I want to search through my gmail using what used to be called a
'wildcard' operator. I want to be able to search for words in ALL of
their variations that are in my gmail account.

Example:

There is text in an email that is "child". I want to be able to search
for every email that has those letters plus any other. I want it to be
able to find "children" in the same search.

I know this must be simple, but for the life of me I can't figure it out right now!

Thanks!

Hi Istein00,

   The simple answer is to type both words into the search box, with
no operators, just the search words, separated only by a space. Ex.   
child children

I just tried a similar search on my own account and this worked very
well. However, there are more technical ways of achieving this task,
by creating a permanent filter. Google does not support the use of the
asterisk (*), but has its own operators. (However, I just tried using
the asterisk as such

*grand      

The search pulled up all my emails that contained the word 'grand'
'grande' and 'grandparent'. I got the same results trying it grand*,
by the way)Since Google does not support the *, it may not function
properly however.

You'll also note that to the immediate right of the search box, within
Gmail, are the terms 'Show search options' and 'Create filters'.

Follow the steps to create permanent filters. If you create labels
first, it makes the search easier. You can direct Gmail to apply
labels, "Star" the mail, direct it to the trash, or archive it.


==================================================================
To read in depth about filters and search options, cick this link, or
click on the 'Help' button found on th eupper right hand corner of
your Gmail screen.
http://mail.google.com/support/?ctx=%67mail&hl=en

From there, select  'Searching', found under the 'Managing Mail' topic, 

Select 'Can I use special characters in searches or filters?'

Or, select "How do I use Boolean operators in my searches and
filters?" will take you here:
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=8931&topic=41

"Gmail's advanced operators will help you make your search and filter
criteria more specific. For example, to create a filter for messages
from 'GoogleAmy@gmail.com' and messages that contain the subject line
'Meeting Reminder,' you can enter 'from:GoogleAmy@gmail.com OR
subject:'meeting reminder' in the 'Has the words:' field.

==================================================================

Here's how to clarify your filter criteria with advanced operators:

   1. Log in to your Gmail account.
   2. Click 'Create a filter' at the top of any Gmail page.
   3. Enter your filter criteria. In the 'Has the words:' field, you
can use any advanced operators to filter messages meeting various
criteria. Please note that the 'or' function in Gmail is represented
by 'OR,' and the 'not' function is represented by a minus (-). You
also can use quotes (" ") to specify an exact phrase.
   4. Click 'Next Step' and select the action you'd like these messages to take.
   5. Click 'Create Filter.' 

Here you can set up your filter to include  'child' and 'children'
Follow Google's example:
Example -  subject:(dinner movie)
Meaning - Messages in which the subject contains both the word
"dinner" and the word "movie"

Set up your filter as such:     subject:(child children)


==================================================================

You can check out a list of Gmail's advanced operators here"
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=8931&topic=41

If you were to click on 'Filters' and/or 'Searches', you will be taken
to this page:
http://gmail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=6579

==================================================================

Is this clear as mud?     :-)

Try this site for additional help:

==================================================================

"One of Gmail's excellent features is its Search function. Searching
can be as simple as entering a keyword or two into the Search field at
the top of any page to very complex using Gmail's advanced "Query
Words" to better constrain searches. Read more to better understand
how "Query Words" can help you with your advanced message searching...

Clicking the "Show Search Options" link will open up a pane containing
several entry fields and dropdowns. This lets you easily specify more
detailed search criteria. For example, say you want to search for all
email that is unread, regardless of under what Label it is filed.
Simply click the "Search:" dropdown, select "Unread Mail" and click
the "Search Mail" button. Gmail will display a list of all unread
mesasges. Likewise, you can select specific Labels and you can enter
specific terms. It's very powerful and useful.

But as more savvy users, we often crave, as Tim The Toolman Taylor
says, "More power!" Gmail also provides users the ability to prefix
their search keywords with "query words" that instruct Gmail how to
search. And there is no need to open the Search Options--these can be
entered in the simple search window at the top of any page.

For example, say you want to search for all messages Labeled with the
"Family" Label. You could open the "Show Search Options" pane, select
the "Family" Label from the dropdown, and click "Search Mail". Or, you
could just enter into the search box at the top of any page
"label:family" and hit Enter! Both do the same thing, just in
different ways.

