Private document search for Windows. Find files by what’s inside them — locally, without uploading your documents.
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Which is more popular?
Based on our record, DocFetcher
should be more popular than ShellNewHandler.
It has been mentioned 12 times since March 2021.
social mentions
12 vs 2
File Manager popularity
100% vs 0%
Base details
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
Open Source DocFetcher is free and open-source software, which means you can use it without any licensing costs and contribute to its development.
Wide File Format Support The tool supports a wide range of file formats including PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, OpenOffice.org documents, RTF, HTML, and plain text files.
Cross-Platform Compatibility DocFetcher is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, making it accessible on various operating systems.
Fast Indexing and Searching DocFetcher offers fast indexing and searching capabilities, making it easier to find specific files or text within documents.
Portable Version It offers a portable version that can be run from a USB drive, allowing for flexibility and ease of use on different computers.
Possible disadvantages
User Interface The user interface may feel outdated and less intuitive compared to more modern software solutions.
Initial Setup Complexity Setting up the software initially can be somewhat complex, especially for users who are not familiar with indexing tools.
Limited Advanced Features It lacks some of the advanced features and customization options found in other, more sophisticated document management systems.
Performance on Large Data Sets Performance may degrade when handling extremely large data sets, leading to slower indexing and searching times.
No Cloud Integration DocFetcher does not offer direct cloud integration, limiting its usefulness for users who rely heavily on cloud storage solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox.
No features have been listed yet.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
DocFetcherShellNewHandler
Overall verdict
DocFetcher is considered a good tool for those who need a versatile and powerful search application. Its open-source nature and broad file compatibility make it a valuable choice for individuals and small businesses looking for a cost-effective solution.
Why this product is good
DocFetcher is a desktop search application that allows users to search the contents of various file types quickly and efficiently. It is open-source software, which means it is free to use and modify. Its ability to index and search through documents, emails, archives, and other types of files makes it a convenient tool for users who need to manage and search through large amounts of data.
Recommended for
DocFetcher is recommended for users who require an efficient tool to manage and search through diverse file types, such as documents, PDFs, and archives. It is particularly useful for researchers, students, and professionals who deal with large volumes of data and need to quickly locate specific information.
Overall verdict
ShellNewHandler is a niche, lightweight utility hosted on SourceForge designed to give users more control over the Windows 'New' context menu (the ShellNew menu). It can be considered good for its specific narrow use case, but it is an older, minimally maintained tool that may not suit all users, especially those on modern Windows versions.
Why this product is good
Provides direct control over customizing the Windows right-click 'New' menu, allowing users to add or remove file type entries
Lightweight and free, without bundled bloatware typical of some other free utilities
Simple and focused in scope, making it easy to understand for its specific purpose
Open distribution via SourceForge allows transparency and no-cost access
Recommended for
Power users who want to declutter or customize the Windows New context menu
IT administrators managing standardized desktop environments across multiple machines
Users comfortable with older utility-style tools and Windows registry-related tweaks
Not recommended for casual users seeking modern, actively supported software with regular updates
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.
DocFetcher12 mentionsShellNewHandler2 mentions
Tool to parse, index, and search local documents? - Windows
I use https://docfetcher.sourceforge.net/en/index.html to index and search large repos of docs. I use Papermerge for my digital file cabinet though. DocFetcher is good for searching an existing repository of files.
Source:
over 3 years ago
Docfetcher is a cross-platform free and open source desktop search application
As they state, it is crap-free, free forever, cross-platform, portable, private (local only), and indexes only what you need. You can also set minimum and maximum file sizes to index.
See https://docfetcher.sourceforge.net/en/index.html.
Source:
almost 4 years ago
Career Advice for a fresh graduate who wants to enter Structural Engineering field
What I'd recommend is setting up a digital and/or physical technical library. Download any useful documents, books, standards etc. and store them in a clear, concise folder structure. Then create an index of the library with a tool like...
Source:
almost 4 years ago
I recently got libreoffice, but now the new option in right click looks like a mess. Can someone help me get rid of them please?
Use Shell New Handler. Run the portable app and simply untick the items you don't want to appear in your new context menu.
Source:
about 4 years ago
This menu should be easy to add/remove programs to... Who is really creating Access Databases from this menu often enough to keep it here? (Not me!) Is there an easy way to edit this?
I've always used ShellNewHandler for this. It's a really simple portable utility that allows you to remove most of the items from that menu. Tested it out on Windows 11 and it's still compatible.
Source:
over 5 years ago
Alternatives to DocFetcher and ShellNewHandler
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