Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions and answers for Redax.
Installation/Uninstall Questions
Redax Box Questions
Exemption Codes/Palettes Questions
Redaction Questions
Other Redax Questions
I installed Redax and the word "demo" appears on the page and in the redacted areas, why?
When Redax is installed it will run in "Demo" mode until it has been registered. If you have been using Redax with a trial serial number, when it expires you will also see "demo" appear on your documents.
To register go to the Redax menu > Enter Redax Serial Number. . . The Redax Registration screen will open for you to enter the serial number.
You must have Administrator privileges to register Redax
Updated: 2008
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I am trying to install Redax and I am getting the error message that Acrobat cannot be found on my computer. Why do I get this message?
Verify that you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional installed on your computer, not just the Adobe Reader.
Updated: 2007
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How can I manually uninstall Redax?
To manually remove Redax, browse to your Program Files directory > Adobe > Acrobat > x.0 > Acrobat > plug_ins:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat\X.0\Acrobat\plug_ins
Delete the Redax32.api file.
Redax 4.0 and later only place the Redax32.api file in this directory. Redax version 3.8 or earlier with Acrobat 5 and 6, also place the Redax.pdf and redaxplugin.arn files here. Delete them if they exist.
If you have modified palettes or preferences and want to save them, you should copy the Redax.pdf and palettes.txt file from the plug_ins directory to another location so you can import the exemption codes and preferences into a new install of Redax 4.6.
Redax 4.6 with Acrobat 7, 8 and 9 uses the Redax.pdf file to store preferences and palettes. If you have modified preferences or palettes and want to keep them, also save this file to another location so you can restore your preferences and palettes. The current version of Redax 4.6 places the Redax.pdf in one of two places:
C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Application Data\Adobe\Acrobat\X.0\Preferences
OR
C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Application Data\Appligent\Preferences
Redax 4.6 looks for the Acrobat\X.0\Preferences directory first. If the directory does not exist we create the Appligent\Preferences directory and place Redax.pdf there. Place the saved Redax.pdf into the same directory to restore the preferences and palettes.
Updated: 2008
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How do I find the printed documentation??
The documentation is located in the Appligent folder in the Program Files Folder:
- In Redax 4.6 the documentation can be accessed from the Redax menu.
Choose Redax > View User Guide.
- The PDF file is located in the Program Files directory at
C:\Program Files\Appligent\Redax #.#\Documentation\RedaxUserGuide.pdf
Updated: 2008
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I installed Redax, but do not see the Redax menu when I open Acrobat.
If Redax does not appear, most likely Acrobat is set to “Certified Mode". The "Certified Mode" option began with Acrobat 6 and is also an option of Acrobat 7, 8, and 9. Certified Mode is intended to restrict any third party plug-in from running under Acrobat. Certified Mode is usually checked when you install Acrobat.
Take the following steps to turn off Certified Mode.
- Acrobat 6 – Go to the Edit Menu > Preferences > Startup – check if the "Use only certified plug-ins" is checked under "Application Startup." If this box is checked, uncheck it, hit OK twice, close and reopen Acrobat.
- Acrobat 7 – Go to the Edit Menu > Preferences > General. Choose StartUp in the left column - check to see if you have "Use only certified plug-ins" checked under "Application Startup". If this box is checked, uncheck it, hit OK twice, close and reopen Acrobat.
- Acrobat 8 — Go to the Edit Menu > Preferences. Choose General in the left column - check to see if you have "Use only certified plug-ins" checked under "Application Startup". If this box is checked, uncheck it, hit OK twice, close and reopen Acrobat.
- Acrobat 9 — Certified Mode behaves differently than previous versions of Acrobat. Certified Mode is always set to YES until a third party plug-in is installed, even though the box is unchecked. Make sure that the Certified Mode checkbox is not checked. Once Redax is installed, Certified Mode should switch to NO.
If you continue to have problems with Redax Plug-in, then you should take one of the following steps:
Choose Help > Detect and Repair, or Repair Acrobat Installation, depending upon which version of Acrobat you are using. The Redax menu should appear when you reopen Acrobat.
If that step does not work, then you need to uninstall and reinstall Acrobat. Follow the steps to turn Certified Mode off and then reinstall the Redax.
Updated: 2008
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Acrobat Certified Mode issues
The "Certified Mode" option began with Acrobat 6 and is also part of Acrobat 7, 8,and 9. Certified Mode is available only for Adobe plug-ins to Acrobat. Third party plug-ins will not appear on the Acrobat menu when Certified Mode is set to Yes. Certified Mode is usually set to to Yes when you install Acrobat. You must turn off Certified Mode for the Redax menu to appear in Acrobat versions 6, 7 and 8. Correct this by taking the steps described in the answer to I installed Redax, but do not see the Redax menu when I open Acrobat. Why is this?
If you are using Acrobat 9, Certified Mode is unchecked, but is really set to Yes until a third party plug-in is installed, so you just need to install Redax.
At times the steps above may not correct the problem even though the certified plug-ins box is not checked. Then you should take one of the following steps:
- Choose Help > Detect and Repair, or Repair Acrobat Installation, depending upon which version of Acrobat you are using.
- If that step does not work, then you need to uninstall and reinstall Acrobat. Follow the steps to turn Certified Mode off and then install the Redax.
Updated: 2008
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I have drawn the Redax boxes and chose Redact document, but the newly created file has not redacted anything. What would cause this?
The Preference "Allow Redaction Without Exemption" is not checked. Check this by choosing Redax Menu > Redax Preferences, then choose the Options Tab and check the box there.
Updated: 2007
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I am trying to draw my Redax boxes, but they are not appearing on the page, why?
