Top 5 Tips for Successful PDF Conversions

When using Solid Converter PDF to Word to convert a PDF file into a Word DOC, you may have questions about the converted result.

For example, why does my document convert to an image instead of text? Why doesn’t it look exactly like the original? Here are five ways to improve your PDF savvy and enjoy success with your PDF conversions.

1. Understand Font Matching
   Sometimes when you receive a PDF from another source the fonts in the conversion output could look different from the original. This is often because your computer does not have the same fonts that were used when creating the original. If that happens, Solid Converter PDF will look for the closest matching font and substitute it for the original. If you need to use the exact same font, you can either (a) obtain the font and load it on your computer, or (b) use Solid Converter PDF on a computer that has those fonts loaded and perform your conversion on that computer.
   
   (Another suggestion to improve font conversion: if you have not done so already, get a copy of Solid Converter PDF v3, which features new and improved character formatting, font handling, and font matching capabilities!)



2. Select the Right Conversion Option
   When converting a document to Word you have four choices of Reconstruction Mode: Flowing, Continuous, Plain Text, or Exact. If you need to retain the key elements of a document but plan to do substantial editing, generally Flowing is the best mode to choose. If you need the PDF output to look as close to the original as possible, generally Exact is the preferred mode. Continuous and Plain Text modes remove even more formatting for those instances where you do not want to retain the formatting elements of the original PDF.



3. Detect Tables
   In the new version 3 of Solid Converter PDF (Standard or Professional) you can select the Detect Tables option. This will enable the program to locate tables within your PDF and convert them as Word table objects. The table objects can be edited and changed using Word’s table features. You can then easily change rows and columns, update data, add colors and shading, and so forth.



4. Not All PDF Files are Created Equal
   There is a definite difference between PDF files. Some are created by Solid Converter® PDF, Adobe® Acrobat®, or other PDF creation programs. These files contain information that allows us to convert to a clean, editable Word document. Others are created through optical scanning. This saves each page as an image, so when the PDF is converted to Word the output consists of one or more images. These images cannot be converted to text with PDF conversion technology.
   
   Granted, you don’t always have a choice as to which type of PDF you start with. If you must create a document out of a scanned PDF, you need to obtain an OCR (optical character recognition) program, available through other vendors. Keep in mind, however, that OCR is an imperfect technology so your output may require a lot of work afterward!



5. Get the Correct Password
   Solid Converter PDF supports Adobe’s PDF password protection standards. We will not “crack the code” on confidential documents that have been password protected. Solid Converter PDF will prompt for a password before converting protected PDF files.
   
   If you receive a PDF that requires a password to open or edit, you will need to contact the creator of the document or other person who knows the specific password(s) and get the password before attempting a conversion.