Differences Between Different Ways to Create PDFs From Word

[La328]

Hi.  I'm using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, version 2020.009.20074 and Microsoft Word for Office 365 32 bit. There are many ways to create a PDF - export to pdf, save as pdf, drop down save as pdf, save as Adobe PDF, and distiller.  Those are what we've found so far.  Some of the differences we've noticed are file size, TOC/links do not come over,  and text drops a line or two to the next page and creates bigger problems.  Is there a list somewhere of all the different conversion methods for word and what exactly, are the differences between them?  Thanks!

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

The only way that Adobe recommends for producing PDF from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Windows 10 with Acrobat DC is to use the Save as Adobe PDF or the Create PDF function under Create Adobe PDF in the Acrobat tab.

That method of PDF creation properly preserves color management, transparency, links, footnotes, TOCs, etc. It also allows all OpenType fonts to be properly embedded in the PDF file.

There is is Microsoft's built-in PDF generator accessed by File=>Save As and then selecting PDF as the file type. This method has numerous “issues” including an inability to properly embed OpenType CFF fonts in the resultant PDF files and issues with properly output of certain image types.

Printing to the AdobePDF PostScript printer driver instance is strongly not recommended since it ignores color managment and transparency is flattened, often limiting the searchability and/or editability of the resultant PDF file. The only situation in which printing to Adobe PDF is necessry is when you import .eps graphics into your Office document and that capability is rarely used in the last 15 to 20 years and isn't even documented by Microsoft anymore.