Help

Adding documents

Open EchoSearch and press Add PDFs, or on a computer drag files onto the window. You can add several PDFs at once, or a ZIP of PDFs. A file you have already added is recognised and skipped.

Normal PDFs are read in seconds. Pages that are only pictures (scans) are read letter by letter on your device, which takes longer; you can carry on using EchoSearch while that happens.

Searching for a name

Tick the documents to search, then type a name. Results appear as you type. On a computer, press / to jump to the search box.

Choose how closely to match:

• Exact: only the spelling you typed, like a normal PDF search.
• Sounds like: also the usual other spellings (Mohd and Mohammad, Shaikh and Sheikh). This is the default.
• Close: also names that simply sound similar. Try it when Sounds like finds nothing.

What the colours mean

Each match is marked like a highlighter, in one of three colours:

• Yellow: the exact spelling you typed.
• Green: a different spelling of the same name, found by a spelling rule.
• Pink: a name that sounds close, found by Close.

Spelling rules

Under the search box, Spelling rules in use lists every rule the search applied. Untick one to leave it out. Add your own under Your own rules: type letters or names that should count as the same, separated by commas, for example v, w or Kulkarni, Kulkarny.

Hindi and Marathi

EchoSearch searches Hindi and Marathi documents. Type the name in Devanagari, or choose हिन्दी or मराठी next to Typing in and spell the name in English letters: suggestions in Devanagari appear as you type. Press Space to take the first, or 1 to 5 to pick one. These suggestions come from Google Input Tools and need the internet; only the word being typed is sent.

Seeing the page

Open a result to see the original page with the name marked. On a scanned page the name can't be marked on the picture, so the page opens with the matched line shown above it. Previous and Next step through the matches (on a computer, J and K do the same). Pinch or use the buttons to zoom. On a wide screen the page opens beside the list.

To read a whole document, use the book button next to it: you can jump to a page, browse page thumbnails, use its table of contents, or find any word in it.

Installing and offline use

On Android and on computers, use Install when EchoSearch offers it, or your browser's install option. On iPhone and iPad, open it in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. After the first visit, EchoSearch opens and searches with no internet at all.

Storage space

Documents are kept on your device, so large rolls take up space. If your device runs out, EchoSearch says so; delete documents you no longer need. Something not working? Write to contact@zaidshaikh.com.