File Format & Compatibility

How to Fix Black Diamonds in Word Tables After PDF Import

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to remove black diamond symbols that obscure or replace text within table cells after importing or converting a PDF document into Microsoft Word.

How to Fix Black Diamonds in Word Tables After PDF Import

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Converting a PDF to Word or opening a PDF directly in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: Black diamond symbols appear over the text or completely replace the text in table cells in the converted Word document.

Before you start

Open your original PDF in a dedicated PDF reader to ensure the text and tables display correctly and that the file itself is not corrupted.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Dedicated PDF Conversion Tool

Using a specialized PDF-to-Word converter handles complex layouts and character encoding much better than Word's built-in tool, preventing missing fonts and black diamond symbols.

Microsoft Word's built-in PDF importer sometimes struggles with custom fonts, complex table borders, or specific character encodings, resulting in fallback characters like black diamonds.

Open a PDF Converter

Launch a dedicated PDF management software like WPS Office or an online PDF-to-Word conversion tool.

Import the PDF

Select the 'PDF to Word' option and upload the PDF file that is causing issues.

Convert and Verify

Execute the conversion to a .docx file format. Open the resulting document to confirm the table displays the correct text without any black diamonds.

Tip: Using professional PDF conversion engines preserves the original table layouts and fonts much more accurately.

Solution 2

Install Missing Fonts on Your System

Black diamonds can appear if the original fonts embedded in the PDF are not installed on your computer, causing Word to fail when rendering the characters.

Solution 3

Manually Remove Artifacts or Reformat

Occasionally, formatting artifacts such as diagonal table borders or specific spacing elements get mistranslated as black diamonds during the import process.

Seamless PDF Conversion

Convert PDF to Word Flawlessly with WPS Office

Avoid character encoding issues like black diamond symbols by using WPS Office. Its powerful, built-in PDF to Word converter accurately preserves complex layouts, table structures, and embedded fonts.

1. Open PDF to Word Tool: Launch WPS Office and click on 'PDF to Word' from the main tools menu or homepage.
2. Add Your File: Click 'Add Files' and select the PDF document that you want to convert.
3. Start Conversion: Choose '.docx' as your output format and click the 'Start' button.
4. View the Document: Once completed, open the file directly in WPS Writer to view perfectly preserved tables with zero encoding errors.

Accurate PDF to Word conversion without character corruption or missing fontsHigh compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and table structuresBuilt-in robust PDF reader and editor in a single suiteLightweight, fast, and completely free to use for basic tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do black diamonds with question marks inside them appear in Word?

This specific symbol is known as the 'replacement character'. It indicates a character encoding error where Word's built-in PDF converter cannot recognize or render the original text, often due to unsupported embedded fonts or complex layouts.

Can I simply delete the black diamonds from the table?

Yes. If the black diamonds are acting as a visual overlay or formatting artifact, you can highlight and delete them to reveal the text underneath. However, if they have fully replaced your text, you will need to retype the data or use a better conversion tool.

Will updating Microsoft Office resolve this conversion issue?

It is possible. Microsoft occasionally releases updates that improve Word's built-in PDF conversion engine. Checking for and installing the latest Office updates may resolve known character encoding and font rendering bugs.

Document & File Issues