How to Remove Hidden ZWAdobeF Characters from Word and PDF
Question details
Users need to remove unwanted ZWAdobeF characters (such as {n}B or XXB) that appear in Word document headings, footnotes, headers, and PDF files after using Acrobat to convert the files.
- Product
- Microsoft Word / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting Word documents containing headings, footnotes, or linked fields into PDF format using Adobe Acrobat.
- Observed behavior
- Hidden text strings formatted with the ZWAdobeF font become visible, corrupting document headings, alternative text, navigation panes, headers, and footers after PDF conversion.
Before making bulk replacements, create a duplicate of your Word document to ensure you do not accidentally remove essential text content or formatting.
Use Find and Replace to Remove ZWAdobeF Characters in Word
This is the most reliable method to locate and delete all hidden ZWAdobeF strings across your document headings, footnotes, headers, and footers.
Simply deleting the character style from the Word Styles pane will not solve the issue. The characters will remain visible. You must use the advanced Find and Replace feature to search for the specific font format and replace it with blank space.
Press 'Ctrl + H' on your keyboard to launch the Find and Replace dialog box in Microsoft Word.
Click the 'More >>' button to expand advanced search options. Click inside the 'Find what' field, then click the 'Format' button at the bottom and select 'Font'.
In the Font dialog, scroll through the font list or type 'ZWAdobeF' to select it. Click 'OK' to return to the Find and Replace window.
Ensure the 'Replace with' field is completely empty. Click 'Replace All' to instantly delete all characters formatted with the ZWAdobeF font throughout the entire document.
Use Print to PDF Instead of Convert to PDF
Bypass Acrobat's 'Convert to PDF' macro entirely, which is the root cause of the ZWAdobeF font bug.
Convert Word to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Avoid Acrobat macro bugs entirely. WPS Office features a powerful, built-in PDF converter that instantly exports Word documents to high-quality PDFs without generating hidden ZWAdobeF characters or breaking your document layout.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Word document (.doc or .docx) that you wish to convert.
- 2. Access the PDF Exporter: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Configure PDF Settings: In the dialog box, ensure 'Export bookmarks' is checked if you want to preserve your navigation pane and headings.
- 4. Export the File: Click 'Export to PDF' to generate a clean, accurate PDF file completely free of ZWAdobeF font glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do {n}B or XXB characters appear after converting Word to PDF?
These characters belong to the hidden ZWAdobeF font. Adobe Acrobat's conversion macro inserts them as anchor points for headings, links, and accessibility tags. A formatting bug causes them to become suddenly visible in headers, footers, and text when the file is converted.
Can I just delete the ZWAdobeF character style from the Styles pane?
No. Deleting or removing the character style from the Word Styles pane will usually leave the characters visible on the page. The only effective solution is to use the advanced 'Find and Replace' tool targeting the specific font formatting.
Does 'Print to PDF' preserve document accessibility tags?
Not always. While using the 'Print to PDF' function successfully bypasses the ZWAdobeF character bug, it acts as a virtual printer and frequently strips out Section 508 accessibility tags, bookmarks, and internal links.
