Copernic Desktop Search

The program interface calls for nothing but positive emotions – everything is made to fit the general standard: it’s neither flashy not flunky. It won’t be a problem for a newbie to grasp the idea of how the program works. The only thing is that designers were obviously creating the program interface knowing that the program will be working in the standard Windows XP desktop. It’s a matter of taste, of course, but the program doesn’t look as good with the classic desktop theme.

When first run, the program offers you to create indexes. It was a bit weird that after the folders for indexation have been selected Copernic doesn’t suggest clicking on anything like “start indexing” while not starting the indexing on its own either, but rather waits for the computer to get idle and only then starts indexing. You need to rummage through the options to make the program work properly. It’s also worth mentioning that the program offers a wide range of options for automatic creation of index: an inbuilt planner, possibility to index while the computer is idle, in the background mode, with a low priority. The indexing took its time – 10 hours 51 minute – slower than in other search engines (aside from SleuthHound, as Copernic is still a lot faster than that application).

Now about the actual structure of the index. To put it short, there’s nothing fancy about it. There is an option of selecting file types both in the generalized form and in specific. That is, in the very beginning you can select what to index – Documents, Graphics, Video, Music. In the other tab of the options window there will be an option of picking the specific types of file extension. You can additionally set the index in such a way that, for instance, pictures smaller than 16x16 or audio files less than 10 seconds won’t get indexed. Besides indexing files from folders, Copernic words well with electronic mail and contacts from Microsoft Outlook (Outlook Express) address book and can index “Favorites” and “History” from Internet Explorer.