Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

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Ruxer
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 5:56 pm

Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

Post by Ruxer »

Hello!

I am setting up a folder with books in PDF format. The folder is located on my desktop. The PDFs are named after the title of the book. I am able to search by file name and find the PDFs using Everything. Each PDF has metadata including information about the author. The author field includes all author names. Each PDF has its metadata verified with exiftool.exe

When I search for an author name in everything the authors books doesn't show up. I am able to use windows file explorer to search for PDFs using author metadata. If I copy my folder into google drive I am able to search by author without issues.

Microsoft file explorer search and Google Drive seems to handle PDF metadata quite well. However Everything seems to have issues with PDF metadata.

I have tried Everything 1.4.1.1024(x64) as well as Everything 1.4.0.1354a(x64) with equal results.

So, my question is. Can I search my PDFs by the PDF metadata, specifically the author metadata?

Thanks for the help,
Axel
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Last edited by Ruxer on Fri Aug 11, 2023 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
therube
Posts: 4985
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

Post by therube »

To start, I'm thinking you're going to be better off with, Everything 1.5 Alpha.

1.5 can search any number of "Properties".
Generally, if Windows can see a particular files' properties (meta-data), then Everything can too.

Properties can be indexed (Tools | Options | Index), or gathered on-the-fly.
Ruxer
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 5:56 pm

Re: Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

Post by Ruxer »

therube wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2023 7:03 pm To start, I'm thinking you're going to be better off with, Everything 1.5 Alpha.

1.5 can search any number of "Properties".
Generally, if Windows can see a particular files' properties (meta-data), then Everything can too.

Properties can be indexed (Tools | Options | Index), or gathered on-the-fly.
Thanks for the reply.
Windows does not show PDF author metadata ( right click file->properties->Details ).
In everything 1.5 i added the Authors property and made it include .pdf files.
I force rebuilt the indexes.
Everything still does not allow me to search by PDF author metadata.

R
Last edited by Ruxer on Fri Aug 11, 2023 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
void
Developer
Posts: 16773
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

Post by void »

Everything searches filenames by default.

Please use the author: search function.

For example:

*.pdf author:stallings
tuska
Posts: 1052
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:14 am

Re: Can I search for PDFs by its metadata?

Post by tuska »

In my experience, searching PDF files for metadata, such as author, etc. basically works well with Everything.

I am a CHIP subscriber and can download E-paper PDF files.
Although the PDF files are thus created by the same author, I do NOT get the metadata displayed in Everything for each issue.

I suspect there is a connection with these document properties:
1. Application
2. PDF created with
3. PDF version

I think, however, that there are too many parameters and possibilities to find a solution for all cases.
 
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