In addition to Tom Turak's suggestion, Word can search multiple files for a
given criteria.  Here's how in Word 97:
--Start Word
--Choose File, then Open
--Click on Advanced
--Choose the criteria in the "Define more criteria" box and click "Add to
List"
--Repeat as often as necessary, choosing multiple criteria.  You can also
choose to AND or OR the selection
--Select the appropriate "Look in" location and to search subfolders or not.
--When finished, click on "Find Now".

You will be presented with a list of files which meet all of the criteria in
the normal Open window.  I'm sure that newer versions of Word have similar
functions as well.

Sample searches ran include:
-- A search for all .DOC documents with text "Invoice" found 202 instances
out of 2000+ files within a couple of seconds.
-- A search for all .DOC documents that had an edit time more than 60
minutes editing.  I found 29 documents within 5 seconds.

Is this anywhere close to what you wanted?
Ron Jobe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Freeman Mendell" <[log in to unmask]>
---snip---
> I have electronic minutes of meetings that go back several years. There
> are many documents. Can anyone recommend a way to search for particular
> words or phrases besides making them into one document and using Word's
> search capability?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> Freeman Mendell, CISA, Certified Computer Crimes Investigator

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