HoudahSpot is a file search tool based on Apple's Spotlight technology. It enables users to quickly create and store powerful search queries. HoudahSpot has been designed from the ground up with ease of use and convenience in mind. You will feel right at home. We feel it is not the user who needs to be educated, but the software that should be made to the user's need.

With HoudahSpot you may search by name, contents, date, type or any other file attribute. It all starts with a basic query form. Take it from there to pinpoint the files you are looking for. Create complex queries by combining criteria using boolean operators.

HoudahSpot leverages Apple's powerful and fast Spotlight engine. It does not waste this engine's horsepower to run searches before you are done entering criteria. The search starts only at your command.

Search results remain up-to-date as long as they are on screen. Create a new file and it instantly shows up in the searches that match it. The top half of the query window allows you to express search criteria. The bottom half defines the search scope. The top half of the results window lists the file matching your query. This list may be sorted at wish. The action menu enables you to open files, reveal them in the Finder, move them or trash them.

In the bottom half you will find a column based file browser. The left-most column shows the siblings of the currently selected search result. To the far right is a larger view of the currently selected file.

HoudahSpot may be configured to start up as soon as you log in to your Mac. It is then ready to jump to your service at the press of a simple key stroke. You may save your queries for later reference. A query set up with a few basic criteria and a search scope might serve as a starting point for future searches.

Saved searches are much like smart folders. When saving a search its run state and result sort order are saved along with the query. A search saved while running jumps back to life as soon as it is opened. HoudahSpot comes with 2 such predefined searches: 'Applications' and 'Recent Documents'.

Queries saved to the template directory always are readily accessible from the 'Template' menu. You may assign keyboard shortcuts to up to ten templates. Templates may be used as stationeries or as smart folders.