It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…
Converting PDFs to Word in just three clicks isn’t an exaggeration. Using Adobe Acrobat allows you to handle the conversion, but it’s not without its caveats.
If the PDF file you want to convert features either transparency effects or lots of detailed graphics then there’s a 50/50 chance the images won’t make it through the conversion unscathed.
Regular photos and text, however, should come through intact and without many of the reflow issues that users experienced in the past with PDF-to-Word plugins or other software conversion programs. The aftermath of using those programs would leave a mess of text and images. It was foul.
Converting PDFs to Word is easier today thanks to the built-in functionality found in the last couple versions of Adobe Acrobat (I have Creative Cloud and use Acrobat 11).
Ready for the breakdown? Here it goes:
- Go to File in the PDF you have open (1)
- Go down to Save As Other and over to Microsoft Word –> Word Document (2)
- Enter your save location and document name and click save (3).
I use this technique because I create things in InDesign and send PDF proofs to review. If a client has numerous text changes it’s easier for me to do this and have them make the text markups themselves rather than going back and forth unnecessarily.
You can’t beat that for simplicity’s sake! It’s a relief to finally have Adobe play nice with Microsoft when it comes to exporting and converting things from Word/Excel to a PDF format and vice versa.
Note: I mention in the video saving a PDF as an Adobe Illustrator file, but what I meant to say instead was to open a PDF in Illustrator because that trick has a 50% success rate as well. It really depends on the files you’re working with and what you’re trying to accomplish. Good luck!
