Are you having a hard time editing your PDF files? While PDFs can be edited, it is far easier to edit your text-based documents in another file style like Microsoft Word.
Transferring your PDFs to Word is a simple process that requires the use of a PDF to Docx converter. This will smoothly change the file type of your document so it can easily be opened in Word without losing any formatting.
While PDF to Word conversion is an effective way to edit your documents, there are a few things you must keep in mind to ensure your files remain high quality. To help with this, we have the best tips for converting PDF files to Word documents below.
PDF Converters
The best solution for turning your PDFs into Word documents is to use a PDF converter.
This is a service that effectively turns your PDFs into whatever file format you need. This can be used for images like JPEGs and PNGs, but it is also commonly used for text documents in Word.
The best part about using a PDF conversion service is that the entire process is automated and simplified for you. It is as easy as inserting your PDF file, selecting the output file format, and downloading the new file.
The one drawback of PDF conversion is that it is a paid service, but it is well worth the expense when you consider the convenience and time saved.
Google Docs
Should you want a free alternative to a PDF converter, you can use Google Docs.
Directly within Google Drive, you can upload PDF files for easy viewing. They can also be downloaded for editing, but the formatting is lost during conversion.
This means that Google Docs are only useful if you are working with text-only documents. That said, it is free and you have full access to viewing the PDF file in its original form.
If you want to convert your PDFs to Google Docs without losing formatting, you’d need to convert to a Word document first and then import that file. This further shows why a PDF converter is a more effective solution.
Verify Versions
When you have a PDF converter at your disposal, you’ll need to ensure that you’re converting to the correct version of Word.
Microsoft Word has been around for years and there are many different versions of it. Most businesses are using one of the more modern versions based on year (2021, 2019, 2016).
At the same time, Microsoft Office can be expensive and the other businesses you interact with might be using outdated versions of Word. In this scenario, sending a Docx file may not be appropriate if they can only view Doc files.
Keep this in mind and ask what version of Word your recipient is using to minimize any issues with viewing.
Ensure Formatting
It is also important to check formatting after converting PDF files to Word documents.
While PDF converters are meant to retain formatting elements, some components get lost in translation. Errors can also occur and this can make a document unreadable if not corrected before being sent off.
Any time you do a conversion, save the document and open it on another device to see if it is still formatted properly. If there are inconsistencies, they must be addressed so that your recipients are not confused.
Image Editing
Lastly, you should consider how you’ll approach image editing when converting a PDF file to a Word document.
When you convert a PDF file, the quality of attached images may be negatively impacted. This can result in grainy or blurry photos that don’t match what you uploaded.
To remedy this, you should plan to edit your images after conversion so that quality improvements are not lost during the conversion. You can also opt to convert your images into JPEGs or PNGs for better quality.
Images are a crucial part of many documents and bad photos will leave a poor impression. Edit photos after conversion for the best results and a strong impression.
Closing Thoughts
If you need to edit PDF files with a lot of text, you should convert them to Word documents. PDF files are extremely beneficial for accessibility, convenience, and storage, but they keep the formatting of your original document and are not ideal for editing.
With this in mind, there are a few considerations for converting PDFs to Word. This includes verifying the Word version of whoever is receiving your file, ensuring formatting stays the same after conversion, and editing images after conversion. You should use a PDF conversion service or Google Docs for a less effective, but free alternative.
Few things are more annoying than when you or a colleague can’t access or edit a document. PDF conversion simplifies this process and enables you to provide files in any format they might be needed in.
