File Format & Compatibility

How to Fix Random Diagonal Lines in Word Table Cells Before SharePoint PDF Upload

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to stop random, redaction-like diagonal lines from appearing in Word table cells when editing large templates, converting them to PDF, or uploading them to SharePoint.

How to Fix Random Diagonal Lines in Word Table Cells Before SharePoint PDF Upload

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing large document templates containing tables and processing them through SharePoint workflows or converting them to PDFs.
Observed behavior: Random diagonal lines appear in table cells either before upload or at various stages during SharePoint processing and PDF generation.

Before you start

Before making any structural changes to your template, open the document in Word and navigate to File > Print to check the Print Preview. This will immediately verify if the lines are inherently present in the document rendering before any SharePoint or PDF conversion takes place.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Alternate PDF Conversion Methods in Word

Use this solution to determine if the issue stems from a specific PDF generation engine within Microsoft Word.

Because rendering glitches often occur during the translation from Word's native format to PDF, testing different built-in export methods can bypass the rendering bug and give you a clean file.

Test the Export Feature

Open your affected document in Microsoft Word. Go to 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Export', and click 'Create PDF/XPS Document'. Publish the file and check if the diagonal lines appear in the resulting PDF.

Test the Print to PDF Feature

If the Export feature fails, go to 'File', then select 'Print'. Under the Printer dropdown, choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF' and click 'Print'. Save the file and inspect it for the diagonal lines.

Compare Outputs Across Devices

Open the original document on a different computer and repeat the PDF generation steps. This isolates whether the rendering bug is tied to your specific device's graphics drivers or Office installation.

Test Alternate PDF Conversion Methods in Word

Isolating the Cause: Testing both generation methods before uploading to SharePoint helps pinpoint whether the corruption happens on your local machine or during the server-side workflow.

Solution 2

Isolate the SharePoint Workflow

Use this method if the document looks fine locally but develops diagonal lines after being uploaded to SharePoint.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Stable PDF Conversions and Document Formatting

If Microsoft Word and SharePoint continuously distort your table formatting and produce random diagonal lines during PDF conversion, switching to WPS Office can provide a much more stable rendering experience. WPS Office handles complex templates smoothly and includes a highly reliable built-in PDF converter.

1. Open your document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Writer and open the .docx file that contains your complex tables and templates.
2. Export to PDF directly: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then select 'Export to PDF' to utilize the built-in converter.
3. Verify the clean formatting: Open the newly generated PDF document to confirm that all table cells have been rendered cleanly without any random diagonal lines.

High compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsStable, built-in PDF conversion engine that prevents formatting glitchesLightweight, fast, and completely free to useFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do diagonal lines appear in my Word tables when converting to PDF?

This is typically a rendering glitch that occurs when Microsoft Word's PDF export engine processes complex, large templates or heavily formatted tables. It can also be caused by underlying document corruption.

Does SharePoint automatically add redaction lines to documents?

No, SharePoint does not intentionally add redaction lines to standard documents. However, server-side processing, automated workflows, or the SharePoint online viewer might incorrectly render existing, hidden formatting corruption in a complex Word file.

How can I tell if the issue is caused by Word or SharePoint?

Use the Print Preview (File > Print) in Word before uploading the file. If the lines appear in the preview or when saving as a local PDF, the issue is with Word. If the lines only appear after uploading and processing online, it is a SharePoint rendering issue.

Document & File Issues