How to include PDF files in SOLIDWORKS PDM Content Search

After enabling the content search in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional, by default the Windows Search Service supports indexing the following files types;

• Microsoft Office files
• HTML files
• MIME messages
• Plain-text files

How to include PDF files in the PDM Content Search

We can include other file types by installing its corresponding third-party iFilter.  After a new iFilter is installed the archive must be reindexed to include the new file type in the content search.

Step 1 – Add the PDF iFilter to the server running Windows Search

We can download and install the standalone PDF iFilter from Adobe here, but current versions of Adobe Acrobat® and Adobe Reader® include the iFilter when installed, so in most instances; it’s easier to install the full program so we can view PDFs on the server as well as index them.

Step 2 – Add and check in some files for testing

Add and check in some files for testing

Step 3 – Verify the iFilter is installed and rebuild the index

• Control Panel > Indexing Options

Indexing Options

• Advanced > File Types Tab
  • Ensure the PDF entry exists

Ensure the PDF entry exists

As the iFilter was added after the content search was set up, we’ll need to rebuild the indexes to include the pdf files;

• Indexing Options
  • Advanced > Index Settings Tab
    • Hit Rebuild

Rebuild the indexes to include the PDF files

Note: Before testing, we need to wait for the rebuild to complete, in larger vaults this may take some time

Indexing Complete

Step 4 – Test

SOLIDWORKS PDM Content Search

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