Editing File Explorer (section)

====Search companion====
[[File:Windows Explorer search puppy.png|thumb|Windows Explorer's default Search Companion, Rover, in [[Windows XP]]|alt=]]
Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more engaging and friendly; the default character is a puppy named Rover (previously used in [[Microsoft Bob]]), with three other characters (Merlin the magician, Earl the surfer, and Courtney) also available. These search companions use the same technology as [[Microsoft Office]]'s [[Office Assistant]]s, even incorporating "tricks" and sound effects, and they can be used as Office Assistants if their files are copied into the C:\Windows\msagent\chars folder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/is-microsoft-office-2003-still-decent-for-general/74b58c58-93e9-4865-b598-2ad22fe497e6?auth=1|title=Is Microsoft Office 2003 still decent for general use on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10|website=answers.microsoft.com|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207003706/http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/is-microsoft-office-2003-still-decent-for-general/74b58c58-93e9-4865-b598-2ad22fe497e6?auth=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

The search capability itself is fairly similar to Windows ME and Windows 2000, with one major addition: Search can also be instructed to search only files that are categorical "Documents" or "Pictures, music and video"; this feature is noteworthy largely because of how Windows determines what types of files can be classified under these categories. In order to maintain a relevant list of file types, Windows Explorer connects to Microsoft and downloads a set of XML files that define what these file types are. The Search Companion can be disabled in favor of the classic search pane used in Windows 2000 by using the [[Tweak UI]] applet from [[Microsoft PowerToys#PowerToys for Windows XP|Microsoft's PowerToys for Windows XP]], or by manually editing the registry.