Automator: Search the contents of PDF's in a specific folder

Question

Level 1

8 points

Automator: Search the contents of PDF's in a specific folder

Hey Everyone. I am looking to automate something that I can already do in finder. Just looking for a quicker option as its something I need to do regularly.

I have a folder full of PDF's. I repeatedly need to search the contents of all of the PDF's in this one folder. The folder never changes, but the keyword or query changes.

I'd like a way to run an automator application or apple script that will ask me for text, and then search this one folder for that text. Then it would filter the results in finder to show me only the PDF's that contain that keyword. I don't need it to open any of the files, but I just want to see a finder window with them.

Anyone know if this can be done with automator? I know they have a "Search PDF" option, but I can't seem to make the search keyword variable.

Appreciate your help.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Jan 30, 2016 9:40 PM

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Answer 1

balsa2

Level 4

1,396 points

Jan 31, 2016 5:38 AM in response to Scaldo

Try the "Spotlight action", followed by "Reveal Finder Items"

A search for : "Last updated 2012", in one folder, has revealed 25 files:

Nb. Check the box : Show this action when the workflow runs.

& A search for : "AudioUnit Validation", in the same folder has revealed only one file:

You could then save the workflow as an Application.

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Answer 2

Scaldo Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 31, 2016 6:03 AM in response to balsa2

Awesome balsa2! Appreciate your help. That works. I have actually never used the "spotlight" option before. Embarrassing.

Here is what happens, and 2 things that would be awesome to improve on further.

First.

When the window pops up, the curser is ready to go so I can type, but I have to click on the "Continue" button. Is there any way of me bing able to just use the keyboard to hit enter?

Better than this though, and my ideal solution, would be to eliminate a step here. I use Alfred.app. I was hoping to create a workflow that I could activate with Alfred, and the work I am searching for would also be typed into Alfred. Is there any way for this workflow to use something like "Get Specified Text" and put it into the "Spotlight" search option?

Second.

Any way of filtering the results in finder down to just show the ones containing that word? Currently it shows all files and highlights the results. This is really not as big of a deal as the first question. However, if you know an easy solution, that would be a bonus.