Symbol Search (formerly Visual Search)
Find one drawing symbol, then count matching instances across the PDF.
Capture a symbol from the sheet, let PolyPDF find visual matches, review the results, and commit the accepted set as a count series.
Symbol Search is a PolyPDF Pro workflow. Capture one example, review every candidate, and commit the accepted matches as one linked Count series.
Free with no trial timer: markup, review, calibration, 3 hand-created measurements per document, and Revision Package viewing. Symbol Search, plugins, and Revision Package changes or publishing require Pro.
01 / WHY
Auto-count is fastest when the human stays in control.
Drawing symbols vary with scan quality, line weight, rotation, and nearby geometry. PolyPDF treats Symbol Search as a reviewable workflow: you choose the example, inspect the candidate matches, and commit the results you are prepared to use.
02 / WORKFLOW
From source PDF to a result you can review.
- 01
Select a clean example
Draw a capture box tightly around one representative symbol and avoid unrelated labels or lines when possible.
- 02
Run Symbol Search
PolyPDF scans the PDF for visually similar regions and returns candidate matches without requiring OCR text or a CAD model.
- 03
Review the candidates
Inspect the highlighted results and adjust the selection or search threshold when the drawing contains similar-looking symbols.
- 04
Commit the count series
Turn the accepted matches into numbered count annotations that feed the takeoff worksheet and remain visible on the page.
03 / FIT
A repeatable count you can check against the drawing.
- Works from visual symbol appearance rather than relying on searchable text.
- Keeps candidate matches reviewable and adjustable before the count is committed.
- Creates numbered count markers that can be audited against the sheet.
- Feeds accepted counts into the same worksheet as lengths and areas.
- Included with PolyPDF Pro, with no separate per-search count cap.
Start with the free app. Pay once to unlock every Pro workflow.
Use PolyPDF 1.x forever on up to 3 Mac or Windows computers. Every PolyPDF 1.x update is included. Future major versions may be optional paid upgrades.
14-day money-back guarantee. Try PolyPDF on your own drawings, risk-free.
04 / FAQ
Questions before you test it.
Is Symbol Search the same as OCR?
No. OCR looks for text. Symbol Search looks for regions that resemble the symbol example you capture from the drawing.
Will it find every symbol perfectly?
Not on every drawing. Match quality depends on the source PDF, symbol consistency, rotation, scan quality, and the capture selection. Review the candidates before committing a count.
Is Symbol Search included in the free version?
No. Symbol Search is a Pro workflow in the current PolyPDF release. The same Pro license also removes the limit on hand-created measurements, unlocks installed plugins, and enables Revision Package updates and publishing.