[SOLVED] Search and Replace text in PDF using borb failing with AssertionError

suramya · 01-12-2023, 02:39 PM

Hey Folks,

I have a bunch of PDF files with text (and other stuff in them) where I need to be able to replace text in the document with something else. I can manually do it using LibreDraw but wanted to script it/Automate it. Spent a bit of time searching for options and the Borb library for Python3 seems to allow me to do exactly that.

However, when I try to replace the text using the example from their site the script fails with the following error:

Code:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/suramya/Temp/BorbReplace.py", line 26, in <module>
    main()
  File "/home/suramya/Temp/BorbReplace.py", line 18, in main
    doc = SimpleFindReplace.sub("Manual", "", doc)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/toolkit/text/simple_find_replace.py", line 80, in sub
    page.apply_redact_annotations()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/page/page.py", line 271, in apply_redact_annotations
    .read(io.BytesIO(self["Contents"]["DecodedBytes"]), [])
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/canvas_stream_processor.py", line 290, in read
    raise e
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/canvas_stream_processor.py", line 284, in read
    operator.invoke(self, operands, event_listeners)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/redacted_canvas_stream_processor.py", line 271, in invoke
    self._write_chunk_of_text(
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/redacted_canvas_stream_processor.py", line 203, in _write_chunk_of_text
    )._write_text_bytes()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/layout/text/chunk_of_text.py", line 145, in _write_text_bytes
    return self._write_text_bytes_in_hex()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/borb/pdf/canvas/layout/text/chunk_of_text.py", line 160, in _write_text_bytes_in_hex
    assert cid is not None, "Font %s can not represent '%s'" % (
AssertionError: Font Arial,Bold can not represent 'E'

Process finished with exit code 1

Searching on the web didn't give me any answers and when I try a different file, the font name changes but the error remains. Any idea how to fix it?

The script:

Code:

from borb.pdf import Document
from borb.pdf import PDF
from borb.toolkit import SimpleFindReplace

import typing

def main():

    # attempt to read a PDF
    doc: typing.Optional[Document] = None
    with open("/home/suramya/Downloads/t/MAA1.pdf", "rb") as pdf_file_handle:
        doc = PDF.loads(pdf_file_handle)

    # check whether we actually read a PDF
    assert doc is not None

    # find/replace
    doc = SimpleFindReplace.sub("Manual", "XXXX", doc)

    # store
    with open("/home/suramya/Downloads/t/MAABLR_out.pdf", "wb") as pdf_file_handle:
        PDF.dumps(pdf_file_handle, doc)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Am open to using other libraries as well (for perl or Python) but so far none of the ones I have tried have worked.

- Suramya

astrogeek · 01-14-2023, 10:01 PM

It appears there may be no borb users here. As the problem appears when using their own code with their own example, you may do better to submit your question directly to the authors via their github repo or website.

As for other options for modifying PDFs, there are many libraries and applications available for the purpose. I have not used any so have nothing to personally recommend, but your search engine of choice should produce a number of options.

JorisSchellekens · 01-27-2023, 06:43 PM

Hi there,

I'm Joris Schellekens, author of **borb**.

Just wanted to end this thread on a positive note. The author did reach out to me on GitHub, and opened an issue.

After some back and forth, the issue was ultimately resolved.

You can find said issue in the issues section of the borb GitHub repository.

ntubski · 01-27-2023, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JorisSchellekens

You can find said issue in the issues section of the borb GitHub repository.

Specifically this one I guess: https://github.com/jorisschellekens/borb/issues/149

astrogeek · 01-28-2023, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JorisSchellekens

Hi there,

I'm Joris Schellekens, author of **borb**.

Just wanted to end this thread on a positive note...

Welcome and thanks for taking the time to provide closure!

I hope you may stick around and find a comfortable place here at LQ!

suramya · 01-31-2023, 11:07 AM

Thanks Joris for taking the time to post here and the fantastically fast response to my questions.
I was traveling till now with limited access to internet so couldn't update the the thread with the resolution. I have marked the thread as solved.