Hidden Feature: Searching Your Entire Network
Ever wish you could see all the pictures or music you have shared on your home network?
With Network Magic, you can search across all of the files you have shared in Shared Folders. The feature is somewhat buried, but read on and I'll show you how to uncover this little secret.
First of all, I should explain that one of the cool features we have had in Network Magic all the way back from version 1.0 is what is called a 'Shell Extension'. Using a Shell Extension, an application can extend the Windows Shell to make its own information available. We expose "Network Magic Folders" inside the shell as a virtual folder that shows where all the shares are on your home network.
If you right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose 'Explore' you can see the entire hierarchy of your computer. Here is a picture of the explorer window on my home pc:
Under the Desktop folder, you can see a "Network Magic Folders" node that is expanded and contains all of my Shared Folders, so I can easily get to them from anywhere.
Using this Shell Extension is especially useful when you are running other windows applications like Word, Windows Media Player or even notepad. When you are inside the File Open or File Save As dialogs of your favorite application, you can simply change the "Look in" drop-down and select Network Magic Shared Folders to open and save things to your network.
Now, lets use this same concept to perform a search across my entire network. Follow along with these steps:
1. Open a Windows Explorer window by double-clicking on My Computer.
2. From the View Menu, select Explorer Bar then Search.
3. A search panel should have opened. In the file name field enter *.jpg to look for all jpeg picture files on your network.
4. In the Look in: drop down, select Browse...
5. From the Browse for Folder dialog, choose the Network Magic Folders node and click OK
6. Back in the explorer window, hit the Search button and watch as your image thumbnails appear.
That's all there is to it.
I'd be interested in hearing from existing Network Magic users if they are using this Shell Extension feature and in what applications do you find it most useful. Anybody else have some cool tips or tricks?
-Brett
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com

Comments
Hi,
I just install the licence for three computers,I work from home but lately I have issues with virus and all kind of trojan, I need to track a specific computer on my network but with out the user notice the presence of network Magic, I could remove icons and program installation but I still having the icon on my windows explorer how I can remove this option,
Thank You very much
---------------------
At this point, there is no way to monitor another computer with the Network Reports option without the user of that computer knowing.
- Julie
Posted by: Fabiola Singh | August 13, 2007 06:52 AM
This is a great program! I found the link to download it on D-Link, when downloading new firmware. If only D-Link worked as well as your software! And the current crop of customer service techs @ D-Link are rude and w/o knowledge! I appreciate how your software helped me to fix McAfee network problems, as well as printer and file sharing and to see the vunerability of wireless! As your software showed me my neighbor's wireless connection! It also suggested that the other PC on my network needed a Microsoft critical update (it didn't) and how to do it! The program has a great look and is user friendly.
Posted by: Earl | January 27, 2007 11:44 AM
Charles,
Thanks for the feedback. While we design Network Magic for the "normal user" (ie. someone who doesn't have a PhD or job in networking!), it's always great to hear that professional IT staff are getting value out of the product also. Hope you dig some of our new 4.1 preview features.
We're always looking for feedback on what features people would like to see next or what we can improve, so post away!
-Brett.
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com
Posted by: Brett | January 26, 2007 10:45 PM
Hi,
I'm a Sr. Systems Engineer and us several professional computer and network forensics tools. My brother recently bought a D-link router and your program was bundled with it. When he brought it up and started using it, I wanted to see more.
I purchased 5 computer license for my home network and man is awesome. My wife no longer has to ask me to share something or check the network for outages.
Awesome.
Please come up with a pro version that I can use at work to replace my current plethora of tools. particularly netscan tools pro. and ps tools.
Look forward to a response on this one. Great Job :)
Charles
Posted by: Charles Payne | January 23, 2007 09:05 AM
Michael,
Regarding your D-Link DGL 4300 router and support for Network Lock, D-Link has recently released version 1.7 of the firmware that is now fully compatible with Network Magic.
You can download it from:
http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DGL%2D4300
Please ping our support team if you have any further questions.
Thx,
-Brett.
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com
Posted by: Brett Marl | December 21, 2006 11:56 AM
Great great product! I have 2 desktop PCs (one wireless), 2 laptops (one wireless, one "ambidextrous"), a 500 GB NAS Hard Drive that has 2 printers attached and a ethernet connected LaserJet printer. WORKS FLAWLESSLY.
I would suggest improving the vidcam support, though. Need to support it on more than 1 PC and with smooth motion. Also, it should be documented -- I can't find using video cams described anywhere.
Keep up the GREAT work!!
Posted by: Paul Silagi | December 18, 2006 07:30 AM
Hi Brett,
I have a D-Link DGL 4300 router. THEre is one feature of Network Magic that is not supported by my router--the Wireless Protection. It says in there thata network lock could not be cionfigured on my router. WHy is that? Would my DLink DGL 43oo be supported soon? THanks for yout time!!! Looking forward to your response.
Posted by: Michael Angelo | December 17, 2006 11:05 PM
After moving house I needed to set up and network a desktop PC, a laptop, two scanners and three printers. (I seem to collect equipment). So far I have the PC, laptop, one scanner and two printers networked, thanks to Network Magic. It has made light work of what would have been a major task for a non-techie. I'll keep you posted about adding the other devices.
