Participant

Answered

How do I apply redaction and type over it?

Forum|Forum|10 years ago
October 13, 2015
13 replies
382656 views

I used to be able to do this in older versions of Acrobat (I am now using Pro DC). I would add a text box, with a white fill and no border to white out whatever I wanted covered up. Then I would create the text I wanted somewhere else on the document, type the text, then drag it over the white box.

Now, the text I drag over defaults to being hidden behind the white text box. I try bringing it front, that does nothing. I wouldn't even need to create additional text, but the text box text color defaults to red and I cannot change that either. SO FRUSTRATING, especially since I used to be able to do this. Someone please help! Thanks in advance.

-TJ

Correct answer Test Screen Name

Before you can Apply redactions you must create them by somehow marking where you want them. See the help file for your version for the ways you can do this.

Show previous replies

A

Anonymous

However old this thread may be, people still search and find it, looking for this info. Here's what I do:

1) Go to "Comment" on right side of toolbar to open "Tools, Sign, Comment" side pane.

2) Under Drawing Markups, click on picture of text box ("Add text box"). Add text box over text you want to hide and size as needed. Adjust color of box or border as needed by right clicking on box (while in text box mode, i.e., button is on)

3) Then, go to Annotations, above, and select the "T" ("Add text comment"). Type replacement text anywhere on doc (can't type over text box). To edit the text, if little properties box is not open, click on side and click again on text (different from CNTRL+E).

4) Now, drag your text over your box and align.

5) Has to be done in above order.

6) In order to hide the fact that I've made changes, or ensure that my changes don't get changed, I then print to Adobe to create a new doc.

7) One last thing. When you print, make sure that under "Comments & Forms" on your print dialog box, you have "Documents and Markups" selected from dropdown.

P.S. OP, it sounds like you didn't do it in the right order, or you tried to repeat, which doesn't work either -- have to do the steps. As for the red, see my description of changing color. There are various ways to create text boxes, so must use method above.

try67

Community Expert

Doing that doesn't guarantee at all that the text you've overwritten can't

be accessed. The only way to do that is to use the Redaction tool, and then

you wont have to print the file, which causes all kinds of problems on its

own.

A

Anonymous

I've done this many times. How would it be accessed and what are the "all kinds of problems" you refer to?

Martigan

Participant

Hi tjk84938930

I know this thread is old but I have a similar requirement and the workarounds provided to you were a bit crappy, so I decided to post my solution.

I would refrain from using the commenting box in several cases because the commenting box will be a visible alteration in editing and commenting mode and can be shifted by the receiver, revealing that a workaround was used. This doesn't always suggest a suitable level of professionalism and, hence, is my least favoured option and would only be used if all revisions are being done through the commenting tools.

Deleting and re-entering text, as suggested by Priyanja, isn't always possible either i.e. due to corrupted text recognition.

The solution that works for me:

1. Create a white space image file

2. Import it into your pdf using "Add Image"

3. Alter the size as required

4. Create a text layer using "Add Text" which you can move over your white space

5. Done

Hope this helps.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I think there's an important point here. Does the PDF get delivered to someone? Is the information to be removed sensitive? If so, convering it up with a text box, or image, or anything else, is a catastrophe waiting to happen, because the original is still there, easy to get at . Often it's as easy as copy/paste. In this case the only right thing to do is use "redaction", designed to remove sensitive info. Then save and close and reopen. Now you can try to add text, which may or may not work, but at least the sensitive info is gone.

M

Michael36229215ioxv

Participant

or just reprint to pdf and then you cannot notice anything!

AadeshSingh

Community Manager

Hi tjk84938930,

Please refer to this KB doc. Acrobat Help | Edit text in PDFs to get a better picture about how editing working in Acrobat Pro DC.

Use the Commenting tool -> Text box option, it will cover up you text then you can right click on that text box to change the properties like color.

Regards,

Aadesh

tjk84938930Author

Participant

If only it were that easy. Please see the attached screenshot. It only gives me border color and fill color options. In the example let's say I wanted to whiteout the word "Statement" after account, and replace it with "Balance". I cannot bring the word Balance to the front of the white comment box. It defaults to hiding it behind it. Someone please help.

G

George_Johnson

Inspiring

A more consistent approach would be to redact the content you don't want and then use the text box to add the text you want. I suggest that you then flatten the text so it's no longer a comment, which you can do with the following free JavaScript-based tool: UVSAR : Selective Flattener tool for Adobe Acrobat 8, 9 and X

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