How to retain correct margins/page size when converting a Word 2010 document to PDF?

[greg021]

I've searched the internet far and wide in order to understand why, when converting a Word 2010 document to PDF in Windows 7 (via Adobe Distiller 9.5.5316), the top and bottom margins of the resulting PDF file are automatically increased (thereby shrinking the content on the page somewhat) despite having uniformly and everywhere set A4 paper size in Word 2010 and Adobe default PDF settings. It's almost as if Distiller is stubbornly scaling the document to a different page size no matter which settings are specified.

I've solved this problem in previous versions by simply deselecting print scaling in Microsoft Word or in Distiller. In Word 2010 you do this via: File --> Options --> Advanced, and deselect the setting "Scale content for A4 or 8.5 x 11" paper sizes" in the Print section.

Today things aren't so simple. I suspect there is some scaling or default page sizing going on but where/how to change it?

I should also say that over years of Adobe updates I seem to have two different Adobe products for creating PDFs; both the aforementioned Distiller as well as Adobe Acrobat Pro Extended (v. 9.5.5). However they both use the same Adobe PDF default settings specifying A4 paper size.

I believe I've seen/inspected all available settings for specifying page sizes and scaling - Adobe used to offer the PDFMaker add-in for Word, which manifested itself as a Word tab called "Acrobat," and therein one could see PDF settings, but this tab has long since disappeared with a previous Acrobat update. I tried to make this tab reappear in Word but to no avail.

I've also confirmed the correct page size settings for both the Adobe and Brother printers in the Windows 7 "Devices and Printers" dialog box.

Any stones left unturned? Thanks.

[Test Screen Name]

Main sources of scaling.

1. Original app. e.g. A4/letter swapping in Word.

2. Page setup in printing to PDF. The size you choose in print setup should match the design size of the original document; or it MUST be either scaled or the wrong size.

(3. There is no 3. Distiller never scales, ever).

4. Print scaling in Acrobat; be sure to turn it off when printing, it is on by default. Check the size by hovering in the bottom left corner of the PDF.

[greg021]

Thanks for your reply. To address the points...

1. Document prints correctly from Word (on an A4 sheet; no scaling observed)

2. See screenshots below when printing a PDF in Word

3. ok

4. I didn't see a feature for "Print Scaling" in Acrobat, but when I hover in the bottom left corner of the PDF, page size is A4

PS. You can see "scaling" in the first screenshot. There is no way to turn this off and it's set at 100%. I figure that playing with this figure wouldn't yield exact results. I just want the PDF to be formatted and print identically as in Word.

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

Print scaling is always an option in Acrobat. Adobe keep changing the name. Look closely. Look for options like "fit to page".

[greg021]

Thanks for the answer. I was focusing on the PDF creation side when actually one encounters the setting "Page Scaling" when printing out the PDF - maybe this setting belongs to the printer driver and not Adobe. In any case, margins are correct when printing.

[sgalev]

I'm having a similar problem, except my scaling is set to No Scaling.  Why then, when I change from a regular printer to the Adobe PDF printer, does the margins change??  Why can't it stay true to the document setting? 

When I go to File > Print, it shows pages 1 – 12, Columns A - L

When I change the printer from the LLE_9A to the Adobe PDF Printer, the number of pages change, to 1 - 15 and my columns move:

Now I have Columns A – K and Column L moved to the next page.

If Adobe doesn’t need the margin area that printers need, then why is this changing?  Why can’t it stay true to the document settings?

[Test Screen Name]

Youd have to ask Microsoft why they reflow in Excel.

[jenwalton]

On your word document:-

1. Open Word Options
2. Click Advance
3. Scroll down to "Print"
4. Untick Scale content

[MINTU5E42]

Really your idea ( File --> Options --> Advanced, and deselect the setting "Scale content for A4 or 8.5 x 11" paper sizes" in the Print section.) is good, this fixed my great problem when I convert Excel to pdf there is big change in margin. With your help it is now O.K.

Thanks a lot

[Lie34111230tntj]

I'm using Word 2019, and when I'm saving it as PDF, there is a dialog box "Options" , 

under "PDF options" you should check "PDF/A compliant".

hope it helps