Pagination in Word changes when print as pdf

[jrclegal]

I have a new computer with Word 2016 and acrobat XI.   When I change the printer on a Word document to print as a pdf, the page breaks change.  As a result, I can't make easily make the pdf and word versions be the same.   Is there a fix for this?

Thanks.

[Test Screen Name]

That's what Word does. So there is no real "Word version" with fixed page breaks. Everyone who opens the file will have a different printer, and hence a different layout. This is why the PDF is important; once made, it is fixed.

[jrclegal]

Is there a way to make the pagination rules the same on my physical printer and the adobe printer?

I have not had this problem in the past with prior versions on other computers.   It is a problem because in my work people want to see the final printed document be the same as the pdf they reviewed.

Thanks.

[Test Screen Name]

This is an entirely normal issue. Ideally, Word is used only for documents where the page layout is unimportant, with automatic page numbering/table of contents etc. The solution if layout becomes critical, and you have to stay with Word, is to always use the PDF for printing, never printing directly from Word.

[marcusm11937756]

if I insert a table of contents that reference specific page numbers in the word document, then print it to PDF, with the changes in pagination the table can be thrown off completely.  A 'helpful" feature of hte adobe pdf printer is that it automatically creates links in the PDF's table of contents linking to the page in the document.  if the pagination changes, that link is potentially no longer pointing to the correct page.

[try67]

Instead of printing to the PDF printer using the Adobe PDFMaker plugin in Word.

[gkaiseril]

You may need to make sure of a couple of things.

First, set the printer to the Adobe PDF printer. The type of printer being used sometimes caused the content of the Word document to change due to margin restrictions of the printer.

Next, make sure your PDF Maker options do not allow re-flow for accessibility.

And use the PDF Maker to create the PDF not the "Save as PDF".

[kdlsmith]

In your word document, you might try embedding your fonts in the document or ensuring that 'TrueType as bitmaps' is checked. The pagination can change if the printer metrics in the Adobe Printer differs from your default printer. Or turn your default printer into the Adobe Printer.