How to Convert Editable PDF Files to Word

You can convert editable PDF files to Word.

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are used extensively online to distribute material in a common format that allows users to easily open and view documents. Because PDF files are a conversion file created from printable material created with a separate program, not all users will have the source program.

This may pose a problem if a user needs to edit the content of the PDF. One way to change the content is to transfer the PDF content to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word. You can convert editable PDF files to Word, with the right PDF writing program, by following a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• PDF writing program
• Microsoft Word

Instructions

Use an Adobe Acrobat Program

1. Install one of the Adobe Acrobat programs, Standard, Pro or Pro Extended, to your computer. The Acrobat programs are among the most popular PDF writing programs, as well as the most expensive. Standard can cost as little as $99, while Pro Extended can reach nearly $700. Prior to purchasing one of the Acrobat applications, download the free trial of Pro (see "Resources" section for link). The following steps will work for all three Acrobat programs.

2. Open the editable PDF file that you want to convert to Word. Click the "Open" button to launch the "Open" dialogue box. Use the "Look in" drop down menu to find the folder in which the PDF file is saved. Highlight the file name and click the "Open" button.

3. Convert the PDF file to Word. Click once on the "File" menu and select "Export" to launch a list of PDF conversion options. Click once on the "Microsoft Word Document" option to launch the "Save As" dialogue box. Note that the "Save as type" field is listed as "Microsoft Word Document" and the file name is the same as that of the PDF. If you want to rename the file, highlight and type over the name in the "File name" field. Click once on the "Save" button to complete the process of converting the editable PDF file to Word.

Use Foxit Phantom

1. Install Foxit Phantom to your computer. Foxit Phantom is a commercial PDF writing program with many of the same features contained in Acrobat. However it is considerably less expensive at around $20. A download of Foxit Phentom is available from the Foxit site (see "Resources" section for link).

2. Open the editable PDF file that you want to convert to Word. Click the "Open" button to launch the "Open" dialogue box. Use the "Look in" drop-down menu to find the folder in which the PDF file is saved. Highlight the file name and click the "Open" button.

3. Save the editable PDF file as a text file. Click the "File" menu and select "Save As" to launch the "Save As" dialogue window. Use the "Save in" menu to select a folder in which to save the text file. Select the "Text" file option from the "Files of type" drop-down menu. Select a content range using the "Save whole document," "Save current page" and "Save page in range" options. Type a name for the text file into the "File name" field and click the "Save" button.

4. Launch Microsoft Word and open the text file. Click once on the Microsoft Office button and select the "Open" option. Use the address bar drop down menus to find the folder in which the text file is saved. Highlight the file name and click the "Open" button.

5. Save the text file as a Word document. Click once on the Microsoft Office button, once on "Save As" and select "Word Document." Use the address bar drop-down to select a folder in which to save the Word document. Type a name for the file in the "File name menu and click the "Save" button to complete the process of converting the editable PDF file to Word.

Use PDFill

1. Install PDFill to your computer. PDFill is a fee PDF writing program with many of the same features contained in Acrobat and Foxit. You may download PDFill for free from the PDFill site (see "Resources" section for link).

2. Open the editable PDF file that you want to convert to Word. Click the "File" menu and select "Open existing PDF project" to launch the "Open" dialogue box. Use the "Look in" drop-down menu to find the folder in which the PDF file is saved. Highlight the file name and click the "Open" button.

3. Save the editable PDF file as a text file. Click the "File" menu and select "Import/Export Forms Data" to launch a dialogue window. Click the "Export into a Text File" button to launch a "Save As" dialogue window. Use the "Save in" menu to select a folder in which to save the text file. Make certain the "Text" file option from the "Files of type" drop-down menu is selected. Type a name for the text file into the "File name" field and click the "Save" button.

4. Launch Microsoft Word and open the text file. Click once on the Microsoft Office button and select the "Open" option. Use the address bar drop-down menus to find the folder in which the text file is saved. Highlight the file name and click the "Open" button.

5. Save the text file as a Word document. Click once on the Microsoft Office button, once on "Save As" and select "Word Document." Use the address bar drop-down menu to select a folder in which to save the Word document. Type a name for the file in the "File name menu and click the "Save" button to complete the process of converting the editable PDF file to Word.

References

• Adobe Acrobat Help Page
• Foxit Phantom Help
• PDFill Help Page
• Microsoft Help Page
• Microsoft Help Page

Resources

• Adobe Acrobat Pro Free Trial
• Foxit Download
• PDFill Download