PDF to Word formatting problems, and how to fix them
If your converted Word file looks slightly off, you are not doing anything wrong. Here is why it happens and how to fix the most common problems.
Why PDF to Word conversion is never trivial
A PDF does not store paragraphs, tables or columns. It stores the position of every letter and line on a page. Converting to Word means working out where the paragraphs, tables and columns were, then rebuilding them. A good converter gets most of it right, but unusual layouts can trip it up.
Fonts look different
The PDF may use a font that is not installed on your computer, so Word swaps in another one. Install the original font if you have it, or select all with Ctrl+A and apply a font you like.
A table turned into loose text
Tables with no visible borders are the hardest to detect. After converting, select the text and use Insert, Table, Convert Text to Table. Tables with clear grid lines normally convert as real tables.
Columns are mixed up
Multi-column pages can be read in the wrong order. In Word, use Layout, Columns to set the number of columns, then cut and paste any section that landed in the wrong place.
Every line ends with a hard return
That happens when a converter keeps each line of the PDF as its own paragraph. Dilraf PDF joins wrapped lines into proper paragraphs. If you still see it, use Find and Replace and search for ^p carefully, or reflow the affected paragraphs by hand.
Images moved or overlap text
Right-click the image, choose Wrap Text, and pick In Line with Text or Square. Then drag it to where it belongs.
The page count changed
Word spaces text differently from the program that made the PDF. Small changes in margins, fonts and line spacing add up. Check Layout, Margins and the paragraph spacing if the page count matters to you.
A quick way to avoid most problems
- Convert the original digital PDF rather than a re-saved or scanned copy.
- Convert only the pages you need with the page range option.
- For scans, read our guide to editing a scanned PDF.