Find and replace text in PDF files programmatically with C#. Direct content stream editing — no conversion to DOCX, no external dependencies, no data loss.
dotnet add package Exis.PdfEditor
Install-Package Exis.PdfEditor
Most .NET PDF libraries — IronPDF, Spire.PDF, Aspose, Syncfusion — replace text by converting the PDF to an intermediate format, redacting text and drawing new text on top, or rebuilding pages from scratch.
This approach breaks:
Exis.PdfEditor parses PDF content streams directly at the byte level. It locates text in the actual PDF operators, modifies only the targeted string operands, and writes back using PDF incremental update.
Everything not touched stays byte-for-byte identical:
using Exis.PdfEditor;
using Exis.PdfEditor.Licensing;
ExisLicense.Initialize(); // Free 14-day trial - no key needed
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute(
"contract.pdf",
"contract-updated.pdf",
"Acme Corporation",
"Globex Industries");
Console.WriteLine($"Replaced {result.TotalReplacements} occurrences " +
$"across {result.PagesModified} pages.");
var pairs = new[]
{
new FindReplacePair("2025", "2026"),
new FindReplacePair("Draft", "Final"),
new FindReplacePair("CONFIDENTIAL", "PUBLIC"),
};
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute(
"report.pdf",
"report-final.pdf",
pairs);
var options = new PdfFindReplaceOptions { UseRegex = true };
// Replace all US phone numbers with a placeholder
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute(
"document.pdf",
"redacted.pdf",
@"\(\d{3}\)\s?\d{3}-\d{4}",
"[PHONE REDACTED]",
options);
// Purchase at officefindreplace.com/Home/pdf-find-replace-csharp - $499/developer/year
ExisLicense.Initialize("XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX");
// Unlimited pages, no restrictions, no console messages
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute("large-doc.pdf", "output.pdf", "old", "new");
var options = new PdfFindReplaceOptions
{
CaseSensitive = true,
WholeWordOnly = false,
UseRegex = false,
UseIncrementalUpdate = true,
TextFitting = TextFittingMode.Adaptive, // Best quality text fitting
MinHorizontalScale = 70, // Minimum Tz percentage (50-100)
MaxFontSizeReduction = 1.5 // Max font size reduction in points
};
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute(
"contract.pdf", "updated.pdf",
"Short Name", "A Much Longer Replacement Name That Needs Fitting",
options);
// Color replacement text and add a highlight background
var result = PdfFindReplace.Execute(
"input.pdf", "output.pdf",
"old text", "new text",
new PdfFindReplaceOptions
{
ReplacementTextColor = PdfColor.Red, // Font color of replaced text
ReplacementHighlightColor = PdfColor.Yellow // Background highlight behind text
});
// Merge multiple PDFs into one, preserving page dimensions and resources
byte[] merged = PdfMerger.Merge(new[] { "cover.pdf", "report.pdf", "appendix.pdf" });
File.WriteAllBytes("combined.pdf", merged);
// Or write directly to a file
PdfMerger.MergeToFile(new[] { "file1.pdf", "file2.pdf" }, "merged.pdf");
// Merge with page range selection
byte[] selected = PdfMerger.Merge(new[]
{
new PdfMergeInput(File.ReadAllBytes("doc1.pdf"), new[] { 1, 3, 5 }),
new PdfMergeInput(File.ReadAllBytes("doc2.pdf")) // all pages
});
// Split into individual pages
List<byte[]> pages = PdfSplitter.Split("input.pdf");
// Extract specific pages (1-based)
byte[] subset = PdfSplitter.ExtractPages("input.pdf", new[] { 1, 3, 5 });
// Split to individual files with naming pattern
PdfSplitter.SplitToFiles("input.pdf", "page_{0}.pdf");
byte[] pdf = PdfBuilder.Create()
.WithMetadata(m => m.Title("Report").Author("Exis"))
.AddPage(page => page
.Size(PdfPageSize.A4)
.AddText("Hello, World!", x: 72, y: 750, fontSize: 24,
options: o => o.Font("Helvetica").Bold().Color(0, 0, 0.8))
.AddText("Generated with Exis.PdfEditor", x: 72, y: 720, fontSize: 12)
.AddLine(72, 710, 523, 710, strokeWidth: 1)
.AddRectangle(72, 600, 200, 80, fill: true,
fillRed: 0.95, fillGreen: 0.95, fillBlue: 1.0)
.AddImage(jpegBytes, x: 300, y: 400, width: 200, height: 150))
.AddPage(page => page
.Size(PdfPageSize.Letter)
.AddText("Page 2", x: 72, y: 700, fontSize: 14))
.Build();
File.WriteAllBytes("output.pdf", pdf);
// Extract all text from a PDF
PdfTextResult text = PdfTextExtractor.ExtractText("input.pdf");
Console.WriteLine(text.FullText);
// Extract from specific pages only
PdfTextResult partial = PdfTextExtractor.ExtractText("input.pdf", new[] { 1, 3 });
// Structured extraction with position and font data
PdfStructuredTextResult structured = PdfTextExtractor.ExtractStructured("input.pdf");
