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PDF has become the standard format for sharing and preserving documents across different platforms, playing a ubiquitous role in both professional and personal settings. However, creating high-quality PDF documents requires multiple checks and revisions. In this context, knowing how to efficiently compare PDF files and pinpoint their differences becomes crucial, which enables document editors to quickly identify discrepancies between different versions of a document, resulting in significant time savings during the document creation and review process. This article aims to demonstrate how to compare PDF documents effortlessly using Spire.PDF for .NET in C# programs.
Install Spire.PDF for .NET
To begin with, you need to add the DLL files included in the Spire.PDF for.NET package as references in your .NET project. The DLL files can be either downloaded from this link or installed via NuGet.
PM> Install-Package Spire.PDF
Compare Two PDF Documents in C#
With Spire.PDF for .NET, developers can create an instance of the PdfComparer class, passing two PdfDocument objects as parameters, and then utilize the PdfComparer.Compare(String fileName) method to compare the two documents. The resulting comparison is saved as a new PDF document, allowing for further analysis or review of the differences between the two PDFs.
The resulting PDF document displays the two original documents on the left and the right, with the deleted items in red and the added items in yellow.
The following are the detailed steps for comparing two PDF documents:
- Create two objects of PdfDocument class and load two PDF documents using PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
- Create an instance of PdfComparer class and pass the two PdfDocument objects as parameters.
- Compare the two documents and save the result as another PDF document using PdfComparer.Compare() method.
- C#
using Spire.Pdf;
using Spire.Pdf.Comparison;
namespace ExtractTablesToExcel
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//Create an object of PdfDocument class and load a PDF document
PdfDocument pdf1 = new PdfDocument();
pdf1.LoadFromFile("Sample1.pdf");
//Create another object of PdfDocument class and load another PDF document
PdfDocument pdf2 = new PdfDocument();
pdf2.LoadFromFile("Sample2.pdf");
//Create an object of PdfComparer class with the two document
PdfComparer comparer = new PdfComparer(pdf1, pdf2);
//Compare the two document and save the comparing result to another PDF document
comparer.Compare("output/ComparingResult.pdf");
pdf1.Close();
pdf2.Close();
}
}
}
Compare a Specific Page Range of Two PDF Documents
After creating an instance of PdfComparer class, developers can also use the PdfComparer.Options.SetPageRange() method to set the page range to be compared. This allows for comparing only the specified page range in two PDF documents. The detailed steps are as follows:
- Create two objects of PdfDocument class and load two PDF documents using PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
- Create an instance of PdfComparer class and pass the two PdfDocument objects as parameters.
- Set the page range to be compared using PdfComparer.Options.SetPageRange() method.
- Compare the specified page range in the two PDF documents and save the result as another PDF document using PdfComparer.Compare() method.
- C#
using Spire.Pdf;
using Spire.Pdf.Comparison;
namespace ExtractTablesToExcel
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//Create an object of PdfDocument class and load a PDF document
PdfDocument pdf1 = new PdfDocument();
pdf1.LoadFromFile("Sample1.pdf");
//Create another object of PdfDocument class and load another PDF document
PdfDocument pdf2 = new PdfDocument();
pdf2.LoadFromFile("Sample2.pdf");
//Create an object of PdfComparer class with the two document
PdfComparer comparer = new PdfComparer(pdf1, pdf2);
//Set the page range to be compared
comparer.Options.SetPageRanges(1, 1, 1, 1);
//Compare the specified page range and save the comparing result to another PDF document
comparer.Compare("output/PageRangeComparingResult.pdf");
pdf1.Close();
pdf2.Close();
}
}
}
Apply for a Temporary License
If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.
When editing or updating a large presentation, manually locating and modifying specific text elements can be a tedious and time-consuming process. By using the replace feature in PowerPoint, you can quickly and accurately make updates throughout the presentation, ensuring that the information remains accurate and consistent. In this article, we will demonstrate how to replace text in PowerPoint presentations in Python using Spire.Presentation for Python.