Pete
UK
Posted by: Pete | December 10, 2006 04:29 PM
This is one of the best values in software. It actually works and is soooo easy to use. It practically installs itself and checks out your settings and presto you are ready to go.
I have already recommended it to my friends.
Posted by: Frank V. | December 10, 2006 09:32 AM
re: MAC support. Not yet, but we're hard at work on it - so watch this space.
Signup at http://www.networkmagic.com/beta/ if you are interested in signing up to beta the MAC version when we enter beta.
- Brett
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com
Posted by: Brett Marl | December 4, 2006 06:00 PM
Does your product work with a MAC also?
Posted by: RCOV | December 4, 2006 05:23 PM
I just bought and Installed a D-Link wireless Router and an adapter for my laptop. To my surprise Network Magic came bundled with it so I installed it. Although I do have an IT Network support background this was sooooo simple to get going that any of my previous knowledge was not needed to tune and monitor my 4 system Network and 2 printers. This is a terrific product and in my opinion all home networks should be running this to efficiently manage and secure their data.
Keep up the good work Network Magic team, I'm looking forward to your next release.
Steve Wiz, Ajax Ontario, Canada
Posted by: Steve Wiz | November 28, 2006 05:44 AM
I spent the better part of a day trying fruitlessly to get my three computers to share one of my printers which is supposed to have built in networking.
My wife forwarded the email from Zonelabs offering your product. I downloaded the demo version. It worked perfectly immediately so I bought the program about 20 minutes after I had first heard of it. Now I have three computers sharing laser and multifunction printers flawlessly with no new hardware.
Thanks!
MD
Posted by: Mike Dunn | November 26, 2006 08:14 PM
Great product once you get round the idiosyncrasies. I just wish that there were more routers that were on your support list so that setting up Net2Go could be handled by Network magic instaed of having to go in and edit the config file and manually setting up port forwarding on the router. Not a simple task for non techies and a problem if they don't have a fixed IP address which would mean them having to make changes periodically when their settings changed.
But keep up the good work.
=========================
I fully agree, Net2Go is not for the neophyte, for a lot of the reasons you are citing.
Thanks for the feedback!
Jeff Erwin
Posted by: Peter Thomas | November 22, 2006 01:32 AM
Glen/Kirk,
Thanks for the feedback. I'll forward it on to the team.
While we are striving to make Network Magic approachable to the non-"techies", it's great to know that advanced users are getting value out of Network Magic also.
-Brett
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com
Posted by: Brett Marl | November 12, 2006 10:58 AM
This feature is excellent,I found it by accident while excploring "ENTIRE NETWORK" in explorer.Keep up the good work
Posted by: Kirk | November 12, 2006 06:00 AM
This application is great!
I am A+ certified as well as a certified Microsoft Network Engineer. I have not used this education too much for the past five years or so. Now I use it mostly for my personal interests.
Now that I have mentioned this, let me get to the point...
I have well enough training to setup and manage my home networks without Network Magic. But why bother??
Network Magic is so easy and complete. Some simple keystrokes and mouse clicks and your network is up and running as well as easily maintained.
Also, have you ever called Network Magic Technical Support? I did. And I even "made up" a problem. Why?? Tech support should also be considered when evaluating a program.
When I called, I got right through and got a polite and proficient person on the other end of the line. And my made up problem?? I knew the answer. And so did the support tech. He nailed it right on the head and didn't put me on hold to "review my information". This, in my opinion , is an excuse for the technician to go to the web and Google search my question, find an answer, and read the solution to me verbatim.
To top it off, I've been a paid premium user for about a year. I equate me to Network Magic as to a plumber hiring a handyman to fix his dripping faucet. Why get wet and dirty on your day off?
My intention here is not to pull my own chain, but to give Network Magic the recognition it deserves.
Also, I would welcome your comments. If you would like to email me, I can be contacted at glenan_newsletters@adelphia.net. Thanks!
Posted by: GleNan | November 10, 2006 04:24 PM
Deane,
So great to hear your success story with Network Magic! Thanks for posting.
-Brett.
--
Brett Marl
CTO, Pure Networks
www.networkmagic.com
Posted by: Brett Marl | November 10, 2006 02:36 PM
I am 79 years old. I had a NetGear router and tried to install a network for my desktop, laptop and printer. I worked and worked and always ended up with some kind of problem. Then the router quit so I took the whole thing back and got a DLink which fortunately included NetWorkMagic. I had to go back to the internet site to make a couple of changes that Tech Support advised and everything has been working just fine now for several months. I immediately transfer important files back and forth between my computers so they are backed up and in that way I don't worry much about daily backups (I have been careless anyway.) A really great product when a senior without any professional background can make it work and believe me I now know how difficult networking is with most setups. I just downloaded Internet Explorer 7 on one computer, shared it with the other and both are working now without any double download or CD copies etc.
Posted by: Deane Johnson | November 10, 2006 01:35 PM
I've been using the Shell Extension since I got the program. Makes life so much easier when you have a massive hard drive on the "other" computer and need to find something without going from folder to folder.
Posted by: DreamAngel | November 1, 2006 07:19 AM