# \[FEATURE-13894\]Ignition 7.9 / VISION Module / File Explorer to PDF Viewer | \*\*Create Search Function to Network Directory\*\*\*

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/feature-13894-ignition-7-9-vision-module-file-explorer-to-pdf-viewer-create-search-function-to-network-directory/24998>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** scripting\
**Created:** [May 14, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/feature-13894-ignition-7-9-vision-module-file-explorer-to-pdf-viewer-create-search-function-to-network-directory/24998 "2019-05-14T19:22:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tmundt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tmundt](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/tmundt)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/feature-13894-ignition-7-9-vision-module-file-explorer-to-pdf-viewer-create-search-function-to-network-directory/24998/1 "2019-05-14T19:22:44Z")

</div>

**Specifics:**  
_Ignition Platform_  
7.9.10 (b2018112821)  
_OPC-UA Module_  
4.9.10 (b2018112813)  
_Reporting Module_  
4.9.10 (b2018112813)  
_Vision Module_  
9.9.9 (b2018081622)  
_SQL Bridge Module_  
8.9.10 (b2018112821)

 ![Vision_ScreenGrab-01](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/2X/5/57eec3f21408b38081789e66a76f16014febb545.png)

All we’re looking to do, is allow our technicians the ability to search the “Root Directory” for files, in addition to scrolling through the File Explorer. I was able to create a new 800x480 window, add the ‘PDF Viewer’ and connect/bind that to the ‘File Explorer’ and have that point to our specified ‘Root Directory’ - Then the ‘Selected Path’ is what appears in our PDF Viewer. Right now there are upwards of 150 separate PDF files in the folder, all starting with a 4 digit number, then the file name. So we need to be able to have the/a ‘Search’ box link to the same ‘Root Directory’, with a numeric-only search function, having the result of that search be sent back through to the PDF Viewer.

**_Side-note:_** If it’s possible to link all 3 together in succession, that would be ideal, as in:  
1\> Search 2\> File Explorer 3\> PDF Viewer.

However, if a dual-access approach is more logical &/or more pragmatic to setup, that’s just fine as well, meaning:  
1a\> Search 2\> PDF Viewer  
1b\> File Explorer 2\> PDF Viewer

Hopefully all of this is as detailed yet as straight forward as possible. Right now I’m at a standstill in progress, pursuing some type of Python scripting as our best bet to accomplish the goal.

**Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!**

-Tyler

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KathyApplebaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kathyapplebaum/32/7261_2.png) [@KathyApplebaum](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/KathyApplebaum)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/feature-13894-ignition-7-9-vision-module-file-explorer-to-pdf-viewer-create-search-function-to-network-directory/24998/2 "2019-05-14T21:30:37Z")

</div>

That does seem like a great use case for adding better filtering to the file explorer. While it doesn’t help your immediate need, I’ll open a ticket to add this.