Creating custom Redaction Search Patterns

[Charles_Mc]

Ok, so I just spent over 2 grueling hours screen-sharing with a support technician from Adobe's Acrobat support team and got told that you cannot create custom redaction search patterns, and have never been able to, unless you have a Java programmer build them.  Not quite sure what he was meaning by this since in the past I just edited an XML file and could add any custom RegExp patterns I liked; I'm not convinced he is correct in his answer about needing a Java programmer write something (not exactly clear what to ask them to write as he did not say) because the whole screen-sharing experience seemed to show he didn't have a whole depth of knowledge in using the redaction tool as he was trying to use the search tool to find redactable content and then marked each result for redaction.

Ok, so rant over... does anybody know how to create custom redaction search patterns for Acrobat Pro 2017, it seams the old method of just editing an XML file is not working for me.  And just in case I am editing the wrong file here is the path to the XML file I edited:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\2017\Preferences\Redaction\ENU\SearchRedactPatterns.xml

If the information I was given is correct and I do indeed now need a Java programmers help, can someone tell me what I need to tell the developer.

Chat transcript:

Date: 2019-06-20 01:23:46 SGT From: Tarun (Adobe) To: Everyone Okay, We can feed www to search for it but it only recognize the www Date: 2019-06-20 01:24:17 SGT From: Tarun (Adobe) To: Everyone So if you want to feed any command , you need to contact Java Prgrammer, because we do not have that options. Date: 2019-06-20 01:25:12 SGT From: Charles To: Everyone is Java programmer someone at Adobe or are you telling me I need to find a Java programmer? Date: 2019-06-20 01:26:26 SGT From: Tarun (Adobe) To: Everyone yes, you have to contact the programmer Date: 2019-06-20 01:26:50 SGT From: Charles To: Everyone At Adobe? Date: 2019-06-20 01:28:02 SGT From: Charles To: Everyone Do I need to contact Adobe's programmers? Date: 2019-06-20 01:29:54 SGT From: Tarun (Adobe) To: Everyone No, not from adobe. Date: 2019-06-20 01:30:08 SGT From: Charles To: Everyone ok, thank you

[try67]

What they told you is just wrong. Even if you had a "Java programmer" working for you you couldn't edit the Acrobat source-code, since, well, you don't have the Acrobat source-code. Only Adobe does. You would need to write your own PDF editor with redaction capabilities from scratch.

The way of editing XML files worked in the past, if you knew what you were doing. I'm not sure whether or not it works in Acrobat 2017. It seems to me like it should.

[Charles_Mc]

Yeah, I didn't think getting a programmer sounded like the correct answer.

[Bernd Alheit]

The path of the XML file is correct. What happens when you change the file?

[Charles_Mc]

Nothing, I still see the original search patterns in the dropdown but the new/custom one does not appear in the list.  I copied entry number 5 and then changed the entry's number to 6 along with changes to the name, description and search pattern (RegEx).

[Bernd Alheit]

Copy and paste a set. Change only the name of the set. What can you see in Acrobat after you re-start Acrobat?

[Daniel238914343v6g]

Late to the party but wanted to add this if its helpful to anyone else.

I had priorly used this feature to create custom redaction regexs and when the subject came across me again, it seemed that this feature was missing from "Advanced Search".

Turns out this functionality is no longer available "Advanced Search" window.  Instead you have to open the "Redact" Tool, go to the "Mark for Redaction" drop down and then to "Find Text".  Here you have a radio menu where you can check "Patterns" and select a pattern to use from a drop down.

Hope this is helpful.

[Kristin24169529okxs]

Hi, I can get to the dropdown of different patterns for redaction but the patterns seem very limited and for example it will only redact phone numbers that are 7 digits. Is there any way to add customised redaction patterns?

[Bernd Alheit]

You can add custom redaction search patterns.

[jm14]

Hi Bernd, how do you add a custom pattern for redaction? I am not having luck with internet searches. 
Thanks in advance!

[Bernd Alheit]

What happens when you change the xml file?

[Amy28739402p7yq]

When we change the xml file it does not portray with changes in the UI after closing and reopening adobe Pro/DC

[danielc99152335]

Amy,

Please ensure that you are checking/editing the correct xml in the correct location.

For example on my machine in my adobe appdata i have XMLs in "Adobe\Acrobat\2017\Redaction\ENU" but also "Adobe\Acrobat\DC\Redaction\ENU"

If i recall correctly, changes in but one of these locations will update the options in adobe.