Converting a PDF to Word is easy. Getting a result that looks like the original takes a little preparation. These tips help you keep fonts, tables and images in place.
Start with a text-based PDF
Open the PDF and try to select a sentence with your mouse. If you can highlight the text, the file contains real text and will convert well. If the whole page is selected as one picture, it is a scan. Scans need OCR (optical character recognition) before they can become editable text.
Use the right tool for the job
Use a dedicated converter such as our PDF to Word tool instead of copying and pasting from a PDF viewer. Copying loses tables, columns and images, while a converter rebuilds them as Word content.
Check the result
- Fonts: If a font is missing on your computer, Word replaces it. Install the font or accept the substitute.
- Tables: Look for merged cells and borders that moved. Fix them with Word's table tools.
- Images: Check that pictures are in the right place and text wraps correctly.
- Page breaks: Long documents may break pages in slightly different places.
Fix common problems
If a layout looks wrong, try the Layout view in Word and turn on formatting marks to see spaces and section breaks. Remove unwanted line breaks, and reapply styles to headings so the document structure is clean.
Keep a copy of the original
Always keep the original PDF. When the result matters, such as a contract or an invoice, compare the Word file with the PDF page by page before you send it.