most recently, providing important context.
- Egnyte's Search makes it easier to find and share content. Files can be shared files directly from the search results, saving time and effort.
- Recent section provides easy availability to recently accessed files with last accessed duration and file path.
- The recent files can be directly shared from the widget without navigating to the File Explorer or Finder
Understanding the Difference Between Egnyte's Search and Native Search
It's important to note that the search functionality provided by Egnyte's Desktop App is separate and distinct from the native search functionality in Windows Explorer or Finder. In general, native search is not supported by Desktop App.
Native search will only go through files that have been cached (such as previously accessed files) and can potentially degrade the performance of the device. For a comprehensive search result, the Egnyte's Search should be used, which can locate all your cloud-stored files without the need for them to be cached first.
How to Use Egnyte's Search in the Desktop App for Windows and Desktop App Core for Mac
1. Accessing the Search Function
To begin a search:
- Locate the Search bar at the top of the application window.
- Type the desired search query and press Enter.
A redirection to the Search Results Page will occur, which includes:
- AI-generated summary (available only for customers with Copilot Add-on)
- List of documents used in the summary
- Detailed search listings
2. AI Search Overview (Available Only for Customers with Copilot Add-on)
The AI Search Overview offers a high-level summary of your search query results, based on the most relevant documents.
Features:
- Concise Summary: Generated from top search hits.
- Source File References: Files used in the summary listed are clickable.
- Faster Discovery: Designed to save time and provide immediate context to the search.
3. Advanced Search Options
To refine the search, access advanced search options.
Available Filters:
- Folder: Restrict search to a specific folder.
- Content: Choose between documents, or folders.
- File Type: Filter by file extensions (PDF, DOCX, or XLSX).
- Modified: Filter based on last modified time.
- Uploaded: Search files by upload date.
- Updated By: Filter by the person who modified the file.
Use Case: Looking for a PDF contract updated last week by John? Just combine the appropriate filters!
4. Search Result Listings
The Search Results Listing is located below the AI Overview.
- Shareable Files: Directly generate shareable links from the listing.
- Clickable File Names: Open files directly from the results.
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Adjustable View Options:
- List View: For detailed metadata
- Condensed View: For compact browsing
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Large Icons: For visual content like images or videos
Customize the layout to suit the intended browsing style.
5. Saving Search Queries
Frequent searchers will love the Save Search feature.
- After entering a query, click Save Search.
- Access previously saved searches for fast retrieval.
How to Use Egnyte's Search in the Desktop App for Mac
- Once the Desktop App is installed, it will appear in the task bar (both Mac and Windows)
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Click on the Home icon from the widget to access Egnyte's search feature.
- Select a location in which a file or folder is to be searched. Files and folders can be searched in the entire cloud drive or narrowed down to a specific folder. Only the files and folders that the user has sufficient permissions will be visible in the search results.
- To refine the search, click on the Filters option. Search results can be narrowed down by file type (Type), date of upload (Uploaded), and uploader (Updated by).
- When results are displayed, user can:
- Click on a filename, to open a file.
- Click on a file path to open a folder in which file is located.
- Click on a Share button, to display sharing options in the web browser. Share button will be displayed on hovering the cursor over the search result.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Desktop App for Mac
The Search widget will open instantly allowing you to find files you need.
For Mac, the keyboard shortcut for Search is: Command + Shift + Space
Hotkey can also be configured in the Application Preferences.
How to Use Recents in Desktop App for Mac
Recents is a feature that automatically displays recently accessed files, saving the time and effort of navigating through complex folder hierarchies.
- Recents are located just below the search bar in the Desktop App for Mac.
- Click on the desired file to open it directly, or use the Share button to share files with others.
- Recents also display any uploaded files. If an upload fails, the user is notified with a message within the application. The user can make the necessary corrections and retry the upload.