How to Fix Dots or Borders Appearing in a PDF Form Converted from Word
Question details
Users notice unwanted dots, marks, boxes, or borders in their PDF files after converting them from Word documents.
- Product
- Word to PDF Converter
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Word document containing tables, form fields, or text boundaries into a PDF file.
- Observed behavior
- Unexpected layout elements, nonprinting characters, or table borders become permanently visible in the finalized PDF document.
Always check the Print Preview in your word processor before exporting, as only the elements visible in the print preview should transfer over to the final PDF file.
Remove Formatting Marks and Hidden Borders Before Exporting
The most effective way to eliminate unwanted marks in the PDF is to clean up nonprinting characters, text boundaries, and hidden borders in the original Word document.
Often, dots or boxes in a PDF are caused by nonprinting characters (like spaces and paragraph returns), unhidden table borders, or visible form-field outlines in the original document. Ensuring these are turned off or removed before conversion resolves the issue.
Navigate to the Home tab and click the Paragraph symbol (Show/Hide ¶) to hide nonprinting characters such as space dots or paragraph marks.
Select any tables, text boxes, or form fields in your document. Go to the Table Design or Shape Format tab, and explicitly set the borders to 'No Border'.
Press Ctrl+P or go to File > Print to check the document layout. If the unwanted borders or dots do not appear here, they are successfully hidden.
Once the document is clean in Print Preview, go to File > Export > Create PDF to generate the final, border-free PDF file.
Create Clean PDFs without Borders using WPS Office
Avoid unexpected formatting artifacts by using WPS Office. Its robust PDF export engine ensures that your Word document's layout is preserved perfectly without exposing hidden boundaries, gridlines, or nonprinting characters.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your original Word document.
- 2. Clean up formatting: Use the Home tab to toggle off the 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' button and verify your table borders are set to none.
- 3. Export smoothly to PDF: Click on 'Menu', select 'Export to PDF', and save your clean, artifact-free document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my invisible table borders show up when saved as a PDF?
This usually happens if the table has very thin borders applied instead of being completely set to 'No Border', or if the PDF converter misinterprets document gridlines. Selecting the entire table and reapplying 'No Border' typically fixes this issue.
Can I remove these dots or borders directly from the PDF?
Yes, if you have a capable PDF editor like WPS PDF, you can use the 'Edit Content' or 'Edit Text' feature to select and delete unwanted marks, dots, or borders directly from the finalized file.
What are the dots that replace my spaces in Word?
Those are nonprinting formatting marks that represent spacebar presses. They are designed to help with document layout and usually do not print. If they export to your PDF, simply turning them off via the Home tab (Paragraph icon) before exporting will resolve the issue.
