Searching on all docs in a high level folder

[ian_mcgregor]

how do you search in all documents inside a high level folder in the left contents? The ancestor technique doesn't work for me. 

[Kris Klima _K15t_]

Hi @ian_mcgregor 

If I understand correctly, folder = the 'container' unit in the left navigation tree under which you nest a bunch of pages (and other items).

There's a page tree search macro but since Folders are not pages, they have no content on their own so you can't use that approach.

If you insert that macro onto a page and don't specify the root page, the search will be conducted just within the hierarchy of that page that carries the page tree search macro.

Workarounds:

• 'Convert' the folder to a page.
  And then use the macro on that page.
• Use a dedicated parent page for the folder.
  You can then use the page tree search macro on that page but ... this whole setup would increase the space's complexity and create unnecessary levels of nesting.

Personal note: I'm not a fan of folders precisely because they have no content. A page serves the same purpose (of a container) and even by dropping a child pages macro there you provide readers with context and expectations.

[Brant Schroeder]

@ian_mcgregor I am not sure what you mean by high level folder.  Confluence is not structured by folders.  Here is are a couple of KBs about Confluence search:

• https://support.atlassian.com/confluence-cloud/docs/confluence-search-syntax/ 
• https://developer.atlassian.com/cloud/confluence/advanced-searching-using-cql/