Export PDF creates a mess of text

[BRueckertMICDS]

PDF Export is creating a mess of text when converting to Word. I've used Adobe Acrobat Reader DC as well as the online interface for PDF Export. Here are some screenshots:

PDF:

Word conversion:

Any ideas for why this is happening? I'm not even sure the steps to troubleshoot it. I also don't know how the source PDF was originally created. I know, I'm super helpful. Any help anyone can provide is appreciated. Thank you!

Brian

[try67]

The results of this process depend a lot on the way the file was created. If it was created from a poor quality scan or a non-compliant application, the results are likely to be poor. As the saying goes: Garbage In, Garbage Out.

You can see what application was used to create the file by opening it in Reader and then looking under File - Properties - Description. Especially the "Application" and "PDF Producer" values are of importance.

[BRueckertMICDS]

Thank you. Can I assume that it was a garbage application if both the "Application" and "PDF Producer" fields are blank in the document properties (which they are)? Is this beyond hope of converting into a Word file at this point? Anyone have a solution that might allow me to convert this to a Word document?

[try67]

Yeah, that's not a good sign, generally...

One thing you can try is to export the pages as image files (File - Save As Other - Image - PNG), and then create a new PDF file from those images, run Text Recognition on it and then try to export it to a Word file.

[BRueckertMICDS]

I'm using Acrobat Reader DC and don't have the option to save as PNG from the menu you indicated. We'll figure out a workaround. Thank you for your help.

[try67]

That's correct. You need Acrobat to have this option (I'm not sure if it's available as a part of Export PDF, but then you won't have the option to create a new file)...