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Search & replace PDF text or images in Java

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Sample Java code to use PDFTron SDK for searching and replacing text strings and images inside existing PDF files (e.g. business cards and other PDF templates). Unlike PDF forms, the ContentReplacer works on actual PDF content and is not limited to static rectangular annotation regions. Learn more about our Java PDF Library and PDF Editing & Manipulation Library.

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Copyright (c) 2001-2023 by PDFTron Systems Inc. All Rights Reserved.
// Consult legal.txt regarding legal and license information.
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

import com.pdftron.pdf.*;
import com.pdftron.sdf.*;

public class ContentReplacerTest {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String input_path = "../../TestFiles/";
        String output_path = input_path + "Output/";

        // The first step in every application using PDFNet is to initialize the
        // library and set the path to common PDF resources. The library is usually
        // initialized only once, but calling Initialize() multiple times is also fine.
        PDFNet.initialize(PDFTronLicense.Key());

        //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Example 1) Update a business card template with personalized info

        try {
            PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc(input_path + "BusinessCardTemplate.pdf");
            doc.initSecurityHandler();

            ContentReplacer replacer = new ContentReplacer();
            Page page = doc.getPage(1);
            // first, replace the image on the first page
            Image img = Image.create(doc, input_path + "peppers.jpg");
            replacer.addImage(page.getMediaBox(), img.getSDFObj());
            // next, replace the text place holders on the second page
            replacer.addString("NAME", "John Smith");
            replacer.addString("QUALIFICATIONS", "Philosophy Doctor");
            replacer.addString("JOB_TITLE", "Software Developer");
            replacer.addString("ADDRESS_LINE1", "#100 123 Software Rd");
            replacer.addString("ADDRESS_LINE2", "Vancouver, BC");
            replacer.addString("PHONE_OFFICE", "604-730-8989");
            replacer.addString("PHONE_MOBILE", "604-765-4321");
            replacer.addString("EMAIL", "info@pdftron.com");
            replacer.addString("WEBSITE_URL", "http://www.pdftron.com");
            // finally, apply
            replacer.process(page);

            doc.save(output_path + "BusinessCard.pdf", SDFDoc.SaveMode.REMOVE_UNUSED, null);
            // output PDF doc
            doc.close();
            System.out.println("Done. Result saved in BusinessCard.pdf");
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return;
        }

        //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Example 2) Replace text in a region with new text

        try {
            PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc(input_path + "newsletter.pdf");
            doc.initSecurityHandler();

            ContentReplacer replacer = new ContentReplacer();
            Page page = doc.getPage(1);
            Rect target_region = page.getMediaBox();
            String replacement_text = "hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello";
            replacer.addText(target_region, replacement_text);
            replacer.process(page);

            doc.save(output_path + "ContentReplaced.pdf", SDFDoc.SaveMode.REMOVE_UNUSED, null);
            // output PDF doc
            doc.close();
            System.out.println("Done. Result saved in ContentReplaced.pdf");
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return;
        }

        System.out.println("Done.");

        PDFNet.terminate();
    }
}