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PDF Organizer program?

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Original poster
Oct 31, 2005
327
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Hi all,

Let me know if any of you know of an app like this.

A program thats works like itunes, except it is for pdf's. I have my school work, bank statements, and pay stubs that I would like to scan in instead of having a binder full of them. Are there any programs that would organize these pdf's? Such as categories under school work or bank statements? stuff like that, I searched around and could not find a pdf organizer program.

Thanks!
 
Adobe used to include a app called Acrobat Catalog which would create a PDF index of all documents in a given directory. I think it was split off along with Acrobat Capture (Acrobat used to include an OCR feature) into their own separate product (Adobe Capture... which is now Windows only).

The easiest thing is to just create folders for the areas you need and then use Spotlight or Devon EasyFind.

The thing about Spotlight is that it can read text within PDF documents, which makes it ideal for searching if the content is text based (not quite as helpful with scanned documents though).
 
This is not exactly what you're looking for, but it could probably be used to do what you'd like.

The main function of BibDesk is to organize bibliographical entries for papers that are to be typeset in LaTeX. However, it also functions as a database that can organize PDFs (and other document types). Essentially what you'd be able to do is create groups for your documents, and then have a list for those groups that would show you the author, etc. (here you could just enter "Bank", etc.), and also displays a link to open that document.

Personally, this feature is almost as useful as the LaTeX integration. Oh, and it's free.

Edit: Oh, and you can also have it keep those documents in a particular location (similar to iTunes). When I drag a paper into the BibDesk window, I have the application set up to automatically move that file into a folder called "BibDesk Filed Papers".
 
telecomm said:
The main function of BibDesk is to organize bibliographical entries for papers that are to be typeset in LaTeX. However, it also functions as a database that can organize PDFs (and other document types).
Click to expand...

I've used BibDesk for LaTeX documents and can vouch that it's useful as well. You may also want to look at JabRef, which is a similar program.
 
A little late, but...

I know this thread is a couple months old, but I just figured I'd point out that Yep! seems to be exactly what you're looking for. They even advertise it as "iPhoto for PDFs." I've only had limited exposure to it, but it is a pretty cool app.
 
iTunes can actually handle pdf's. It has playlists, folders and smart lists. It is hard to ask for more. :)

You could create an iTunes library just for your pdf files. I think if you hold command while clicking on iTunes, it asks you for your library location, then you can toggle between music and pdf libraries.
 
theBB said:
iTunes can actually handle pdf's. It has playlists, folders and smart lists. It is hard to ask for more. :)

You could create an iTunes library just for your pdf files. I think if you hold command while clicking on iTunes, it asks you for your library location, then you can toggle between music and pdf libraries.
Click to expand...

How bout automatic fetching of pubmed metadata and searching of scholastic papers? :D
 
theBB said:
iTunes can actually handle pdf's. It has playlists, folders and smart lists. It is hard to ask for more. :)

You could create an iTunes library just for your pdf files. I think if you hold command while clicking on iTunes, it asks you for your library location, then you can toggle between music and pdf libraries.
Click to expand...

That's pretty cool, though I haven't tried that yet.

krunk said:
How bout automatic fetching of pubmed metadata and searching of scholastic papers? :D
Click to expand...

:D Yeah, cause that seemed pretty high on the OP's list of priorities. :p;)
 
I give another vote for Papers. However, it is geared more for organizing your scientific articles. I have not heard of anyone using it for bank statements and such, so I don't know how it would react to these.
 
DevonTHINK Pro Office is what I use for what you describe plus a huge amount more (my job is in research so I live in the program almost all day every day). It does do OCR, and indexes most file types (including .pdf and .doc, but not .ppt). Definitely worth a trial spin.

Devon Technologies
 
dibble9012 said:
Hi all,

Let me know if any of you know of an app like this.

A program thats works like itunes, except it is for pdf's. I have my school work, bank statements, and pay stubs that I would like to scan in instead of having a binder full of them. Are there any programs that would organize these pdf's? Such as categories under school work or bank statements? stuff like that, I searched around and could not find a pdf organizer program.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I use Yojimbo for that exact purpose. It can also organize rich text notes, serial numbers, passwords, bookmarks and save webpages. And there's encryption and password protection, which I use for all my financial records.

http://www.barebones.com/products/yojimbo/
 
I just got the Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 (hacked to work with my MacBook). I've been trying out Yep, and I do like it, but the strictly tagging approach is limiting.

BTW, if you are GTD kind of guy and want to go paperless, I highly recommend the Fujitsu ScanSnap series. It's amazing.
 
Ok, I'll put my 2p in to the mix.

I use a Canon scanner which can create searchable PDFs. I then use an application call Journler. It's donationware for the moment, but is really customisable. You can tag, categorise, comment and use Smart Folders to organise your files. It supports Spotlight for searching and has a built in PDF reader. It can also handle word documents, web pages and web archives natively. I use it for university and it has been a godsend in keeping me organised.
 
You can actually do something very similar to this in iPhoto. The advantage of using iPhoto are:

- You can store and organize any file you can print there, not just PDF's

- It's possible to sync these files with iPhone.

- They can be placed on a website via iWeb or Web Gallery.

- You can annotate them easily with Photoshop.

- They are searchable in Spotlight if you add keywords.

- It's cheap.


To do this you simply open the file you want to store in Preview (or whatever program you are using such as Microsoft Excel), select Print, and click on the drop down PDF button on the bottom left. Select "Save PDF to iPhoto" and that's it. Whatever you are looking at will be sent to iPhoto through an Automator action.

This can be customized as well and new actions that send the file to a particular album in iPhoto can easily be created in Automator. To do this you just need to modify and save the existing Automator action bundled in OS X to accomplish this. These actions are found in Library/PDF Services.

This can be very useful in a number of situations and fortunately doesn't cost anything to try out.
 
Gregg2 said:
From the OP

To the OP, on behalf of the others, who tried to help:
You're welcome, that is, if any of their suggestions worked.
Click to expand...

You do realize the OP started this thread nearly 4 years ago right? I think you're a bit late.
 
Ha! That gets me every time! I never notice the dates until someone comments on them. Just love it when someone goes to the trouble of posting a question, then disappears...!
 
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