For accurate results, the file you’re searching must contain searchable text. PDFs with embedded (OCR’d) text return reliable matches, while image-only scans cannot be searched until their text has been recognized.
Two ways to search
Search within the current file
Look for a word or phrase inside the document you’re currently viewing.
Search across various folders
Run a full-text search across many exhibits and folders at once.
Searching within the current file
Use this when you already have a document open and want to locate a specific term or phrase inside it.Start a search within the file
Open the in-file search and enter the word or phrase you’re looking for.
Detailed step-by-step screenshots for this section are being finalized.
Searching across various folders
When you need to find a term wherever it appears in your case, search across folders rather than a single file. This is ideal for tracking a name, date, or key phrase throughout your exhibits.Detailed step-by-step screenshots for this section are being finalized.
Full-text word search
A full-text word search scans the embedded text of your documents to surface every instance of a word or phrase. Because it relies on recognized text, results are only as complete as the searchable text in your files.If a document returns no results when you expect matches, it may be an image-only scan without embedded text. Reindexing exhibits (below) can help once the text has been recognized.
Detailed step-by-step screenshots for this section are being finalized.
Reindex Exhibits
If you’ve added new exhibits, replaced files, or recognized text on previously image-only documents, reindexing rebuilds the search index so those items are included in future searches.| When to reindex | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| You added or replaced exhibits | New documents become searchable |
| You ran text recognition (OCR) on a scan | Newly recognized text gets indexed |
| Searches miss documents you expect | A stale index is refreshed |
Detailed step-by-step screenshots for this section are being finalized.
Global search
Global search broadens your reach beyond a single file or folder, letting you query across your case materials from one place. It’s the fastest way to find an item when you’re not sure where it lives.Detailed step-by-step screenshots for this section are being finalized.
Tips for better search results
- Keep your exhibits indexed so every searchable document is included.
- Use precise words or phrases to narrow large result sets.
- Start with a single-file search when you know the document, and switch to a cross-folder or global search when you don’t.