Feature Spotlight: Pattern Search and Redaction in pdfDocs

14 Nov 2019

By Alan Wheat, Senior Product Manager.

With pdfDocs versions 4.2 U2 and above comes a faster and more accurate way to find and remove confidential information from your documents: Pattern Search. Now, instead of poring over documents with a fine-tooth comb, you can find and redact all kinds of potentially sensitive information in seconds.

Search for names, dates, credit card details, and National ID Numbers

Pattern search is offered in both redaction and regular document search workflows. You can use it to find a range of standard patterns, including phone numbers, credit card numbers, National ID Numbers such as Social Security Numbers and/or Tax File Numbers, email addresses, and dates.

Pattern Search options are region-specific so, U.S. users will search for Social Security Numbers while those in the U.K. will see National Insurance Numbers in the dropdown menu.

Even though some patterns will depend on the user’s regional settings, it won’t restrict them to only searching for that exact pattern. This means that even if a user in London has their Pattern Search set to NI, the search will still find Tax File Numbers, Social Security Numbers, and any other regional equivalents they select.

pdfDocs users don’t have to choose which regional patterns are included in search results each time they use Pattern Search. Administrators can create default settings for local machines and push them out to all the users on the network.

Redact one or all instances

Once the search has found all instances of the word, phrase, or pattern selected, you have the option to redact them all or to pick and choose. Redaction in pdfDocs is failsafe and permanent. The redacted content can’t be uncovered by the document recipient.