Search text within a pdf

[Lynn]

The Windows XP Search features is really hit and miss
(usually miss) for finding specific text with a pdf file.
Is there a setting or download that will help with this?
I have already enabled the search preference to Index
files with unknown extensions. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Onnly documents converted from text to "text" pdf will be
searchable. If they have converted while scanning the
document in as a picture or drawing it is just that - a
picture. (thats why the search within XP doesn't find
any text as the pdf is encoded as a picture)

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

The Windows XP Search features is really hit and miss
(usually miss) for finding specific text with a pdf file.
Is there a setting or download that will help with this?
I have already enabled the search preference to Index
files with unknown extensions. Thanks.

Hi

WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).

Install the free Agent Ransack, it searches for text strings in *all*
types of files, and not just in a selection of "approved" file extensions
as the built-in search does. It's a *much* better search tool as well...

http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx

Agent Ransack can save the search result to a file (or clipboard), as text,
comma separated text or tab separated text. E.g. Excel reads comma separated
text (csv) very well.

When searching for text inside files, Agent Ransack is also able to do a
preview of the lines the text was found in (just do a single click on the
found file).
Also, you can use regular expression on both the file name part and the find
text in files part.


If you still want to use the not so good search tool that comes with WinXP to
search for text in files, take a look at this:

Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;309173

Or this:

Add Files to Containing text Searches
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm