How to Find Matching Values Between Two PDF Files in Acrobat
Question details
The user wants to identify and highlight matching data, such as phone numbers or specific text values, across two separate PDF documents.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Comparing lists or documents to extract and highlight identical text values across two PDF files.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat's built-in Compare Files feature only highlights differences between documents, lacking a native tool to specifically search for and highlight matching text across files.
Ensure both PDF files are fully text-searchable; if they are scanned documents, run OCR (Optical Character Recognition) first so the search function can detect the text.
Use the Advanced Search Command
Utilize Acrobat's Advanced Search tool to manually locate specific strings across multiple PDF files within a designated folder.
While Acrobat does not have a native 'find matching text' comparison tool, the Advanced Search feature allows you to search for specific data points across an entire directory. This is the best built-in workaround for cross-referencing values.
Place the two PDF files you want to compare into the same folder on your computer.
Open Adobe Acrobat and press Shift + Ctrl + F (Windows) or Shift + Cmd + F (Mac) to open the Advanced Search window.
Choose the 'All PDF Documents in' radio button and browse to the specific folder containing your two PDFs.
Enter the specific text or value (e.g., a phone number) you want to match in the search box and click 'Search'. Acrobat will display a combined list of results showing exactly where that value appears in both documents.
Utilize a Custom JavaScript Action
Create and run a custom JavaScript to automatically cross-reference and highlight matching values between two documents.
Easily Search and Manage PDFs with WPS Office
WPS PDF provides intuitive tools to search, manage, and edit text across multiple PDF files. Whether you are searching for matching data or highlighting specific values, WPS Office offers a seamless, fast, and highly compatible environment for all your PDF needs.
- 1. Download and launch: Download and open WPS Office, then launch the WPS PDF tool from the home screen.
- 2. Open your documents: Open the PDF files you need to analyze in separate tabs for easy switching.
- 3. Search for data: Press Ctrl + F to open the search bar and quickly locate specific values, phone numbers, or text strings.
- 4. Highlight and extract: Switch to the Comment or Edit tab to effortlessly apply highlights or copy the matching data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat's Compare Files tool not show text matches?
Acrobat's 'Compare Files' feature is specifically designed for version control. It is built to highlight insertions, deletions, and layout modifications between an older and newer draft of a document, rather than identifying identical data points.
Can I export the search results from Acrobat's Advanced Search?
Yes. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, after running an Advanced Search, you can save your search results to a PDF or CSV file by clicking the 'Save' icon located at the top of the Search panel.
Is there a way to compare two PDFs side-by-side manually?
Yes. You can view two PDFs side-by-side in Acrobat by opening both files and going to Window > Tile > Vertically (or Horizontally). This splits your screen, making it much easier to manually scan and compare values between the two documents.
