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Pattern Search

Pattern Search collects the current Excel selection, converts each selected value into a regex-based search pattern, scans every imported PDF, and lists the documents that contain matching text. This is useful when you want to find text with the same structure as the selected value, not only the exact same characters.

Screenshots​

Ribbon Icon Screenshot PlaceholderAdd the Pattern Search ribbon icon screenshot here.
Related View Screenshot PlaceholderAdd the pattern search results screenshot here.

How It Works​

  1. Select one or more populated cells in Excel.
  2. Run Pattern Search from the Linked Documents ribbon commands.
  3. The add-in converts each selected value into a reusable regex pattern and scans every imported PDF for matches.
  4. Review the result list, then open a matching file to continue review inside the viewer.

What To Keep In Mind​

  • Pattern Search is designed for similar-looking values, not just exact matches.
  • Letters are generalized by case, digits are generalized as numeric matches, and special regex characters are escaped before searching.
  • Word boundaries are applied so matches stay aligned to whole alphanumeric tokens where possible.
  • The results list shows the actual text found in each PDF, which may vary from the original selected value while still matching the same pattern.