If you work on a Windows computer and deal with a lot of AI (Adobe Illustrator) files, you might have faced the challenge of finding specific AI files among a large number of other files. Whether you’re a graphic designer, illustrator, or just someone who frequently uses AI files, it’s important to have a system in place to quickly and efficiently locate these files. Here we will explore some methods to help you find all AI files on your Windows system.
Use File Explorer search:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the folder or drive where you think the AI files might be located.
3. In the search bar at the top right corner of the File Explorer window, type “*.ai” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
4. File Explorer will display all files with the .ai extension in the current folder and its subfolders.
Using Advanced Search Options:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder or drive where you want to search for AI files.
2. In the Search bar, type “*.ai” as mentioned in the previous method and press Enter.
3. Click on the “Search” tab at the top of the window and then click on “Advanced options”.
4. Here you can refine your search by specifying the date modified, file size, and other properties to narrow down the results to find the exact AI files you are looking for.
Use Command Prompt:
1. Open Command Prompt by pressing Win + R, typing “cmd” and hitting Enter.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to search for AI files using the “cd” command.
3. Once you’re in the desired directory, type the following command and press Enter:
dir /s *.ai
This will recursively search for AI files in the current directory and its subdirectories.
Use Third-Party Search Tools:
There are numerous third-party search tools available for Windows that can be used to search for specific file types, including AI files. Tools like Everything Search, Agent Ransack, and FileSeek are some popular options that provide advanced search capabilities and can help you in finding AI files quickly and efficiently.
Organizing AI files:
To make it easier to find AI files in the future, consider organizing them into dedicated folders based on projects, categories, or any other criteria that makes sense for your workflow. By keeping your AI files organized and labeled appropriately, you can streamline the searching process and improve your overall productivity.
In conclusion, finding all AI files on a Windows system can be made easier by using the built-in search functionality of File Explorer or employing third-party search tools. Organizing your AI files into well-structured folders can further enhance your ability to locate specific files when needed. By incorporating these methods into your workflow, you can save time and energy that would otherwise be spent on searching for individual AI files.
