How to search content in folder with 700 pdf files

I don't know if it is possible to perform a batch action script from within Adobe Acrobat to interact with different operating systems like that (like Active-X controls, system properties, user folders permissions (or restrictions), and more importantly Acrobat JavaScript privileged versus non-privileged context).

If you're in a Micrososft Windows machine, you can use a batch script using the find string command (findstr) from the command prompt direclty or as a batch file (.bat) that you double-click on it and it will run automatically.

I did a small batch script that allows to do just that.

In my case, I use this script when I have a folder with many PDFs but I don't know which ones are encrypted or digitally signed, for example.

The script counts and identify by name the files found that contain the string that you tell it to search for in those PDFs.

Then it copies the found files to a new folder so you keep the original in their current directory (which is where the batch script executes from). 

I came up with this idea because it is a pain to single out the found files from hundreds of files manually. That way you get them already organized and singled out in a separate folder. 

Here's the example code:

@4628292 Off
echo(
echo(
cd C:\Users\--\Desktop\PDF
echo(
echo %DATE%
echo(
echo(
assoc .pdf (
echo(
echo(

echo ######################### PDF(s) found in the current directory #########################
echo(
echo(

	attrib.exe ./*.pdf | find /c /v  "" 

echo(
echo(
echo(

	dir /D /B /P /O *.pdf

echo(
echo(

echo ##################### Total Encrypted and Password protected PDF(s) #####################
echo(

) || (

	findstr /M "adbe.pkcs7.detached" *.pdf | find /V /C ""

echo(

	Findstr /M "adbe.pkcs7.detached" *.pdf
                   Findstr /M "Sig" *.pdf

echo(
echo(
echo ####### NOTE: Some Password Protected file(s) MAY NOT open for reading/printing #########
echo(
echo(

) || (

	mkdir C:\Users\--\Desktop\PDF\PASSWORD
	

) || (

for /f %%a in ('findstr /M "adbe.pkcs7.detached" *.pdf') do XCOPY /Y "%%a" C:\Users\--\Desktop\PASSWORD

echo(
echo(


)

You can use the script above as a template and  change the echo messages to whatever you want,  the current folder  path where the 700 Pdfs reside, the name of the new folder and its directory path where you want the found files to be copied to, and the string in the lines of script in-between the quotes with ("1234-7845")

For example, change  these parts : 'findstr /M "adbe.pkcs7.detached" *.pdf') do XCOPY /Y "%%a" C:\Users\--\Desktop\PASSWORD to 'findstr /M "1234-7845" *.pdf') do XCOPY /Y "%%a"C:\Users\userName\Desktop\yourFolder 

Alternatively you can run the code manually from the command prompt like this: 

%a in ('findstr /M "1234-7845" *.pdf') do XCOPY /Y "%a" C:\Users\userName\Desktop\yourFolder

This will find those PDF files that contain the "1234-7845" string in their file properties and copy those found files to a new folder silently.

Just make sure that the code execute in the current directory where you 700 PDFs are located and change the files directory path in the script.

I hope this batch script doesn't intimidates you since everytime I share it here in the forums, the users have to say that they're not developers.  Well, neither am I.

If it helps use it. If you don't know anything about scripting I suggest to learn. You won't regret it.

If you already know how to script, then improve the code and share it with others.

This is just basic Micrososft Windows 3.1 and MS DOS 6.22 basic computer repair and Windows troubleshooting skills that can be traced back to the early 1980's;  they're still accessible in newer variants of the MS Windows NT family of operating systems. 

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