- Replace the First Occurrence of a Specific Text in PowerPoint in Python
- Replace All Occurrences of a Specific Text in PowerPoint in Python
- Replace Text Using a Regular Expression in PowerPoint in Python
Install Spire.Presentation for Python
This scenario requires Spire.Presentation for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.
pip install Spire.Presentation
If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.Presentation for Python on Windows
Replace the First Occurrence of a Specific Text in PowerPoint in Python
To replace the first occurrence of a specific text in a PowerPoint document, you can loop through all slides in the document, and then call the ISlide.ReplaceFirstText() method. The detailed steps are as follows.
- Create an object of the Presentation class.
- Load a PowerPoint document using Presentation.LoadFromFile() method.
- Loop through all slides in the PowerPoint document.
- Replace the first occurrence of a specific text with new text using ISlide.ReplaceFirstText() method.
- Save the result document using Presentation.SaveToFile() method.
- Python
from spire.presentation.common import *
from spire.presentation import *
# Create an object of the Presentation class
ppt = Presentation()
# Load a PowerPoint document
ppt.LoadFromFile("Sample.pptx")
# Loop through all slides in the document
for slide in ppt.Slides:
# Replace the first occurrence of "Spire.Presentation for Python" with "E-iceblue Product"
slide.ReplaceFirstText("Spire.Presentation for Python", "E-iceblue Product", False)
break
# Save the result document
ppt.SaveToFile("ReplaceFirstTextOccurrence.pptx", FileFormat.Pptx2013)
ppt.Dispose()
Replace All Occurrences of a Specific Text in PowerPoint in Python
To replace all occurrences of a specific text in a PowerPoint document, you can loop through all slides in the document, and then use the ISlide.ReplaceAllText() method. The detailed steps are as follows.
- Create an object of the Presentation class.
- Load a PowerPoint document using Presentation.LoadFromFile() method.
- Loop through all slides in the PowerPoint document.
- Replace all occurrences of a specific text with new text using ISlide.ReplaceAllText() method.
- Save the result document using Presentation.SaveToFile() method.
- Python
from spire.presentation.common import *
from spire.presentation import *
# Create an object of the Presentation class
ppt = Presentation()
# Load a PowerPoint document
ppt.LoadFromFile("Sample.pptx")
# Loop through all slides in the document
for slide in ppt.Slides:
# Replace all occurrences of "Spire.Presentation for Python" with "E-iceblue Product"
slide.ReplaceAllText("Spire.Presentation for Python", "E-iceblue Product", False)
# Save the result document
ppt.SaveToFile("ReplaceAllTextOccurrences.pptx", FileFormat.Pptx2013)
ppt.Dispose()
Replace Text Using a Regular Expression in PowerPoint in Python
Spire.Presentation for Python provides the IShape.ReplaceTextWithRegex() method to replace text matching a regular expression pattern. The detailed steps are as follows.
- Create an object of the Presentation class.
- Load a PowerPoint document using Presentation.LoadFromFile() method.
- Loop through all slides in the PowerPoint document.
- Loop through all shapes on each slide.
- Replace text matching a regular expression pattern using IShape.ReplaceTextWithRegex() method.
- Save the result document using Presentation.SaveToFile() method.
- Python
from spire.presentation.common import *
from spire.presentation import *
# Create an object of the Presentation class
ppt = Presentation()
# Load a PowerPoint document
ppt.LoadFromFile("Sample1.pptx")
# Loop through all slides in the document
for slide in ppt.Slides:
# Loop through all shapes on each slide
for shape in slide.Shapes:
# Replace text starting with # on the slide to "Monitor"
shape.ReplaceTextWithRegex(Regex("#\w+"), "Monitor")
# Save the result document
ppt.SaveToFile("ReplaceTextUsingRegex.pptx", FileFormat.Pptx2013)
ppt.Dispose()
Apply for a Temporary License
If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.
Creating a form in PDF not only ensures a professional appearance but also allows users to fill out and submit data electronically, streamlining data entry processes. Whether you are collecting survey responses, gathering client information, or creating employment applications, the ability to generate interactive PDF forms offers a seamless and organized way to capture, store, and manage valuable data. In this article, you will learn how to create a fillable PDF form as well as how to fill in a PDF form using Spire.PDF for Python.
