How to Search for Text Inside Multiple PDF Files at Once

I stumbled across this today which I thought might be useful to others here

I haven't tried any of these yet but, for example, I have a full set of the free pdf's of Magpi magazine (101 issues) and if I recall a topic from way back it can be a devil to find it. Up to now I'd only encountered pdf searching on an individual file basis using Reader/Acrobat.

This might be just what I need.

Interesting, Peter

... I didn’t know that multiple files could be searched.

I might just mention, though, that not all PDFs are searchable.

archive.org for example offers searchable and non-searchable PDF versions of some books

MichaelG.

Hi Peter,
I don't use Acrobat for reading PDF files. Instead I use free Foxit Reader you can find ***PROGRAM*** .

With that program follw instructions you can find ***INSTRUCTIONS*** .

Hope this helps.

Dias Costa

Excellent idea! I'd never thought of trying to search within multiple files - aren't computers clever!

Looking to see whether there was a solution for Linux, I came across Recoll. It looks promising, particularly because it can handle multiple file types. It's available from Mint's software repository, but is a slightly elderly version. I'll upgrade if it seems necessary. Versions available for Windoze and Appall's expensive OS too.

They're all pretty slow if you have a lot of pdfs

The only really good one I ever found was search engine studio

Peter Greene:

Thanks for the link and for using a thread title that should make it possible to find it again!

On a few rare occasions I have found this feature to be a lifesaver!

Neil

I keep finding Windows amazing. I'll admit to not using it much, because I seem more comfortable with Linux and MacOS on my desktop machines.

On both Mac and Linux, if you have searchable PDFs (i.e. ones with text, not just a giant image) all one needs to do is to open the file finder, and in the search box, type the text you are looking for. Voila.

It's so simple, so useful, just to search all files for the text.

Or, did I miss something? Likely, knowing me.