TechNote (Archived)

Adobe PDF IFilter returns unexpected search results (5.0 on Windows XP)

Issue

When you use Adobe PDF IFilter to search indexed Adobe PDF files on a server, PDF IFilter returns no results or partial results, or you're unable to search for text in the PDF file.

Solutions

Solution 1: Install IFilter 6.0.

Download IFilter 6.0 from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/thankyou.jsp?ftpID=2611&fileID=2457 .

Solution 2: Edit the PDF IFilter Windows registry settings, and then re-index the PDF files.

For PDF IFilter 5.0 to work properly with Windows XP, you must modify the PDF IFilter Windows registry settings, and then re-index the PDF files.

Disclaimer: The registry contains system-related information that is critical to your computer and applications. Before modifying the registry, be sure to make a backup copy of it. Adobe doesn't provide support for problems that arise from improperly modifying the registry. Adobe strongly recommends that you have experience editing system files before you modify the registry. For information on the Windows Registry Editor, see the documentation for Windows or contact Microsoft Technical Support.

To modify the PDF IFilter Windows registry settings and re-index the PDF files:

1. Choose Start > Run, type Regedit.exe in the Open text box, and then click OK.

2. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, right-click HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, and choose Find.

3. In the Find What text box, type pdffilt.

4. In the right pane of the Registry Editor, right-click the ThreadingModel key, and choose Modify.

5. In the Value Data text box, type Both, and then click OK.

6. Locate and select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\control\contentindex key.

7. In the right pane of the Registry Editor, right-click the DLLsToRegister key, and choose Modify.

8. In the list of DLLs, select the line that reads:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\PDF IFilter 5.0\PDFFilt.dll

9. Press Delete, click OK, and then click Close.

10. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panels, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Services.

11. Right-click Indexing Services and choose Restart.

12. Force a full rescan of the directory with the PDF files:

a. Right-click My Computer and choose Manage.

b. In the left pane, expand Services and Applications and choose Indexing Service. Individual catalogs are listed under Indexing Service, and a Directories folder is listed under each catalog.

c. Choose the appropriate Directories folder, right-click the directories that you wish to rescan, and choose All Tasks > Rescan (Full).

Background information

Adobe PDF IFilter 5.0 was developed and released prior to the release of Microsoft Windows XP. Adobe has since discovered that the PDF IFilter search function may not work as expected in Windows XP. Adobe has tested and verified that the modifications to the PDF IFilter Windows registry settings described in this document resolve this issue.