Lion Mail drives me crazy

it's either fundamentally broken, or don't know how use it, searching mail-related in lion doesn't work. period.

want find message in inbox. in sl, i'd type word knew int message. "dinner". , i'd list of every message "dinner" somewhere in it. took 1 or 2 words me small enough list instantly find message had in mind.

in lion, same- type "dinner" in search box. drop down has 1 item: "message contains "dinner"". choose that, , result list blank. though 100% positive message in inbox because it's top message , can plainly see it.

have figured out can start searching emails category- date or person. if precede search "to:" or "from:" can start getting meaningful results- slower , more inefficient old way. besides, seems limited things to, from, , subject. cannot search words within body of messages.

know suggest voodoo magic rebuilding spotlight index, rebuilding mailbox, rebuilding envelope index files. have tried them all. none of works. i've cleaned out sql database via terminal. useless, useless search window in mail me right now. problem reaches beyond mail search window well. spotlight cannot find mail-related messages, if type own name spotlight window cannot find address book entry myself. though os knows exact address book entry associated user account because accessing via "users & groups" in system preferences brings right up.

remaining conclusion have fundamentally broken take reinstall fix (not feasible me @ time, , frankly- should not required) or "working intended" except works utter crap, , someone's idea of implemented search functionality.

or, don't know how use "the new lion way". please tell me, if want find message know contains words "voodoo magic" not in subject line, how locate it? or knew sent or received email relating "macbooks" while don't know or when. what's proper way find message?

can tell how i'd in sl- click on search window within mail, type "voodoo magic" or "macbooks" , results instantly appear. spotlight search window (cmd+space). not in lion.

ruahrc

 

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