foreach (var block in structured.Pages[0].TextBlocks)
Console.WriteLine($"[{block.X:F0},{block.Y:F0}] {block.Text} " +
$"(font={block.FontName}, size={block.FontSize})");
PdfDocumentInfo info = PdfInspector.Inspect("input.pdf");
Console.WriteLine($"Pages: {info.PageCount}");
Console.WriteLine($"Title: {info.Title}");
Console.WriteLine($"Fonts: {string.Join(", ", info.FontsUsed)}");
Console.WriteLine($"Encrypted: {info.IsEncrypted}");
Console.WriteLine($"Form fields: {info.FormFieldCount}");
// Find all images in a PDF
var found = PdfImageEditor.FindImages("input.pdf");
foreach (var img in found.Images)
Console.WriteLine($"Image #{img.Index}: {img.PixelWidth}x{img.PixelHeight} " +
$"{img.ColorSpace} {img.Format} on page(s) {string.Join(", ", img.PageNumbers)}");
// Replace all images with a new one
byte[] newLogo = File.ReadAllBytes("new-logo.jpg");
var result = PdfImageEditor.ReplaceAll("input.pdf", "output.pdf", newLogo);
Console.WriteLine($"Replaced {result.ImagesReplaced} of {result.ImagesFound} images");
// Replace specific images by index or page range
var selective = PdfImageEditor.Replace("input.pdf", "output.pdf", newLogo,
new PdfImageReplaceOptions { ImageIndices = new[] { 0, 2 } });
byte[] pdf = PdfDocumentBuilder.Create()
.PageSize(PdfPageSize.A4)
.Margins(72)
.WithMetadata(m => m.Title("Report").Author("Exis"))
.Header(h => h
.AddText("Quarterly Report", PdfHorizontalAlignment.Center, 12, o => o.Bold())
.AddLine())
.Footer(f => f
.AddLine()
.AddPageNumber()) // "Page 1 of 3"
.AddParagraph("Introduction", 18, o => o.Bold())
.AddSpacing(8)
.AddParagraph("This report covers Q1 results.")
.AddSpacing(12)
.AddTable(t => t
.Columns(2, 1, 1)
.AlternatingRowBackground(0.95, 0.95, 1.0)
.HeaderRow(r => r.AddCell("Product").AddCell("Units").AddCell("Revenue"))
.AddRow(r => r.AddCell("Widget A").AddCell("1,200").AddCell("$24,000"))
.AddRow(r => r.AddCell("Widget B").AddCell("850").AddCell("$17,000")))
.AddPageBreak()
.AddParagraph("Appendix", 14, o => o.Bold())
.Build();
// Read form fields
List<PdfFormField> fields = PdfFormFiller.GetFields("form.pdf");
foreach (var field in fields)
Console.WriteLine($"{field.Name} ({field.FieldType}) = {field.CurrentValue}");
// Fill fields
var result = PdfFormFiller.Fill("form.pdf", "filled.pdf", new Dictionary<string, string>
{
{ "FirstName", "John" },
{ "LastName", "Doe" },
{ "State", "CA" },
{ "AgreeToTerms", "Yes" } // checkbox
});
Console.WriteLine($"Filled {result.FieldsFilled} fields");
// Flatten form (merge field appearances, remove interactive fields)
PdfFormFiller.Flatten("filled.pdf", "flattened.pdf");
var result = PdfRedactor.Redact("input.pdf", "redacted.pdf", new[]
{
// Text-based redaction
new PdfRedaction { Text = "CONFIDENTIAL" },
// Regex pattern (e.g., SSN)
new PdfRedaction { Text = @"\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{4}", IsRegex = true },
// Replace with alternative text
new PdfRedaction { Text = "SECRET", ReplaceWith = "[REDACTED]" },
// Area-based redaction on specific page
new PdfRedaction { PageNumber = 3, Area = new PdfRect(100, 200, 300, 50) }
});
Console.WriteLine($"Applied {result.RedactionsApplied} redactions");
var result = PdfOptimizer.Optimize("input.pdf", "optimized.pdf", new PdfOptimizeOptions
{
CompressStreams = true,
RemoveDuplicateObjects = true,
RemoveMetadata = false,
DownsampleImages = true,
MaxImageDpi = 150
});
Console.WriteLine($"Saved {result.BytesSaved} bytes ({result.ReductionPercent:F1}%)");
Console.WriteLine($"Images downsampled: {result.ImagesDownsampled}");
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
// Sign a PDF
var cert = new X509Certificate2("certificate.pfx", "password");
PdfSigner.Sign("input.pdf", "signed.pdf", new PdfSignOptions
{
Certificate = cert,
Reason = "Approved",
Location = "New York",
ContactInfo = "admin@example.com"
});
// Verify a signed PDF
PdfSignatureInfo info = PdfSigner.Verify("signed.pdf");
Console.WriteLine($"Signed: {info.IsSigned}");
Console.WriteLine($"Valid: {info.IsValid}");
Console.WriteLine($"Signer: {info.SignerName}");
Console.WriteLine($"Certificate: {info.CertificateSubject}");
Console.WriteLine($"Issuer: {info.CertificateIssuer}");
Console.WriteLine($"Timestamp: {info.HasTimestamp}");
// Verify all signatures in a multi-signed document
List<PdfSignatureInfo> all = PdfSigner.VerifyAll("multi-signed.pdf");
foreach (var sig in all)
Console.WriteLine($"{sig.SignerName}: valid={sig.IsValid}");
// Validate (no license required)
// Levels: PdfA1b, PdfA2b, PdfA2u, PdfA3b, PdfA3u
PdfAValidationResult result = PdfAConverter.Validate("input.pdf", PdfALevel.PdfA2b);
