Search for content in files (PDF)

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HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

Hi there,

I am trying to find text in PDF files.
The PDF files are readable in (OCRed).

Other full-text searches find content.
But XYplorer finds nothing.

Any clues?

Thank you in advance!

--
XYplorer 27.10 - Win 11

Horst
Posts: 1398
Joined: 24 Jan 2021 12:27
Location: Germany

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by Horst »

Works fine here.
Fill the fields
Name & Location *.pdf
Contents your_searched_word

Check the applied filters.

For example:
Screenshot - 25.08.2025 , 12_13_57.png
To see the attached files, you need to log into the forum.
Windows 11 Home, Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.9168)
Portable x64 XYplorer (Actual version, including betas)
Display settings 1920 x 1080 Scale 100%
Everything 1.5.0.1422b (x64), Everything Toolbar 3.2, Listary Pro 7.0.0.9 beta

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 66535
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
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Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by admin »

Select a PDF file and run this script through the address bar:

Code: Select all

text extracttext();
You should now see the contained text. Otherwise, either the PDF does not contain text or you don't have the necessary IFilter installed. If it's the latter, make sure that Configuration > Other > Shell Integration > 64-bit Windows > Fall back to IFilters of the other bitness is checked to use any 64-bit IFilters.

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

thank you,

seemms to be an error @ 64-bit settings:
settings.jpg
error for text extracttext();
is:


Failed to load an IFilter. Error 80004002: Der angeforderte Nachschlageschlüssel konnte in keinem aktiven Aktivierungskontext gefunden werden.


anything I can do about that?
To see the attached files, you need to log into the forum.

admin
Site Admin
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Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
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Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by admin »

Hm. Can you preview PDFs? Do they get thumbnails?

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

yes, both working

admin
Site Admin
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Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
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Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by admin »

What software do you use to open PDFs?

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »


admin
Site Admin
Posts: 66535
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
Contact:

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by admin »

I don't know what it can do. Apparently, extracting text is not one of its functions.

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

mh,
that ist really a drawback.
would it be helpfull to install acrobat pdf reader, just to provide sufficient dlls or what ever?
(i guess it doen't have to be the standard pdf handler for my pdf-files or am i mistaken?)

best

Horst
Posts: 1398
Joined: 24 Jan 2021 12:27
Location: Germany

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by Horst »

HerrRilke wrote: 27 Aug 2025 16:27 mh,
that ist really a drawback.
would it be helpfull to install acrobat pdf reader, just to provide sufficient dlls or what ever?
(i guess it doen't have to be the standard pdf handler for my pdf-files or am i mistaken?)

best
You need a tool which provides an iFilter search for *.pdf
The best is here, the free PDF-XChange viewer.
To check what iFilters you have installed, use the NirSoft tool
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_filter_view.html
Windows 11 Home, Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.9168)
Portable x64 XYplorer (Actual version, including betas)
Display settings 1920 x 1080 Scale 100%
Everything 1.5.0.1422b (x64), Everything Toolbar 3.2, Listary Pro 7.0.0.9 beta

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

allright,
here comes the output

genpix.dll
ieframe.dll
mimefilt.dll
MSGFILT.DLL
nlhtml.dll
ODFFILT.DLL
OffFilt.dll
OFFFILTX.DLL
ONFILTER.DLL
query.dll
rtffilt.dll
shell32.dll
Windows.Data.Pdf.dll
Windows.Storage.dll
xmlfilter.dll


PDF-XChange is on my machine already. i use it sometimes for editing PDFs.

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 66535
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
Contact:

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by admin »

If PDF-XChange is installed you should have these two:

Code: Select all

XCShInfo.x64.dll	PDF-XChange Filter Handler	PDF-XChange Shell Extension	9.5.368.0	9.5.368.0	Tracker Software Products (Canada) Ltd.	C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShInfo.x64.dll	{2B2CE3D4-B29D-4FDC-A855-C60D215B8F69}	{74F7C392-4DFA-4F71-AFCE-31CA972AC619}
XCShInfo.dll	PDF-XChange PDF IFilter Handler	PDF-XChange Shell Extention	2.5.0315.0000	2.5	Tracker Software Products (Canada) Ltd.	C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\Shell Extensions\XCShInfo.dll	{DDA60C00-9937-453d-99E4-15967383ACE8}	{1AC7939A-F487-4C8D-97AA-062FCA5DFA3C}

HerrRilke
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 Aug 2017 20:04

Re: Search for content in files (PDF)

Post by HerrRilke »

perfect!
brilliant hints! thank you!

i had to re-install PDF-XChange making sure "shell-extension" were included in the installation - now it works!

i found a maybe helpfull link on the way:
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowledgeba ... extensions

best

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