PDFs are considered the gold standard for document exchange in today’s digital workspace. They are safe, have the identical appearance across all devices, and are frequently the last stage of the document creation process. However, what occurs if you need to make changes to a PDF? Perhaps repurpose its contents in PowerPoint, Word, or Excel? Tools for converting PDFs can help with that. Converting PDFs to editable formats, or converting your documents back to PDF, can save a ton of time and effort whether creating presentations, extracting data, or altering text. Let’s go over what you can utilize and how it all operates.
Why Convert PDFs?
PDFs are ideal for viewing, but not so great for editing. That’s why converting them into editable formats like:
- Word (.docx) for text editing
- Excel (.xlsx) for data and tables
- PowerPoint (.pptx) for presentations
…is so useful. And sometimes, you’ll want to go the other way—turn your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files into PDFs for easy sharing or printing.
How to Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
There are tons of tools—both online and offline—that can help you do this. Here’s how the process usually works:
1. PDF to Word
Need to make changes to a report or form? Convert your PDF into a Word document:
- Tools: Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, ILovePDF, Microsoft Word (yes, it can open PDFs now!)
- Bonus: Most converters preserve fonts and formatting surprisingly well.
2. PDF to Excel
Perfect for when you need to extract tables or do calculations:
- Tools: Adobe Acrobat Pro, PDFtoExcel.com, Nitro PDF
- Tip: Choose tools that offer OCR (optical character recognition) if the PDF contains scanned images.
3. PDF to PowerPoint
Creating a presentation from a PDF guide? This is your go-to:
- Tools: Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, Zamzar
- Caveat: Complex layouts might need tweaking after conversion.
Converting To PDF
Sometimes, you’re working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint and want to create a polished, shareable PDF. Most apps now let you do this natively:
- Word/Excel/PowerPoint: Just go to File > Save As or Export > Create PDF/XPS Document
- Or, hit Print > Save as PDF on most systems
This is perfect for:
- Sharing resumes or reports
- Preserving formatting
- Creating printable versions of digital documents
Best Tools for the Job
Here’s a quick list of reliable tools that can help you with PDF conversion:
| Tool | Formats Supported | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | All major formats | Paid |
| Smallpdf | Word, Excel, PPT | Free & Paid |
| ILovePDF | Word, Excel, PPT | Free & Paid |
| Microsoft Word | PDF to Word | Free (if you have Word) |
| Zamzar | Multiple formats | Free & Paid |
| PDFtoExcel.com | Excel only | Free |
Pro Tips
- Batch Convert: If you have multiple PDFs, look for tools with batch conversion.
- OCR is Key: For scanned PDFs, make sure your tool supports OCR.
- Watch Your Formatting: After conversion, always double-check layouts and fonts.