Can't Edit PDF File Converted Into DOC. [Solved]

[Margarita Skies]

Hi.


I'm sorry, you guys, I know this is really annoying. I start a thread about once every week or so, :ROFL: but I make sure to come here for help when I've exhausted all other resources and I don't know what else to do. This morning I received a PDF file and to edit it and make some changes I converted it to DOC format using Zamzar. The problem is that I can't edit it. I can't even copy it and paste it into a new document. I can't change the file type. I can't change words. Nothing. This is the first time this has ever happened. My question is what the heck do I do with my file now that it seems unusable?


As always, thank you for your help.
Love always (Don't mean to be trite but that's how I feel)
Magali.

[dpaterso]

I don't know what Zamzar is but have you exhausted the usual obvious options, like select all text in the PDF then copy/paste into the doc? If pasting directly into the doc file messes up the text, then try copying into Notepad or similar dumb text editor instead, and then from there into the doc.

-Derek

[ComicBent]

First, these conversions never work perfectly.

But your situation is much worse than that. It did not work at all. What puzzles me, though, is that you say you converted it to a .doc file and it will not do anything. Even if the PDF was locked to prevent editing, I do not think you could have done the conversion and still have had a locked file in the .doc version.

I am wondering if this was a graphic PDF and not a text-based PDF. With a graphic PDF, it is not possible to copy the text (because the file is not text-based).

You can find out by checking FILE | Document Properties ... Fonts.

If you have no fonts listed, you are dealing with a graphic PDF. Also, a graphic PDF is typically a huge file in comparison to a regular PDF.

I have had to convert these graphic PDF files before, and they are time-consuming, because you have to use a program that does optical character recognition; and, again, it never works perfectly.

Graphic PDF files are rare, but you see them from time to time. Version 7 of Final Draft, in its initial release, used a graphics-based PDF file if you converted to PDF, and these files were a nightmare. The company changed its conversion type to a text-based PDF pretty quickly.

Please let us know.

[Cathy C]

I've had great luck with a product from Nuance called PDF Converter. (http://shop.nuance.com/store/nuanceus/Content/pbPage.Nuance-PDF8?utm_medium=ps&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=Imaging&utm_term=pdf_convert&resid=Tm5vagoBAlkAAC1NZ4MAAAAn&rests=1315860331223) It does have OCR in it and can be downloaded from their site so you don't have to find it at a store. (But you can find older versions VERY cheap at eBay. I got mine for $15.)

That's my best suggestion and it works really well. :)

[Tirjasdyn]

I am wondering if this was a graphic PDF and not a text-based PDF. With a graphic PDF, it is not possible to copy the text (because the file is not text-based).

This. If you can't copy and paste the text from a pdf, more than likely it is a graphic scan of a page not a text or doc file converted to pdf.

You can retype it or ask the originator to send you a decent file.

[Margarita Skies]

Thank you. I've received excellent advice and tips, and although this time the matter was not resolved to my satisfaction, I am going to mark this question as solved because there's nothing else that can be done with this useless file. I am going to just delete the botched DOC file because I've got the original PDF anyway. You guys are lifesavers. I didn't know anything about graphic PDF's until today. :) And you've diagnosed the problem spot-on because the damn damaged file is taking up over 32 MB of my hard-drive space right now. Not necessary at all if nothing can be done with that file.


Love
Magali.

[ComicBent]

A 32M file!

For a regular text-based PDF (like a screenplay or a novel) that would be enough for at least an 8,000-page document.

By the way, someone mentioned above that you can use the Nuance program that includes OCR (optical character recognition). That is what I use when I absolutely have to convert a scanned document.