How to Remove Text from XLS Files using Regular Expressions and Java

GroupDocs.Redactions Java API allows to redact, hide or remove sensitive text from word processing documents, worksheets, presentations, PDFs & images using regular expressions.


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What is Text Sanitization?

Text Redaction or Sanitization is the process of removing the confidential or unwanted text or information from digital documents while leaving intact the rest of the document or paragraph containing it. Redaction helps users as well as organization to protect their sensitive information by hiding or permanently removing them. Using GroupDocs.Redaction Java API users can now redact, hide or remove sensitive text from word processing documents, worksheets, presentations, PDF and raster image files. The API provides a wide range of options and methods for the redaction of private information in the documents. It supports search and redact using regular expressions, usage of textual (exemption codes) or graphical (colored rectangles) redactions and many more. So why not give it a try and automate your document redaction process by downloading the API and explore its basic and advanced features.

Redact XLS using Regular Expressions in Java

GroupDocs.Redaction allows to easily redact data of sensitive or private nature from your documents. The most popular redaction case is to remove a text from a document.

The following code can be used to apply textual redaction to a particular part of a document using regular expression. It allows users to replace all numbers, matching pattern “AA BB CCCCCC” with a Blue color rectangle,

Remove Sensitive Data from XLS

  • Create an instance of Redactor class & upload XLS file
  • Create an instance of RegexRedaction class
  • Call redactor.apply method with object of RegexRedaction class
  • Call redactor.save method to save the changes


// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/groupdocs-search/GroupDocs.Redaction-for-Java
//Load document
Document doc = Redactor.load(Utilities.mapSourceFilePath(FilePath));
// Perform regular expression redaction
doc.redactWith(new RegexRedaction("\\d{2}\\s*\\d{2}[^\\d]*\\d{6}", new ReplacementOptions(java.awt.Color.BLUE)));
// Save the document in original format and overwriting original file
SaveOptions so = new SaveOptions();
so.setAddSuffix(false);
so.setRasterizeToPDF(false);
doc.save(so);
doc.close();

System Requirements

GroupDocs.Redaction for Java APIs are supported on all major platforms and operating systems. For complete system requirements guide, please visit system requirements Before executing the code below, please make sure that you have the following prerequisites installled on your system:

  • Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS
  • Development Environment: NetBeans, Intellij IDEA, Eclipse etc
  • Java Runtime Environment: J2SE 6.0 and above
  • Get the latest version of GroupDocs.Redaction for Java from Maven

Why Use GroupDocs.Redaction

  • Allow users to add custom document formats and types of redactions
  • No additional software is required to remove sensitive information
  • Ability to set page range rendering document as PDF
  • Easy way to redact different types of metadata: author name, version, title, subject, description and many more
  • Document information extraction - file type, page count etc.


What is XLS File Format?

Files with XLS extension represent Excel Binary File Format. Such files can be created by Microsoft Excel as well as other similar spreadsheet programs such as OpenOffice Calc or Apple Numbers. File saved by Excel is known as Workbook where each workbook can have one or more worksheets. Data is stored and displayed to users in table format in worksheet and can span numeric values, text data, formulas, external data connections, images, and charts. Applications like Microsoft Excel lets you export workbook data to several different formats including PDF, CSV, XLSX, TXT, HTML, XPS, and several others. The XLS file format was replaced with a more open and structured format, XLSX, with the release of Microsoft Excel 2007. The latest versions still provide support for creating and reading XLS files, though XLSX is the first choice of use now.

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Popular Redaction Options

Redact CSV Files

(Comma Seperated Values)

Redact DOC Files

(Microsoft Word Binary Format)

Redact DOCM Files

(Microsoft Word 2007 Marco File)

Redact DOCX Files

(Office 2007+ Word Document)

Redact DOT Files

(Microsoft Word Template Files)

Redact DOTM Files

(Microsoft Word 2007+ Template File)

Redact DOTX Files

(Microsoft Word Template File )

Redact PDF Files

(Portable Document Format)

Redact POT Files

(Microsoft PowerPoint Template Files)

Redact POTM Files

(Microsoft PowerPoint Template File)

Redact PPS Files

(PowerPoint Slide Show)

Redact PPSM Files

(Macro-enabled Slide Show)

Redact PPSX Files

(PowerPoint Slide Show)

Redact PPT Files

(Microsoft PowerPoint 97-2003)

Redact PPTM Files

(Macro-enabled Presentation File)

Redact PPTX Files

(Open XML presentation Format)

Redact RTF Files

(Rich Text Format)

Redact XLSM Files

(Macro-enabled Spreadsheet)

Redact XLSX Files

(Open XML Workbook)

Redact XLT Files

(Excel 97 - 2003 Template)

Redact XLTM Files

(Excel Macro-Enabled Template)

Redact XLTX Files

(Excel Template)

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