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I want to find some text inside binary files. Is it possible to do in Finder (it skips binary even if I set up "All kinds" of file types)? Otherwise I would be thankful for utility that can do it.

PS: I need to search among many files in directory.

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3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

You should use the strings application in the Terminal.

strings filename(s) | grep text_to_search_for

From Wikipedia:

In computer software, strings is a program in Unix-like operating systems that finds and prints text strings embedded in binary files such as executables.

I'm not aware of any way to use Finder to search for text in binary files.

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up vote 1 down vote accepted

After some digging on Google I found EasyFind.app. This app can search in selected or all file types.

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You can try Insider for Mac.

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Welcome to Ask Different! Can you expand on this answer? What does this app do and why do you like it? Please take a look at the FAQs for more info. Thanks. – Nathan Greenstein♦ Dec 20 '11 at 18:03
15$ on Appstore, EasyFind is free :) – brigadir Dec 21 '11 at 7:04

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