Automatic indexing of file contents?

[Ross Langmead]

Can I automatically index file contents?

I valued this in OS 9 but it doesn't seem to be there in OS X (I use
10.2.3).

I can index file contents on each disk manually through Get Info, but this
is a drag.

Mac Help, when I look under "searching file contents" doesn't say anything
about being able to schedule the indexing of contents.

Why are useful functions removed ... ?

Thanks,

Ross