Editable Drawings when converting to PDF from Microsoft Word

[pranavAbe]

I have some documents that were made in Microsoft Word containing pen-input drawings. Exporting the document to PDF using the Acrobat Convert to PDF Tool from within Microsoft Word results in my pen-input drawings getting flattened as a non-editable object.

To clarify further: creating a pen-input drawing on Microsoft Word with, say 3 pen lines, allows me to edit and move around each line within Word. But when I export this document to PDF using the Adobe Convert to PDF tool, the 3 pen lines get rasterized/flattened and I'm unable to move the lines around anymore on Acrobat.

Is there any way to export the document to a PDF in which the shapes/pen-input drawings remain editable objects (unflattened) on Acrobat?

[gary_sc]

While there can be some editing in a PDF, it's really important to remember that it's ALWAYS best to go back to the original application that created the original document to make alterations. 

Over the years, Acrobat has made giant strides in the ability to edit a PDF. But there will always be some things that Acrobat cannot do. Inside Acrobat, you will not find a bitmapped editor, a vector editor, a word processor, or a layout application. However, you will find some tools that will do some of what you need when possible. 

Remember that a PDF is a digitally printed document. Imagine trying to edit something out of your hard-copy printer; PDFs are much easier.

[Test Screen Name]

Yes, if you have a Word document there is a simple rule: never, no NEVER, edit the page contents in Acrobat. It takes just seconds to edit the Word document and re-make the PDF. It may seem a nusiance to have to keep track of two files (the original DOCX and the converted PDF), but that's the way to do it.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

"Is there any way to export the document to a PDF in which the shapes/pen-input drawings remain editable objects (unflattened) on Acrobat?"

Yes and No.

Word stores these objects internally as both an XML object and a PNG object. The XML allows the shape to be edited within Word, whereas the PNGs are used for print, flattened. Since using Adobe's Create PDF is essentially capturing the print instructions to make a PDF, you get the flattened PNGs.

HOWEVER, if you instead use Word's built-in PDF export (Under Save As), it converts the XML objects into a vector object, which may or may not be able to be edited... with limitations. The big limitation is that pen stroke objects are converted to an outline path, which is probably not what you want. e.g.:

 (This is a PDF object opened in Illustrator for editing)

One plus of this is that it retains transparency. In my example above, the Word highlighter pen I used was a yellow at 50% transparency. This is maintained in Illustrator.

[pranavAbe]

Thanks for your very informative and prompt reply. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to explain it to me.  

So, I tried using the Word built-in PDF export, as you mentioned, and yet, when upon opening the exported PDF in Adobe Acrobat, the pen lines from Word still can't be selected as a whole vector object using Acrobat's Selection Tool for Text & Images.

Although in both Illustrator and Acrobat (when I open the Edit PDF tool), I am able to edit the pen drawings, although they aren't in the exact editable format they were in, on Word. To clarify further: the disparity is most evident with curves, where even if an entire curved letter like an 'S' was written in a single pen stroke on Word, trying to edit it on Illustrator/Edit Tool on Acrobat, results in splitting that 'S' into multiple smaller strokes.

This problem isn't present with letters having straight strokes like 'L's or 'T'. Straight strokes are interpreted properly as a single vector object while using Illustrator/Edit Tool on Acrobat but curved strokes aren't. 

Do you have any solution to this, or is there an alternative method for obtaining fully editable objects that I could use to get pen stroke vectors from Word into PDF (as though they were made on a PDF editor itself)?  

[Test Screen Name]

As I said (but maybe you missed it), PDF editing is not what you want. You should continue to edit THE ORIGINAL in Word, and save a PDF each time you edit. Exporting back to Word isn't a solution. 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

Solution: Don't do this. This is an unworkable workflow for what it seems you want to do.

If you want to have editable Word items, you have to stay in Word.