Console.WriteLine($"Compliant: {result.IsCompliant}");
foreach (var v in result.Violations)
Console.WriteLine($" [{v.Code}] {v.Message} (auto-fix: {v.CanAutoFix})");
// Convert to PDF/A
byte[] pdfa = PdfAConverter.Convert("input.pdf", PdfALevel.PdfA2b);
File.WriteAllBytes("output-pdfa.pdf", pdfa);
// All I/O operations have async overloads with CancellationToken support
byte[] merged = await PdfMerger.MergeAsync(inputPaths, cancellationToken);
PdfTextResult text = await PdfTextExtractor.ExtractTextAsync(stream, cancellationToken);
var info = await PdfInspector.InspectAsync(path, cancellationToken);
var result = await PdfOptimizer.OptimizeAsync(data, options, cancellationToken);
var sigs = await PdfSigner.VerifyAllAsync(path, cancellationToken);
// Pattern: ClassName.MethodNameAsync(...) on all classes
| Feature | Exis.PdfEditor | IronPDF | Spire.PDF | Aspose.PDF | Syncfusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct content stream editing | ✓ | ✗ Renders HTML | ✗ Redaction overlay | ✗ Fragment replace | ✗ Redaction overlay |
| Preserves form fields | ✓ | ✗ | Partial | Partial | ✗ |
| Preserves digital signatures | ✓ Unmodified pages | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Preserves text spacing/kerning | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Partial | ✗ |
| Zero native dependencies | ✓ Pure .NET | ✗ Chromium engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DLL size | < 500 KB | ~250 MB | ~20 MB | ~40 MB | ~15 MB |
| Batch multi-pair replacement | ✓ Single pass | Manual loop | Manual loop | Manual loop | Manual loop |
| .NET Framework 4.8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ .NET 6+ only |
| Cross-platform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Regex support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price (per developer/year) | $499 | $749 | $999 | $1,175 | $995* |
| Company HQ | 🇺🇸 USA | 🇺🇸 USA | 🇨🇳 China | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇺🇸 USA |
Comparison based on publicly available documentation as of February 2026. Feature support may vary by version.
"Direct content stream editing" means the library modifies PDF text operators in-place without converting, re-rendering, or overlaying.
Modifies content stream operators. No intermediate conversion.
No Ghostscript, no LibreOffice, no Chromium. Pure managed .NET.
Forms, signatures, annotations, bookmarks — all preserved.
.NET 8, 9, 10+ and .NET Standard 2.0 (.NET Framework 4.6.1+, .NET Core 2.0+, .NET 5-7).
Multiple find/replace pairs executed in a single pass.
Full .NET regex support for pattern-based replacements.
Windows, Linux, macOS. Anywhere .NET runs.
Single DLL, under 500 KB. No native binaries to deploy.
Combine multiple PDFs into one document, preserving page dimensions and resources.
Extract individual pages or page ranges into separate PDFs. Split to files with naming patterns.
Create PDFs from scratch with a fluent API. Add text, images, lines, and rectangles with full formatting control.
Pull text content from PDF pages. Extract from all pages or specific page ranges.
Read metadata, fonts, page dimensions, and form field counts. Works without any license.
Find, analyze, and replace images in PDFs. Swap logos or graphics by index or page range with JPEG/PNG.
Create reports with auto-pagination, text wrapping, tables, headers/footers, and page numbers.
Read and fill AcroForm fields including text, checkbox, and dropdown. Lossless form preservation.
Text-based, regex pattern, or area-based redaction. Permanently remove sensitive content from PDFs.
Compress streams, remove duplicate objects, and reduce file size while preserving document quality.
Sign PDFs with X.509 certificates and verify existing signatures. Available on .NET 8, 9, 10+.
Validate and convert to PDF/A (1b, 2b, 2u, 3b, 3u) for long-term archival. Validation works without a license.
All I/O operations have async overloads with CancellationToken support for scalable applications.
Install the NuGet package and call ExisLicense.Initialize() — full functionality for 14 days. After trial, evaluation mode processes up to 3 pages per document. No watermarks. When ready, purchase a license key at officefindreplace.com/Home/pdf-find-replace-csharp.
Prices in US dollars. One key per developer. Works on dev machine, build server, and production — no per-machine or per-deployment limits.
Your code does not change between trial and licensed mode. Just add your key when ready.
dotnet add package Exis.PdfEditor
Questions? Email support@exisone.com — you will hear from a developer, not a bot.