ADOBE Express does not always convert an Excel file to PDF correctly.

Hi ​@JHK191 - thanks for sticking with this, and for the side-by-side files; they make the difference clear. After this much back-and-forth, let me give you the straight version, because I think it'll save you more wasted time.

Express and Acrobat convert to PDF using two different engines.

1. Acrobat's Excel→PDF (the one you've relied on for years) reads Excel's page setup (orientation, print area, scaling, sheet selection) and honors it.
2. Express's PDF conversion is built for quick, simple conversions and doesn't expose those controls: no way to pick a single sheet, and no "fit to page" scaling. So the same file genuinely comes out differently, and that's the source of what you're seeing.

That also answers your "why does one page become two" question: with no scaling control, if a sheet's content is even slightly wider than the default page, Express pushes the overflow onto a second page. In Excel/Acrobat you'd prevent that with Page Layout → Scale to Fit → Width: 1 page, or by setting a Print Area - Express has no equivalent, so it splits.

Here's the practical part: you've said Acrobat Pro already converts these files correctly, and it might just be that Acrobat is the right tool for your needs. 

That doesn't excuse the friction, and I don't want the Express side to feel like a dead end - I'm flagging the specific gaps you've hit (no single-sheet selection, orientation and scaling not carried over) to the team as feedback on the conversion tool.

If you'd like "convert only selected sheets" formally on record so it's tracked, you can add it here: https://adobeexpress.uservoice.com/forums/951181-adobe-express

But to get your file out today, I'd reach for Acrobat.

Rose

Please fix ADOBE Express or, especially now that I am paying $9.99/month for something that does not work.

Hi ​@JHK191, thanks for the extra detail and for attaching the file walking through what's happening — a landscape Excel file converting to a portrait PDF with the wrong page width, and page count jumping from 6 to 10, is definitely not expected behavior.

I can see you've already tried the suggested fixes without luck, so I don't want to repeat those. To help our team dig into this further, could you share a few more things:

• A short screen recording of the conversion happening, from uploading the Excel file through to the incorrect PDF output
• A HAR file captured while reproducing the issue. Here's a guide on how to generate one: https://helpx.adobe.com/enterprise/kb/generate-har-file.html
• The Express project itself, shared so anyone with the link can edit - you can send via DM. Please duplicate the project first and share the link to the duplicate, so your original stays untouched. To set sharing to anyone with the link can edit: open the project, click Share in the top right, then under General access change it from Restricted to Anyone with the link, and set the permission to Can edit.

I don't have a fix or timeline yet, but I'll follow up here once I have more information.

Rose

use the expess forum for questions and use https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html for bug reports.

Thank you for the feedback.  I tried all of the suggestions. Confirmed orientation in Excel.  In ADOBE Express, there aren’t many options available.  In Express, I was asked to open the file to be converted. Once that was done the software continued and made the conversion.

Thanks for trying. The conversion program has bug.  I am looking for alternative software.

​Hi @JHK191 

Hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We are sorry for the trouble you are experiencing.

The most common cause is that Excel's page layout settings and Acrobat's conversion settings aren't in sync after the upgrade. Here's what to check, step by step:

Step 1: Confirm the orientation is set in Excel first

Before converting, make sure Excel itself knows the sheet is landscape:

1. In Excel, go to Page Layout tab > Orientation > select Landscape

2. Do this for every sheet you want converted (each sheet has its own setting)

3. Save the file

Step 2: Convert using the Acrobat ribbon in Excel (not "Print to PDF")

If you're using File > Print > Save as PDF or Microsoft's built-in PDF export, that bypasses Acrobat entirely and often ignores orientation. Instead:

1. In Excel, look for the Acrobat tab in the ribbon

2. Click Create PDF

3. In the settings dialog, confirm that the page size and orientation are correct before proceeding

Step 3: Check Acrobat's conversion settings

If the issue persists:

1. Open Acrobat > go to Preferences (Ctrl,Cmd+K)

2. Select Convert to PDF from the left panel

3. Find Excel Workbook in the list > click Edit Settings

4. Make sure the page-related options reflect your needs

Step 4: Try converting via Acrobat directly

Instead of going from Excel, try opening Acrobat first:

1. Open Acrobat > File > Create > PDF from File

2. Select your Excel file

3. Check whether the resulting PDF respects the landscape orientation

Could you let us know which version of Acrobat you're on (you can find this under Help > About Adobe Acrobat)  That'll help us narrow it down further if these steps don't fully resolve it.

~Amal

I am a long-term user of Acrobat.  My “upgrade” from a fully functional (no annual fee) Acrobat that converted files from Excel (landscape) to PDF correctly has resulted in an undesirable portrait file, lots of  frustration, and hours of wasted time. The conversion program,  which I now pay montly for, has too many bugs. I feel cheated by ADOBE.  Has anyone else experienced such problems?