PDF files are OCR'd and searchable in Preview, but Spotlight is unable to find

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PDF files are OCR'd and searchable in Preview, but Spotlight is unable to find

I use Microsoft OneDrive to sync all of my scanned invoices, bills, and receipts for my business to my home and work computers. At the office I have a newer HP desktop with Windows 8.1 with OneDrive built in natively. At home I use a 4+ year old iMac running Mavericks and the OneDrive app from the Appstore. Everything syncs just fine.

The problem is that when I want to search for invoices coded to one of our job codes, "5801" for example, Spotlight is unable to locate anything. However, when I open a scanned pdf containing "5801", it is able to easily find it and highlight it within Preview.

My Windows 8.1 desktop has the ability to search "5801" and find every pdf containing "5801", so I know it's possible.

I have installed the latest OneDrive updates, removed the OneDrive folder from Spotlight indexing twice (to then reindex), and nothing has worked.

Any ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 20, 2015 4:45 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 20, 2015 6:05 PM in response to cdogg44

Can you search on other terms in OneDrive and find results in Spotlight?

Reindex Spotlight files

Open Spotlight in System Preferences.

Verify that PDF Documents is checked.

Under Privacy add OneDrive folder, wait a bit then remove to force Spotlight to reindex your OneDrive files.

You might want to consider running the combo updater over your install to refresh your files. This has been known to fix odd issues.

Combo updater: Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update v.1.1 - 1.09 GB

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

MORE INFO ON WHY RUNNING COMBO FIXES ISSUES

Apple updates available from the Software Update application are incremental updates. Delta updates are also incremental updates and are available from Apple Downloads (software updates are generally smaller than delta updates). The Combo updates contain all incremental updates and will update files that could have become corrupted.

Combo updaters will install on the same version as they're applying--no need to roll back or do a clean install. So if you think you've got a borked 10.6.8 install from a regular update, just run the 10.6.8 Combo Updater on that system.

"Delta" updaters can only take you from one version to the next. For example: 10.6.7 to 10.6.8. If somehow the 10.6.8 is missing something it should have, and that something isn't changed between 10.6.7 and 10.6.8 it will still be stale after the delta update.

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Answer 2

cdogg44 Author

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Mar 20, 2015 6:25 PM in response to dianeoforegon

Yes. Other files can be found but sometimes it won't find every file containing the search term. For instance, "Downtown Lumber Company" may only find 1/2 to 2/3 of the invoices scanned with that term.

I have reindexed Spotlight in the OneDrive folder twice already.

Also, I am running Mavericks 10.9.5. I am not sure why my signature listed 10.6.8 but will update that.

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Answer 3

Mar 20, 2015 7:10 PM in response to cdogg44

Try Easy Find

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easyfind/id411673888?mt=12

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Answer 4

cdogg44 Author

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Mar 20, 2015 7:58 PM in response to dianeoforegon

I appreciate the suggestion. I had high hopes for Easy Find based on the reviews, but have been unable to make it work.

In fact, when given "5108" as a search term it found several pdf files. Unfortunately, when opened in Preview, "5108" could be found in the files by either Spotlight or my eyes.

Additionally, when given simple search terms, like "Downtown", which partially show up in Spotlight, Easy Fine was not able to find a single file.

Really bizarre results given the excellent reviews the program has.

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