Python search and replace in binary file

Question

I am trying to search and replace some of the text (eg \'Smith, John\') in this pdf form file (header.fdf, I presumed this is treated as binary file):

\'%FDF-1.2         


        

Answer 1

f=open("header.fdf","rb")
s=str(f.read())
f.close()
s=s.replace(b'PatientName',name)

or

f=open("header.fdf","rb")
s=f.read()
f.close()
s=s.replace(b'PatientName',bytes(name))

probably the latter, as I don't think you are going to be able to use unicode names with this type of substitution anyway