Install Spire.PDF for Python
This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.
pip install Spire.PDF
If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows
Create a Fillable Form in PDF in Python
Spire.PDF for Python provides a range of helpful classes that enable programmers to generate and modify different types of form fields in PDF files. These include text boxes, check boxes, combo boxes, list boxes, and radio buttons. The table below lists some of the classes involved in this tutorial.
| Class | Description |
| PdfForm | Represents interactive form of the PDF document. |
| PdfField | Represents field of the PDF document's interactive form. |
| PdfTextBoxField | Represents text box field in the PDF form. |
| PdfCheckBoxField | Represents check box field in the PDF form. |
| PdfComboBoxField | Represents combo box field in the PDF Form. |
| PdfListBoxField | Represents list box field of the PDF form. |
| PdfListFieldItem | Represents an item of a list field. |
| PdfRadioButtonListField | Represents radio button field in the PDF form. |
| PdfRadioButtonListItem | Represents an item of a radio button list. |
| PdfButtonField | Represents button field in the PDF form. |
To generate a PDF form, start by creating an instance of the respective field class. Set the field's size and position in the document using the Bounds property, and finally, add it to the PDF using the PdfFormFieldCollection.Add() method. The following are the main steps to create various types of form fields in a PDF document using Spire.PDF for Python.
- Create a PdfDocument object.
- Add a page using PdfDocuemnt.Pages.Add() method.
- Create a PdfTextBoxField object, set the properties of the field including Bounds, Font and Text, and then add it to the document using PdfFormFieldCollection.Add() method.
- Repeat the step 3 to add check box, combo box, list box, radio button, and button to the document.
- Save the document to a PDF file using PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.
- Python
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Create a PdfDocument object
doc = PdfDocument()
# Add a page
page = doc.Pages.Add()
# Initialize x and y coordinates
baseX = 100.0
baseY = 30.0
# Create two brush objects
brush1 = PdfSolidBrush(PdfRGBColor(Color.get_Blue()))
brush2 = PdfSolidBrush(PdfRGBColor(Color.get_Black()))
# Create a font
font = PdfFont(PdfFontFamily.TimesRoman, 12.0, PdfFontStyle.Regular)
# Add a textbox
page.Canvas.DrawString("Name:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY))
tbxBounds = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 150.0, 15.0)
textBox = PdfTextBoxField(page, "name")
textBox.Bounds = tbxBounds
textBox.Font = font
doc.Form.Fields.Add(textBox)
baseY += 30.0
# add two checkboxes
page.Canvas.DrawString("Gender:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY));
checkboxBound1 = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 15.0, 15.0)
checkBoxField1 = PdfCheckBoxField(page, "male")
checkBoxField1.Bounds = checkboxBound1
checkBoxField1.Checked = False
page.Canvas.DrawString("Male", font, brush2, PointF(baseX + 20.0, baseY))
checkboxBound2 = RectangleF(baseX + 70.0, baseY, 15.0, 15.0)
checkBoxField2 = PdfCheckBoxField(page, "female")
checkBoxField2.Bounds = checkboxBound2
checkBoxField2.Checked = False
page.Canvas.DrawString("Female", font, brush2, PointF(baseX + 90.0, baseY))
doc.Form.Fields.Add(checkBoxField1)
doc.Form.Fields.Add(checkBoxField2)
baseY += 30.0
# Add a listbox
page.Canvas.DrawString("Country:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY))
listboxBound = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 150.0, 50.0)
listBoxField = PdfListBoxField(page, "country")
listBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("USA", "usa"))
listBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("Canada", "canada"))
listBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("Mexico", "mexico"))
listBoxField.Bounds = listboxBound
listBoxField.Font = font
doc.Form.Fields.Add(listBoxField)
baseY += 60.0
# Add two radio buttons
page.Canvas.DrawString("Hobbies:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY))
radioButtonListField = PdfRadioButtonListField(page, "hobbies")
radioItem1 = PdfRadioButtonListItem("travel")
radioBound1 = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 15.0, 15.0)
