asked on Windows Search Within PDF Documents
Hi all
One of our customers has a very strange issue in that they have a massive amount of PDF files that they need to search for invoice numbers once a month and obviously don't want to open each PDF file manually to find the information they need.
The PC is Windows 10 on a server 2012 AD domain environment (migrated from SBS server)
This feature does not work for PDF files but it does with Word documents so I did a google search and found that sometimes the iFilter is missing and will cause issues. Indeed it was so I installed the correct iFilter and rebooted which made no difference even though the "registered iFilter missing" message was now fixed.
The PDF files are on a network share and if copied locally the search feature works fine.
Oddly if I logon to the PC as Administrator (domain admin) it works fine, but any other user it does not.
Things I have tried:
A different PC
Removing Adobe XI and installing DC
Making Adobe Reader the default PDF app
Adding a registry key to prevent edge from taking over the PDF assosiation (windows 10 common bug)
Making a brand new user and adding to Domain admins
Making a domain user a local admin on the PC
Checking permissions on existing share
Creating a new network share
Running windows updates
Indexing the server and PC
Rebooting the server
I am now stumped and cannot think of anything I've missed apart from group policy. This all looks normal and there is nothing here to suggest why it wouldn't work
Any suggestions would be appreciated
One of our customers has a very strange issue in that they have a massive amount of PDF files that they need to search for invoice numbers once a month and obviously don't want to open each PDF file manually to find the information they need.
The PC is Windows 10 on a server 2012 AD domain environment (migrated from SBS server)
This feature does not work for PDF files but it does with Word documents so I did a google search and found that sometimes the iFilter is missing and will cause issues. Indeed it was so I installed the correct iFilter and rebooted which made no difference even though the "registered iFilter missing" message was now fixed.
The PDF files are on a network share and if copied locally the search feature works fine.
Oddly if I logon to the PC as Administrator (domain admin) it works fine, but any other user it does not.
Things I have tried:
A different PC
Removing Adobe XI and installing DC
Making Adobe Reader the default PDF app
Adding a registry key to prevent edge from taking over the PDF assosiation (windows 10 common bug)
Making a brand new user and adding to Domain admins
Making a domain user a local admin on the PC
Checking permissions on existing share
Creating a new network share
Running windows updates
Indexing the server and PC
Rebooting the server
I am now stumped and cannot think of anything I've missed apart from group policy. This all looks normal and there is nothing here to suggest why it wouldn't work
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Windows 10Adobe AcrobatWindows Server 2012
Last Comment
total123
If you use the server index, the ifilter needs to be installed at the server. Please specify which ifilter you took.
Mcknife,
That can't be right and this is the logic behind it, it works fine with his domain admin account but not the user account, I think it could still be a permissions issue.
However, that being said I've NEVER used iFilter so that may make it work differently
Cheers
Alex
That can't be right and this is the logic behind it, it works fine with his domain admin account but not the user account, I think it could still be a permissions issue.
Oddly if I logon to the PC as Administrator (domain admin) it works fine, but any other user it does not.
However, that being said I've NEVER used iFilter so that may make it work differently
Cheers
Alex
ASKER
Thanks Guys
I have added standard users to the domain admins group and it doesn't work. The search works fine as administrator even though the IFilter isn't installed to the server so it can't be an index/iFilter issue. Word documents search works fine, just not PDF
I have created a brand new share with everyone as full control andit doesn't work so this is not a network share problem
The iFilter is version 11.0.0.1
I can add the iFilter and index the server but I can't see it making any difference if it works when logged on as admin to the PC
I have added standard users to the domain admins group and it doesn't work. The search works fine as administrator even though the IFilter isn't installed to the server so it can't be an index/iFilter issue. Word documents search works fine, just not PDF
I have created a brand new share with everyone as full control andit doesn't work so this is not a network share problem
The iFilter is version 11.0.0.1
I can add the iFilter and index the server but I can't see it making any difference if it works when logged on as admin to the PC
you did what????!?!?!?!?!?
Um, right so lets put some logic in here. Take one user, not domain users and then drop that into domain admins, then whilst you're there, relog the user after 10 minutes for replication to take effect, then try again.
Since there is no issue with your account, I'm still confident it's a user issue, if you don't relog you don't get the new login token. Also make sure the user is in the same OU as you to rule out group policy.
Um, right so lets put some logic in here. Take one user, not domain users and then drop that into domain admins, then whilst you're there, relog the user after 10 minutes for replication to take effect, then try again.
Since there is no issue with your account, I'm still confident it's a user issue, if you don't relog you don't get the new login token. Also make sure the user is in the same OU as you to rule out group policy.
ASKER
Alex, that is exactly what I did it's just worded wrong
I have been working on this for 2 days without luck so much more than 10 minutes has passed
What do you mean take one user not domain users? They are all on the domain and I have only added one user I created temporally that nobody knows the password
I have tried all you have suggested
I have been working on this for 2 days without luck so much more than 10 minutes has passed
What do you mean take one user not domain users? They are all on the domain and I have only added one user I created temporally that nobody knows the password
I have tried all you have suggested
Yeah, phrased a little wrong,
I'm unsure now so I'm stepping down. McKnife you're up :D
I'm unsure now so I'm stepping down. McKnife you're up :D
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ASKER
When I say it doesn't work, i get "no results found" after it attempts to search
The same search yields results if it finds words in a word document, it's literally just PDF it doesn't work for. Unless I log on to the PC as the domain administrator account
I've also tried on a UNC path and a mapped drive. In this instance they use mapped drives
The same search yields results if it finds words in a word document, it's literally just PDF it doesn't work for. Unless I log on to the PC as the domain administrator account
I've also tried on a UNC path and a mapped drive. In this instance they use mapped drives
Hm, makes no sense to me. Sorry, no idea.
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Glad for you :-)
Hello,
How about combine all PDFs first?
Also you can use Form Automation Extracts, let your PDF form data from hundreds of identical forms into a single. You are accessible Excel sheet within seconds.
How about combine all PDFs first?
Also you can use Form Automation Extracts, let your PDF form data from hundreds of identical forms into a single. You are accessible Excel sheet within seconds.
Please close this question by selecting your own answer as solution.
You don't need to award points to me, unless my comments were helpful in finding the solution.
ASKER
because I fixed it
They are on a network share right? The reason your "Domain Admin" account works fine is you'll have full access to the network share. It's not the computer that's the issue but their network account.
They could need elevated rights to the share instead of the machine :-)