Usage: "Locate32.exe [ARGUMENTS] filename". For example, "locate32 -PC: -r -t exe notepad" finds notepad.exe on C: drive.
The arguments are following:
| -- | terminate parameter list (next argument is considered as search string) |
| -P path | put 'path' to 'Look in' field. You can also use '-P0' for 'Everywhere', '-P1' for 'Document Folders', '-P2' for 'Desktop', '-P3' for 'My Documents', and '-P4' for 'My Computer'. |
| -p path | Same as above, but also checks if path is valid. |
| -t type | put 'type' to 'Extensions' field |
| -nf | no file name (clears "Named:" field) |
| -nt | set 'Extensions' field to '(no extension)' |
| -r | start locating when Locate32 is opened |
| -Ax | activate control, x is 'n' (Named), 't' (Extentions), 'l' (Look In), or 'r' (results list). |
| -Vx | set view mode, x is 's' (small icons), 'm' (medium icons), 'l' (large icons), 'x' (extra large icons), 'l' (list), or 'd' (details). |
| -c | put clipboard content to 'Named field' |
| -s | leave locate32 background when Locate dialog is closed |
| -S | start locate32 to background mode (does not open Locate dialog) |
| -i | start new instance (experimental) |
| -a | activate existing instance (use e.g. "-a2" to activate the 2nd instance) |
| -ln | set the number of maximum found files |
| -lf | select 'Files only' in Advanced tab |
| -ld | select 'Folders only' in Advanced tab |
| -lfd | select 'File and folders' in Advanced tab |
| -lc text | put 'text' to the 'file containing text' field |
| -lcnm | uncheck 'Match case' field |
| -lw | check 'Match whole name only' field |
| -lwn | uncheck 'Match whole name only' field |
| -lr | check 'Replace spaces with asterisk' field |
| -lW | check 'Use whole path' field |
| -lrn | uncheck 'Replace spaces with asterisk' field |
| -lm size | set minimum file size |
| -lM size | set maximum file size |
| -lDmDAY | set minimum file modification date, DAY can be exact date in the form of YYMMDD, or number (0 is today, 1 is yesterday, etc) |
| -lDcDAY | set minimum file creation date |
| -lDaDAY | set minimum file last access date |
| -lDMDAY | set maximum file modification date |
| -lDCDAY | set maximum file creation date |
| -lDADAY | set maximum file last access date |
| -lsXY | sort located items where X is 'n' (sort by name), 'f' (directory), 's' (size), 't' (type) or 'd' (modified date) and Y is 'a' (ascending order) or 'd' (descending order) |
| -lP preset | load preset |
| -d file | uses database in file 'file' |
| -D name | uses database named 'name' |
| -Lpath | include path into the database |
| -L1 | include all local hard drives into the database |
| -u | start update process at start |
| -U | update database (do not open Locate dialog) |
| -RX | set the priority class of process, X is 'h' (high), 'a' (above), 'n' (normal), 'b' (below), 'i' (idle) or 'r' (realtime) |
| -X:CUSTOM | use different settings branch (see locate.ini.example file) |
| -W:search:parameters | parse Windows search protocol URL. Parameters "qyery=" and "crumb=location:" are only handled. You can also use '-WR:' (run search) and '-WQ:' (run if nonempty query string given). |
The command line arguments for locate.exe and updtdb32.exe can be seen by using "locate -h" and "updtdb32 -h" commands.