radioItem1.Bounds = radioBound1
page.Canvas.DrawString("Travel", font, brush2, PointF(baseX + 20.0, baseY))
radioItem2 = PdfRadioButtonListItem("movie")
radioBound2 = RectangleF(baseX + 70.0, baseY, 15.0, 15.0)
radioItem2.Bounds = radioBound2
page.Canvas.DrawString("Movie", font, brush2, PointF(baseX + 90.0, baseY))
radioButtonListField.Items.Add(radioItem1)
radioButtonListField.Items.Add(radioItem2)
doc.Form.Fields.Add(radioButtonListField)
baseY += 30.0
# Add a combobox
page.Canvas.DrawString("Degree:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY))
cmbBounds = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 150.0, 15.0)
comboBoxField = PdfComboBoxField(page, "degree")
comboBoxField.Bounds = cmbBounds
comboBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("Bachelor", "bachelor"))
comboBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("Master", "master"))
comboBoxField.Items.Add(PdfListFieldItem("Doctor", "doctor"))
comboBoxField.Font = font
doc.Form.Fields.Add(comboBoxField)
baseY += 30.0
# Add a button
page.Canvas.DrawString("Button:", font, brush1, PointF(10.0, baseY))
btnBounds = RectangleF(baseX, baseY, 50.0, 15.0)
buttonField = PdfButtonField(page, "button")
buttonField.Bounds = btnBounds
buttonField.Text = "Submit"
buttonField.Font = font
submitAction = PdfSubmitAction("https://www.e-iceblue.com/getformvalues.php")
buttonField.Actions.MouseDown = submitAction
doc.Form.Fields.Add(buttonField)
# Save to file
doc.SaveToFile("output/Form.pdf", FileFormat.PDF)
Fill in a PDF Form in Python
In order to fill in a form, the necessary steps include obtaining all form fields from the PDF document, locating a specific field based on its type and name, and subsequently entering or selecting a value from a predetermined list. The following are the detailed steps.
- Create a PdfDocument object.
- Load a sample PDF document using PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
- Get the form from the document through PdfDocument.Form property.
- Get the form widget collection through PdfFormWidget.FieldsWidget property.
- Get a specific form field by its type and name.
- Enter a value or select a value from the predefined list for the field.
- Save the document to a PDF file using PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.
- Python
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Create a PdfDocument object
doc = PdfDocument()
# Load a PDF document contaning form fields
doc.LoadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Form.pdf")
# Get form from the document
form = doc.Form
formWidget = PdfFormWidget(form)
# Get form widget collection
formWidgetCollection = formWidget.FieldsWidget
# If the collection is nut null
if formWidgetCollection.Count > 0:
# Loop through the elements in the form widget collection
for i in range(formWidgetCollection.Count):
# Get a specific field
field = formWidgetCollection.get_Item(i)
# Determine if a field is a textbox
if isinstance(field, PdfTextBoxFieldWidget):
textBoxField = field if isinstance(field, PdfTextBoxFieldWidget) else None
# Determine if the name of the text box is "name"
if textBoxField.Name == "name":
# Add text to the text box
textBoxField.Text = "Jackson Green"
# Choose an item from the list box
if isinstance(field, PdfListBoxWidgetFieldWidget):
listBoxField = field if isinstance(field, PdfListBoxWidgetFieldWidget) else None
if listBoxField.Name == "country":
index = [1]
listBoxField.SelectedIndex = index
# Choose an item from the combo box
if isinstance(field, PdfComboBoxWidgetFieldWidget):
comBoxField = field if isinstance(field, PdfComboBoxWidgetFieldWidget) else None
if comBoxField.Name == "degree":
items = [0]
comBoxField.SelectedIndex = items
# Select an item in the radio buttons
if isinstance(field, PdfRadioButtonListFieldWidget):
radioBtnField = field if isinstance(field, PdfRadioButtonListFieldWidget) else None
if radioBtnField.Name == "hobbies":
radioBtnField.SelectedIndex = 1
# Check the specified check box
if isinstance(field, PdfCheckBoxWidgetFieldWidget):
checkBoxField = field if isinstance(field, PdfCheckBoxWidgetFieldWidget) else None
if checkBoxField.Name == "male":
checkBoxField.Checked = True
# Save the document
doc.SaveToFile("output/FillForm.pdf")
doc.Close()
Apply for a Temporary License
If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.
