Is there anyway to search through Safari Bookmarks folders

[rotarypower101]

Is there anyway to search through Safari Bookmarks folders?

I have very organized Bookmarks, though i have so many folders and non related topics, it can be difficult to find the correct one.

Any tips to make this easier?

 

[GGJstudios]

Sure. Just click the icon on your bookmarks toolbar, or click to show all bookmarks. Then use the search window in the upper right corner. You can choose to search your bookmarks or history that way.

 

[rotarypower101]

See there in lies the problem, I would like to search for a key term that would allow me to see the folders name, as well as any links that may have the search terms.

I am debating whether to organize the folders alphabetically, rather than by genera.

But this still doesn't allow me to search all bookmarks for a folder or specific link within the folders from a single search box.

Or am I missing something obvious?


Thank you for trying, but that is not really what I was after.

Is it unclear at all what I am trying to accomplish?

 

[GGJstudios]

Is it unclear at all what I am trying to accomplish?

If I understand correctly, you want to be able to file your bookmarks in various folders, then search by bookmark name or by folder name. Unfortunately, the search will only find bookmarks, not folders. You're better off making sure the appropriate keywords are in your bookmark name, so when you search it will find them. I use this search function all the time, as I have hundreds, perhaps thousands of bookmarks. I don't worry about keeping them strictly organized, but I do make sure the titles make them easy to find in a search.

 

[rotarypower101]

Does your search box allow you to see what is in all the folders simultaneously via search?

I must search for a link by exclusively clicking a specific folder, then it will search only that folder.

So searching for a crossover topical item can be hard even if i know its specific name and one of its appropriate folder names.

and as far as i can tell spotlight will not help in this area.

 

[GGJstudios]

Does your search box allow you to see what is in all the folders simultaneously via search?

Yes, if you search bookmarks, it searches all sub-folders, as well.

 

[rotarypower101]

I have hundreds, perhaps thousands of bookmarks.

And this is the issue, it seems to me that the search would allow for a more broad search criterion, don't you think?

I don't even want to speculate on how many i might have they are still pilling up, albeit organized in unique folders, since windows 98.

----------

Yes, if you search bookmarks, it searches all sub-folders, as well.

REALLY?!?

mine does not ....
I wonder if there is a setting somewhere???

----------

Yes, if you search bookmarks, it searches all sub-folders, as well.

Do you mean, once you search a folder, it will search the subfolders within only? Excluding other folders?


What I am hoping for is say you have a link from (poor example but the metaphor is there) a folder for home repairs that included duct tape, but also a folder for auto repair that included duct tape.

So the search would allow the user to see both relevant links to said item.

Does that get the point/idea/issue across?

 

[GGJstudios]

And this is the issue, it seems to me that the search would allow for a more broad search criterion, don't you think?

I'm not sure what you're experiencing, because I have thousands of bookmarks, some 5 or 6 folders deep. When I search, it finds bookmarks that meet the search criteria, no matter where they are. Are you sure you're selecting the proper starting point on the side? For example, I have most of my bookmarks in folders that branch off my Bookmarks Bar. I also have some in my Bookmarks Menu. I select my starting point on the left, then search. If I want to expand to everything, including History, I can click "All".

​

 

[rotarypower101]

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this little issue!
I know its probably trivial....but I really have tried to figure out what the intention of the limitation of the search function is in bookmarks could serve, and I am at a loss.

It seams there should be a way to click the greyed out header “bookmarks” and search all inclusively, bookmarks...

Or does that seam silly?

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this little issue!
I know its probably trivial....but I really have tried to figure out what the intention of the limitation of the search function is in bookmarks could searv, and I am at a loss.

It seams there should be a way to click the greyed out header “bookmarks” and search all inclusively, bookmarks...

Or does that seam silly?

It's not a trivial issue, as I depend on searching to locate bookmarks instantly, without browsing, especially when responding to posts here. See my last post.

 

[rotarypower101]

I'm not sure what you're experiencing, because I have thousands of bookmarks, some 5 or 6 folders deep. When I search, it finds bookmarks that meet the search criteria, no matter where they are. Are you sure you're selecting the proper starting point on the side? For example, I have most of my bookmarks in folders that branch off my Bookmarks Bar. I also have some in my Bookmarks Menu. I select my starting point on the left, then search. If I want to expand to everything, including History, I can click "All".

View attachment 317192​

See i don't think I have those buttons??
As well as I keep the bulk of my bookmarks under the bookmark heading, if that makes a difference?

----------

Everything in my “bookmarks bar” is just quick links to frequented sites.
But does not contain the bulk of my plethora of links, folders, and subfolders

 

[GGJstudios]

See i don't think I have those buttons??
As well as I keep the bulk of my bookmarks under the bookmark heading, if that makes a difference?

Those buttons only appear after you have typed some search terms. If most of your bookmarks are in the Bookmarks Menu rather than the Bookmarks Bar, then select Bookmarks Menu on the left, then type some search terms, and the "All" and "Bookmarks Menu" buttons should appear.

 

[rotarypower101]

Those buttons only appear after you have typed some search terms.

DING DING DING.



I knew it would be a case of silly me...
I guess I just never noticed it appear after the search term was defined, and it just defaults to the last selection of current folder rather than all folders.


Thank You very much!!

 

[GGJstudios]

Thank You very much!!

Glad you finally got it worked out!

 

[rotarypower101]

Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

 

[Loqman]

Additional commentary

This thread is old, forgive me to revive it now, but the problem is still valid - and not forgotten. So let me provide some reflections on that thread, which should be titled for the better "Is there any way to search for Safari bookmark folders".

As we know now, the answer is - no. No way, to search for the names of bookmark folders.

Apple developers provided for the search capability in Safari only a flat hierarchy of bookmark links - not the easiest way for saving the fruit of endless recherches because every link has to be renamed for the later purpose to be found in the bulk of information - whether via spotlight or the search function(s).

So why did they enable folders in bookmarks at all?

Sometimes I do not understand that spirit of reduced service mentality. The company makes so nice products (and is not poor) but is not eager to make that job 100%. Why?

 

[GGJstudios]

So why did they enable folders in bookmarks at all?

Folders allow for easier location of bookmarks when browsing, as opposed to searching. I can group bookmarks in a folder by a topic or other criteria, then browse directly to that folder when I need to use one of those bookmarks. If I have to resort to searching, either because I don't recall which folder a bookmark is in, or because I have too many bookmarks in a folder to allow easy browsing, then having the bookmarks named appropriately makes the search effective. I think the disconnect is people thinking of searching and organizing bookmarks in Safari like organizing files and folders in Finder. It doesn't work that way.