Verify that you do not have the Redax box color set to white. Check this by choosing Redax Menu > Redax Preferences, then choose the Redax Box Tab and look for the box color there.
Updated: 2007
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Is there a way to change the settings for all my Redax boxes once they are already drawn?
Redax 3.8 and higher have the ability to change preferences for Redax box settings.
To make these changes, choose the menu option: Redax > Redax Preferences … The Preferences dialog window will open. Make your desired changes for Redax boxes and then choose "Apply to Current Document." A new dialog box will appear, you have the option to save your changes, make adjustments or cancel. If you are changing exemption codes, be sure to check the box next to "Exemption," which is unchecked by default.
Updated: 2007
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Why don't my Redax boxes print?
You need to make sure that your printing preferences are set to allow printing Comments/Markups.
- Acrobat 5 – File > Print > Under the "Print Range" section, check "Comments"
- Acrobat 6 – File > Print > Under the "Print What" section, select "Document and Comments
- Acrobat 7, 8 and 9 – File > Print > Under the "Comment and Forms" section, select "Document and Markups"
Updated: 2008
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The Redax palettes have disappeared in Acrobat.
If you move the palettes off the page, they will not reappear correctly.
- If you are using Redax 3.8 or earlier, you need to delete the palettes.bin (NOT palettes.txt) file from the plug-is directory. The location is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat X.0\Acrobat\plug_ins.
- Redax 4.6 has a new menu item: Redax > Show/Hide > Center All Palettes. This will bring all your palettes back to the center of your screen.
- If you are using Redax 4.0 contact support@appligent.com. If you would like to upgrade to Redax 4.6 please contact Appligent Sales.
Updated: 2008
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Can I set a default exemption code for all boxes?
With Redax 4.0 and higher, you can set an exemption code in the "Exemption" area under Redax preferences so that this code is applied to every box drawn within the document.
Updated: 2007
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Can I create my own Palettes?
Redax 4.0 and higher has a Palette Editor which makes it easier to create your own exemption codes.
Updated: 2007
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How do I make exemption codes appear on the screen but not on the printed document?
This can be accomplished by generating -two- redacted PDFs from the same original, as follows:
First, check "Allow Redaction Without Exemption" under Preferences and then apply the Redax boxes in the desired locations. This will generate a new, redacted PDF, sans exemption codes, meeting the printing needs.
Second, return to the original PDF, still containing the Redax boxes not yet containing exemption codes. Now apply the desired exemption codes to the existing Redax boxes. After selecting Redact Document, a second redacted PDF is generated, this one meeting the screen needs.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To easily distinguish between the two versions, each redacted document can be saved with a different name.
Updated: 2007
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How can I get redacted image and text areas to appear the same?
With Redax 4.0 and higher, you have more flexibility with the way redacted areas appear. All areas can be set to "fill" in any color you choose. You also have more control over the location of exemption codes within the redacted area.
Updated: 2007
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Can I redact annotations with Redax?
Redax 3.5 and higher have the ability to redact areas that are marked up using Acrobat's highlight, strikeout and underline tool. All other annotations can not be redacted using Redax. Redax offers a Remove All Annotations menu option. It Deletes All Annotations from a PDF document, all Redax boxes,exemption codes and any other annotations, such as Acrobat notes or those added by other plug-ins. Redax 4.6 can redact Acrobat 8 redaction markup.
Updated: 2007
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Why does my original file appear to be redacted?
At times under Acrobat 6, it appears that the original file has been redacted. This is a window update bug. You need to refresh the window (go from one page and come back) in order for original file to appear correct.
Updated: 2007
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Does Redax support the redaction of vector graphics?
Yes. Redax 4.0 and higher supports Vector Graphics.
Updated: 2007
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Can I search for phrases within a scanned document?
Because text in a scanned document is stored as a bitmapped image within the PDF document, searching for phrases within scanned documents will not work unless the scanned document has been processed with OCR (optical character recognition) software. OCR 'ed scanned images have readable text behind the image that can be searched. The successful results of a search will depend upon the quality of the OCR software used.
Updated: 2007
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Why does more text than I want get removed?
In some instances Redax has been known to remove more text than what has been selected. Save a copy of your marked-up PDF, then reduce the size of any Redax box that touches other text areas and try redacting the document again.
Updated: 2007
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Can Redax remove form fields?
No. You cannot remove form fields or the information stored within form fields with Redax. The latest version of Redax 4.6 will give you a warning message that the document has live form fields and cannot be redacted.
It is best to remove form fields prior to working with the PDF document. You can use the Acrobat Distiller to create a new PDF document that does not have form fields.
Updated: 2007
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The vertical toolbar on the left of the Acrobat screen is disappearing, what can be causing this?
An Adobe plug-in called Template, which appears as 'TEMPLATE.API' in the plug-ins folder, causes the vertical toolbar on the left of the Acrobat screen to disappear when the Show Redax Buttons options is unselected then re-selected. This is a Windows version specific problem. Note:This plug-in is not included with Acrobat 4.0 and is therefore not a problem unless you have downloaded it from the Adobe web site.
Updated: 2007
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How does the Acrobat 8 Document Interface affect Redax?
The document interface on Windows was changed in Acrobat 8 to a single document interface (SDI) which displays each document in a single top-level floating window.
Redax will only function in the multiple document interface (MDI) which can be re-enabled via the preferences panel. Change the preferences by:
1. Start Acrobat.
2. Choose Edit -> Preferences
3. Choose "Documents" from the column on the left side of the dialog window.
4. At the top of the Open Settings, uncheck "Show each document in its own window
(requires restart)."
5. Close and restart Acrobat.
Updated: 2007
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