How To Prevent Scanning Specific File Types in Index Server

This article explains how to exclude a particular file type from being scanned and indexed, which can increase indexing performance by reducing the number of files that Index Server has to evaluate.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Index Server has to scan each file in a catalog even though the file may not be ultimately filtered. This can cause performance problems in some environments where a number of files exist that do not have to be scanned, but must remain in the catalog directory.

To exclude certain file extensions from being scanned on a per catalog basis. Note that the catalog must be rebuilt, follow these steps:

1. Start Regedit.exe.
2. Select the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex\Catalogs\YOURCATALOG\Scopes
3. Add the following in the Scopes section:

   Name: *.tif
   Data Type: REG_SZ
   Data: ,,4
   					

4. Stop Indexing Service, and then delete the contents of the Catalog.wci directory for your catalog.
5. Restart Indexing Service and let the catalog build completely.

For more information about the Index Server registry format, see the Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK).