Cathy is a free portable software to index files on external media storage. Here it takes a drive or a storage location from you and will create an easily accessible database that you can use to search files and perform file operations. The best part is that you can access the files and folders catalog even after disconnecting the external media storage. It offers you file filters in case you want to exclude some specific type of files to be included in the catalog. You can create and save the catalog of external storage such as CD/DVD, USB Flash Drives, and external HDD drives.
If you want to have access to the list of files stored on some of your external media storage every time then Cathy is for you. It offers you a simple interface to show a list of all the files and folders that you have indexed with it. And if the external media device is connected then you can perform file operations such as copy/delete. On the main interface of the software, it offers you an advanced file search as well. With that, you can search files based on a specific pattern, between date ranges, and length.
Using Cathy to Index Files Stored on External Media for Later Use:
The software is simple, and you can start using it right away after you download it from here. Open it up and then simply start by creating your first catalog. To do that, simply go to the ‘Catalog’ tab and then select a target storage to start creating an index. You then specify if you want to skip some files to be included in indexing. Click on “Add” button to start creating the index and while it is doing that, your PC might become unresponsive.
After it is done making the catalog, you can see the name of the storage in the ‘Catalog’ tab. Next, you can just double-click to open it. It will now show you the directory structure of the selected storage. Here you are free to do whatever you want. You can search for files in current index and perform usual file operations. It allows you to cop files or jump that location in the external media storage if you are connected to it.
In the similar ways, you can create and save an index of all the files from different storage. When you are done then you can collectively search for files in all those catalogs that you just crated. On the main UI, there is advanced search that you can use to search files from all file catalogs based on conditions. You can specify a pattern, date range, and some others. You can see more in the screenshot below.
In this way, you can use this simple and powerful file indexing and catalog maker software. Use it to create a searchable catalog of files that you can use later and keep with you all the time. Since all the data is stored in separate files, so you can carry this software in flash drive wherever you go. However, to go to the file location or copy it, you will have to connect the media storage device.
Closing thoughts:
If you are looking for a file indexing or catalog maker software for your USB flash drive or external hard disk then you are at the right place. Use the software mentioned here and make searchable file catalogs as many external media device you want. The indexing that it creates is really flexible. Also, the file search and search filters that it offers are very nice, and it takes a blink of an eye to find a file.
