I am in search of software to search specific content inside files on my computer. I have a library with 1,000+ books and articles in PDF format, and I would like a decent search engine to perform quick searches of specific content and display the results according to relevance.
As this is a somewhat significant library, I would like a search engine that indexes files (as even in my SSD a non-indexed search takes some time). In addition, I would like to use the software on more than one Windows computer (and, in the ideal world, on a Mac as well). Also, this is for personal use and I do not have unlimited budget.
I could use the Windows built-in search, but that does not help me find what I want, as it does not show results according to relevance. I do not want to manually search text inside 100+ resulting PDFs from each search I perform.
I am a little bit disappointed with what I found so far. The alternatives that I found so far are the following:
As this is a somewhat significant library, I would like a search engine that indexes files (as even in my SSD a non-indexed search takes some time). In addition, I would like to use the software on more than one Windows computer (and, in the ideal world, on a Mac as well). Also, this is for personal use and I do not have unlimited budget.
I could use the Windows built-in search, but that does not help me find what I want, as it does not show results according to relevance. I do not want to manually search text inside 100+ resulting PDFs from each search I perform.
I am a little bit disappointed with what I found so far. The alternatives that I found so far are the following:
- Archivarius: Good for searching, but the interface is not very good, and it does not seem to be updated very often.
- DT Search: Good for searching, and it has a nice interface with support for PDF preview inside the program. But it is expensive at $199 for one license of up to two computers.
- Copernic Desktop Search: The new version looks good, and the subscription is not expensive at $14.99 per year. But the license supports one computer only. And the free version is not an option as it does not have PDF support.
- X1 Search: I have not yet tried this one, but it is expensive at over $90 for use in just one computer.
- Doc Fetcher: This one is free, but it does not seem very good, and it does not support PDF preview.
- Agent Ransack: Free, but it does not support index. Slow to perform searches, and inadequate.
- Lookeen: This one is free for personal use. Is it worth trying?