Search function does not work on Reader

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

I have Windows 11 Home and the Adobe Acrobat Reader 64 bit version. The word search function does not work on any of my PDF documents. I used the "Edit>Preferences>Search>Purge Cache Contents" instructions and still does not work. Is there a soultion for this? Thanks much in advance.

[try67]

Are you able to select the text you're searching for on the page? If so, copy it and then paste into another application, like Notepad. Does it appear correctly in that application after doing so?

[jane-e]

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@JustinBClifff26548496pul1 wrote:

I have Windows 11 Home and the Adobe Acrobat Reader 64 bit version.

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I've moved your post from Acrobat to Acrobat Reader. 

Is the file a scanned image?

Jane

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

Hi. It's a PDF file I downloaded from a government site. I can't even highlight text tp copy and paste into Notpad. Odd, as I was able to search text a few months ago...

[jane-e]

@JustinBClifff26548496pul1 

If it's a PDF that anyone can download, can you post the link? I'll take a look.

Jane

[jane-e]

@JustinBClifff26548496pul1 

If it's a PDF that anyone can download, can you post the link? I'll take a look.

Jane

Justin, is this possible?

Jane

[try67]

Using the same file? That's unlikely.

Try it with a different file from another source.

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

Hello. Tried multiple files and none are searchable. Should I remove Acrobat from my PC and reinstall? I don't see an easy way to just update.
Thanks.

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

Actually, it appears that it depends what type of PDF I am working with. I tried another PDF that is stored in Acrobat's cloud and was able to search terms. Not sure why some PDFs that I have created are unsearchable.

[Test Screen Name]

How EXACTLY did you create the problem PDFs? Please be detailed.

[adeep93]

Hi @JustinBClifff26548496pul1 ,

• What version of the Reader are you using?
• Also, could you please share some sample files with us?
• Also, please share the exact workflow that you've performed?

Thanks

Adobe Acrobat DC Desktop Team

[jane-e]

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@adeep93 wrote:

Also, could you please share some sample files with us?

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I've asked twice for a file.

Jane

[Test Screen Name]

Still waiting for your replies, Justin. 

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

Hello, Here's an example of a PDF I downloaded from a government site. I am not able to do a word search on this document.

[Bernd Alheit]

The file has no searchable text.

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

That's where I'm confused. Why are some PDF files searchable and others not? Is it how the file was originally saved? Other? Thanks for your help, I'm not a technical person so I'm just trying to understand the difference in PDF file tpyes/=.

[try67]

PDF files can contain all kinds of elements: "real" text, images, graphics, etc. Only the former can be searched. Text that's a part of an image can't be searched, because it's not real text. It's just a part of an image.

But the creator of the file (or anyone else with Acrobat) can run Text Recognition (also known as OCR) on it and (try to) convert the text in the images to real text. If it's successful, then you can search for it.

[JustinBClifff26548496pul1]

Here's an example of a Word doc I converted to PDF. I AM able to do a word search on this PDF.

[try67]

Works fine for me:

Edit: Sorry, didn't notice you wrote it does work for you... The first file you shared has no real text, just images. That's why you can't search it. This is the correct behavior for the application. The authors of that file forgot (or neglected) to run Text Recognition on it, leaving you (and everyone else) unable to search it. You should report this issue to them.

[Test Screen Name]

Actually, it's even worse than this. The file you can't search doesn't contain text, but it wasn't just scanned either. It seems that Maricopa County Justice Courts actually did something called "outlining text" which replaces each letter by shapes instead. This doesn't happen by accident, and isn't something you did. This is a favourite trick of people submitting evidence, to stop the other parties searching easily, but it's surprising to see the courts themselves doing that. It may be worth complaining.

Do you have other problem files? Especially ones you made yourself (I had the impression you were making them, rather than using files made by someone else...)