Is there software to allow me to search a PDF file with Regex?

Question

I would like a PDF viewer that I can search documents with using regular expressions. Is there such a thing? I've tried PowerGrep, but it doesn't have a graphical viewer and its interface is a little heavy for my users.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration Iain

sounds like there's still a vacuum to fill :-( – Jason S Nov 21 '12 at 23:55 — Jason S, Nov 21 '12 at 23:55

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 22 '12 at 15:41

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Yes there is. Agent Ransack This software can search through directories of files of most formats and takes REGEX too.

answered Nov 22 '12 at 15:41

Gutsygibbon

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This has been renamed as FileLocator Lite, there is also a paid Pro version. – alimack Aug 23 '17 at 09:21

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 18 '10 at 08:49

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The closest I have ever found for this is a package called the PDF Search Assistant. The website looks dodgy I admit but the software actually works very well and does allow regex across multiple files.

It's not free or cheap however and I haven't needed to do this in some time so I am not aware of anything newer.

answered Feb 18 '10 at 08:49

BinaryMisfit

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The currently linked site is indeed dodgy, since their certificate is invalid! It seems to work [without the `www` subdomain](https://search-pdf.com/). – Alex Povel Nov 17 '20 at 14:36

kenorb · Answer 3 · 2017-08-22T11:42:39.343

4

Windows

With regex search:

Without regex search:

Other:

grepWin, it supports regex, but doesn't support PDF files yet.

Linux

Without regex search:

pdfgrep (no GUI, available via apt-get)

Example regex usage: (e )?Universit[yä])^@Claudius

Related question: Is there any pdf reader that supports word searching with regular expression?

edited Aug 22 '17 at 11:42

answered Nov 22 '12 at 16:13

kenorb

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regexp (for example, `(e )?Universit[yä]`) search works quite well for me in pdfgrep version 1.3.0. – Claudius Nov 22 '12 at 16:36
Anything for Android? – pevik Aug 22 '17 at 10:30

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 15 '12 at 21:51

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pdfgrep still exists and is packaged for Debian. However, it doesn’t have a graphical user interface.

answered Nov 15 '12 at 21:51

Claudius

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sudo apt-get install pdfgrep – kenorb Nov 22 '12 at 15:53

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 16 '12 at 16:32

1

dngrep - GREP for Windows is said to be able to search PDF documents via plug-in.

answered Nov 16 '12 at 16:32

harrymc

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It doesn't need a plugin as far as I see. – Foad Dec 11 '18 at 11:58

Is there software to allow me to search a PDF file with Regex?

5 Answers5

Windows

Linux

Linked