How to Search from Document Text

While you’re reading through a PDF or other document in DEVONthink, you may run into words or phrases and wonder what other documents may contain them. You could start a new search, then copy and paste the text, or re-type it. But there is a more efficient method.

Select a word or phrase in a document. Control-click it and choose Search »…« or Search Selected Phrase, depending on whether you selected just one word or multiple words. DEVONthink starts a search in the same main window.

• If you don’t find anything interesting in the search results, clear the search field by clicking the × at the right end, and you will return to your document.
• If you do find a result you want to look at, double-click it to open it in a new document window. In the new window, the search terms will be highlighted. If the Search inspector is open, it will immediately search the document and show the occurrences. If not, press ⌘F to open the inspector with the search term ready to use.

If you use the Pro or Server edition, you have a second option available. Double-click a word in the Tools > Inspectors > Concordance inspector, and it will initiate a search in your databases.

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