But this type of searching goes way beyond this by letting you search
using more complex criteria. For example, building on our example
above, say you want to search for messages containing attachments from
your family sent before May 21, 2004? You would simply enter the
following advanced search criteria:

label:family has:attachment before:2004/5/21

Yes, this could actually be done in the Search Options pane, but in
addition to the available search criteria fields, query words not only
let you search using criteria not included in the Search Options pane,
(like "cc:" and "bcc:") but you can do "compound" searches otherwise
not available in the Search Options pane. For example:

label:doctors label:statements has:attachment before:2004/5/21 in:anywhere

would return all messages with both Labels of "Doctors" and
"Statements" containing attachments, sent before May 21, 2004,
existing anywhere in my account including the Trash and Spam views.

It's pretty powerful, and fairly intuitive once you get the hang of it.

For more information, you should check the direct link to Gmail's "How
do I use advanced search?" help page found [here] (You may need to be
logged into your Gmail account to access this page.)"

http://g04.com/misc/GmailTipsComplete.html#Tip-19


More Gmail tips:
http://gmailgems.blogspot.com/2004/04/search-faster-with-operators.html

I hope these steps will assist you in this simple task! If anything is
unclear, please request an Answer Clarification, before rating. I will
be glad to assist further on this question.

Regards, Crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lstein00-ga on 08 Jul 2005 16:48 PDT

Maybe I'm being incredibly dense here. So, rather than being nice and
sugar-coating, I'll just come right out with it.

I'm offering free money to play poker online. It's a website, people
send me their account names. They are scamming me. Here's an example:

Someone says their name is poprocks. I send them their money. Someone
else sends me an email and says their account name is poprocks1. This
sounds familiar to me. I want to search through my email for poprocks.
If I type in poprocks, that's all I will get. It will not return the
poprocks that have anything else after it.

Help please...

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 08 Jul 2005 17:47 PDT

Hi istein00,

  Hmmmmm. Yes, it would have been helpful if you had explained this
clarification before.

  Let me see if I understand. You are getting a legitimate email from
someone named poprock. Then a scammer sends you a mail, asking for
money, with the  name poprock1. Is this the right scenario?

  While I wait for your confirmation, I have this suggestion. 

If you are having legitimate people requesting their money, let the
winners know that they MUST put a keyword in the Subject line of the
mail. For example any mail to you requesting winnings MUST say WININGS
in the subject line of their email to you.

Create a label called Winnings.

Next,go to Create a Filter, found to the right of Search the Web on
your Gmail page, near the search box.

On the Create a Filter page, type Winnings in the subject line.

Click Next Step

Click Apply the Label, and select Winnings from the drop down menu
next to this line. If you like you could also select Star it, to place
a large star in the corner of the email.

Them when using the search term "Winnings" in the search box, all of
the e-mails with Winnings in the subject line will appear.

I hope this works for you. Again, please do not rate this answer utill
you are satisfied with the answer.

Sincerly, Crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lstein00-ga on 08 Jul 2005 18:27 PDT

It's not a matter of entering a keyword on the subject line. People
are creating multiple accounts on the poker website, yet only changing
their screen names by one or two characters. So it is obvious to me
that they are trying to get more free money, which I am trying to
avoid.

In my simple mind, I want to use the asterisk. I want to be able to
search for pop* and get poprock, poprocks, popcrock, poppycock and
anything else that is pop*.

I appreciate you going back and forth with me on this. Would you
prefer that I accept this answer and pay you and then post again,
since I wasn't clear enough?

You're getting a big bonus here! :O)

Let me know, thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 08 Jul 2005 18:36 PDT

Hi Istein00,

    I don't mind at all going back and forth! Thats the beauty of the
clarification process...  we can dialogu back and forth till we
completely understand each other and you get an answer you can use!

    If you can be patient a bit, and let me think on this, I'll give
it another go.

    I'll post as soom as I can, tonight or in the morning. 

    Thanks for your patience, Crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lstein00-ga on 08 Jul 2005 22:31 PDT

I just came up with a workaround. I'll just use the POP access feature
of gmail and use Outlook to sort, search, and generally organize this.

I used to work for a hotel software company and am used to developing
workarounds rather than solutions.

I would still love to hear about a gmail solution if you come up with one.

Thanks.

Oh, and this way I also get to sort alphabetically!

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 09 Jul 2005 12:48 PDT

Hello Istein00,

  Thank you for the tip! I do wish I could have been given the chance
to earn the fifth star, but c'est la vie! I'm glad you found a
solution, as I have found nothing better than your own work-around! (I
too love to find a great workaround!)

Sincerely, Crabcakes

I am not sure if I am making a mistake but not giving a 5* rating.
Great response time, great communication, just didn't really 'solve'
my problem. Hope a 4* is okay. <guilt>