In-Document Search: Find Text in Shared PDFs and Documents | Sendpaper

Viewers can search for text inside the document or data room they are viewing without leaving the secure link. For long PDFs or a data room full of documents, scrolling page by page is tedious. In-document search lets them enter a word or phrase and jump directly to matches. The search runs in the secure viewer; they never leave the link, and access control and analytics stay the same.

What Is In-Document Search?

In-document search (also "search within the document") is a feature in the document viewer. When someone opens your shared link, they see the document in the browser. When the feature is enabled, a search field appears. They enter a term, and the viewer finds all places in that document where the text appears. They can jump from match to match and read the relevant section without scrolling through the whole file.

Not the same as finding documents. In a data room you can also search by document name or filename to open the right file. That is "finding a document in the room." Here we mean search inside the open document: once a document is open in the viewer, you search for text in that document's content. Sendpaper offers both. "In document" means the search applies only to the content in front of the viewer.

In-Document Search by Plan

In-document search is available on Dataroom Pro, Dataroom Advance, and Enterprise. The table below is a guide; see Pricing for the latest.

For in-document search when viewers open your document or data room link, you need Dataroom Pro or Dataroom Advance.

Most Document Tools Do Not Offer This

When you share a PDF or document via link, your product may render it for display. In-document search means: whoever opens the shared link can search for text inside the document directly in the viewer. They type a word or phrase and jump to matches. No download, no opening elsewhere. Most pitch deck and document tools do not offer this.

In-document search in the shared link viewer:

If your recipients need to find text in a PDF or document without scrolling, most alternatives do not offer it. Sendpaper does: search works in the secure viewer when they open your link.

Why This Matters for Shared Links and Data Rooms

Long Documents

Pitch decks, term sheets, contracts, and board packs can be dozens or hundreds of pages. Viewers must find "Section 4.2," "revenue," or "indemnification" quickly. In-document search saves time; they stay in the same secure link and reach the right spot with a few keystrokes.

Data Rooms and Due Diligence

A data room often has many PDFs and other documents. When the feature is enabled, viewers can search inside the document they have open. They work through long agreements, reports, or technical docs more easily without leaving the room or opening files elsewhere. One place for access control, audit, and analytics.

Better Experience, Same Security

Search runs in the viewer. You do not give viewers a separate search tool or a copy of the file. They use the same link, same permissions (password, expiry, view-only), and same logging.

How It Works in Practice

1. You share a link. Upload a document (or use a data room) and create a share link. Set access rules as usual.
2. Viewers open the link. They see the document in the secure viewer in the browser.
3. They use the search field. When in-document search is enabled for that link or plan, the search function appears. They enter a word or phrase.
4. The viewer shows matches. The viewer highlights or jumps to each occurrence. Viewers can step through matches and read the context.
5. They never leave the link. Everything happens in the viewer. You still see who opened the link and how they used it.

When to Use In-Document Search

• Long PDFs: Contracts, decks, reports, handbooks where viewers must find specific sections.
• Data rooms: Due diligence, fundraising, or M&A rooms with many documents.
• Compliance and legal: When auditors need to find clauses, definitions, or references quickly without loading or copying.
• Investor and buyer materials: When viewers should work through materials efficiently, all in one tracked, controlled link.