Conversion of PDF to Word?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Keith Hansen wondered: <<What is the best way to convert a PDF file  
into a Word file?>>

The best bet is to use the source file that was used to create the  
PDF. That eliminates one format conversion, and the more of these  
conversions you can eliminate, the fewer conversion artifacts you'll  
have to fix. Better still, if the creator software used styles  
properly, you can automate the cleanup of many problems simply by  
globally updating style names or replacing existing styles with your  
own styles. Of course, the original document isn't always available,  
in which case:

<<And I mean a good conversion--not just converting the PDF's text  
into Word, but getting the Word document to resemble the original PDF  
closely in every aspect: images, formatting, etc.>>

You're always going to lose information because that's the nature of  
the beast. Too much information is lost when you convert a document  
into PDF, particularly if the creator downsampled images and did  
other optimizations.

However, depending on what was used to create the PDF, it may be  
possible to get slightly better results. My recollection (check  
this!) is that InDesign does embed some style information and can  
reopen its own PDF files, and ditto for files created using the  
Acrobat toolbar in Word. (The latest version of Acrobat allows round- 
tripping of revision tracking into Word.)

No details on this -- just vague memories that might be wrong, but  
that would be worth pursuing if they're semi-accurate.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
(http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)

Print version: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1505747

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.