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vaalbara

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 5, 2022
60
8
Is there an app that can search inside PDF files on the disk and show you a preview of the matching parts? Something like pdfgrep but with a GUI?

Thanks.
 
Is there an app that can search inside PDF files on the disk and show you a preview of the matching parts? Something like pdfgrep but with a GUI?

Thanks.
I am not familiar with pdfgrep, but doesn't Preview do what you want? Search a .pdf and each place the search term is found is identified with accompanying text in the sidebar...
 
I would like to search inside multiple PDF files.

Houdahspot seems to be capable of doing this but it can't display the PDF in original form, just raw text.
 
I would like to search inside multiple PDF files.

Houdahspot seems to be capable of doing this but it can't display the PDF in original form, just raw text.
I really like the idea. Keep loads of pdfs. Hope such an application exists.
 
I really like the idea. Keep loads of pdfs. Hope such an application exists.
It appears there was a perfect match but it seems to be an abandonware right now (+ 32 bit): SpotInside. May help for those on 10.14 or older. When you search for a keyword it lists the matching PDF files and on a separate pane automatically highlights the matching part of the PDF in its original form.
 
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It appears there was a perfect match but it seems to be an abandonware right now (+ 32 bit): SpotInside. May help for those on 10.14 or older. When you search for a keyword it lists the matching PDF files and on a separate pane automatically highlights the matching part of the PDF in its original form.
Hope that if you find what you’re after outside of this forum you post it here. Thanks.
 
Hope that if you find what you’re after outside of this forum you post it here. Thanks.
Actually found out one last week while searching Twitter:
Hoping to find some spare time to evaluate it this month. It seems to be generating its own index and not using the already available Spotlight info (downside for users like me with smaller SSDs).
 
I use I,Librarian. It's a web service but it's open source and you can host your own. It's designed for academic PDF management but you can also search the OCR'd/text layer of PDFs and it will show you the matching part.
 
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Actually found out one last week while searching Twitter:
Hoping to find some spare time to evaluate it this month. It seems to be generating its own index and not using the already available Spotlight info (downside for users like me with smaller SSDs).
Wow! Looks like a crazy app and might be worth 20$ risk. A 'plus' is its been 'vetted' (I know; I know! ) through the App Store! Will look into this also. Thanks! Please post your review when you get the time.
 
Wow! Looks like a crazy app and might be worth 20$ risk. A 'plus' is its been 'vetted' (I know; I know! ) through the App Store! Will look into this also. Thanks! Please post your review when you get the time.
20 USD? That sounds good; it's somehow not available on my non-US App Store (=49.99 USD for me).
 
20 USD? That sounds good; it's somehow not available on my non-US App Store (=49.99 USD for me).
Hope I didn't view the wrong one...theres a 'search' ' searcher pro' etc... and IOS varieties . Now when I use the link above my MBP tells me its an 'unsecure page'. Hmm?
 
I use the iOS version of PDF Search (mentioned above) on my iPhone to search through a bunch of PDFs that I keep in a dropbox folder.
It's fast and easy. I haven't tried it on the Mac but I endorse the developer who has been responsive to questions and suggestions about the iOS version.
 
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There is no need to create accounts and this kind of thread to promote an app.
Mac application developers: *Read Before Posting!* https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-application-developers-read-before-posting.913652/
Hmm.

Your comment is a bit harsh.

On the other hand. You have a point. This thread may even be harmful to the developer. What is the recommended solution? Shall I delete this thread or delete the app names-links? I sadly don't prefer providing my real identity which will easily prove that I'm one of those users with a huge Zotero stash on my disk.
 
I use I,Librarian. It's a web service but it's open source and you can host your own. It's designed for academic PDF management but you can also search the OCR'd/text layer of PDFs and it will show you the matching part.
I'm looking for an iPad reader that could search across hundreds of locally stored pdfs for matching terms, ideally within given parameters. Would you recommend I,Librarian for this? I presume it has these advantages over the native app (Books?). I said 'locally stored' but I see now that the service wants to centrally store the documents. Would hosting my own solve this? Thanks for your advice - sorry to go a little off topic.
 
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