Fix Acrobat Cannot Convert or Combine Word and Excel Files
Question details
User is unable to convert or combine Microsoft Word and Excel files using Adobe Acrobat DC.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to use the Convert Files or Combine Files feature in Acrobat after a recent software update.
- Observed behavior
- The conversion or combination process fails or stops working entirely for Word and Excel documents.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer, as you may need to install patches or repair the software installation. Save and close any open Word or Excel documents before troubleshooting.
Install the Latest Acrobat Patch and Repair the Installation
Applying the latest software updates and repairing the installation can fix bugs introduced by recent updates.
Acrobat issues involving Microsoft Office integration often arise because of missing patches or corrupted installation files following an update.
Open Adobe Acrobat DC, go to 'Help' in the top menu, and select 'Check for Updates'. Install any available patches.
Restart your computer to ensure the Acrobat updates are fully applied to your system.
If the issue persists, open Acrobat, go to 'Help', and select 'Repair Installation'.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the repair process, then restart your computer again.
Verify and Enable the PDFMaker Add-in in Word and Excel
Acrobat relies on the PDFMaker add-in to integrate with Microsoft Office. If this add-in is disabled, conversions will fail.
Manually Export to PDF and Combine Later (Workaround)
If Acrobat still cannot directly convert the Office files, you can export them to PDF natively from Word and Excel, and then combine them.
Convert and Combine Files Easily with WPS Office
Avoid plugin conflicts and update issues by using WPS Office. It features a built-in PDF toolkit that allows you to seamlessly convert Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to PDF, and merge multiple documents into a single PDF without needing third-party add-ins.
- 1. Download and install: Download and open WPS Office, then open your Word or Excel document.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu' or navigate to the 'Tools' tab, and select 'Export to PDF' to instantly convert your file.
- 3. Access PDF tools: To merge files, open the 'PDF' tab in WPS Office and select 'Merge PDF' from the toolbar.
- 4. Merge documents: Add your converted PDF documents to the list and click 'Merge' to seamlessly combine them into one file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in get disabled in Word or Excel?
Microsoft Office automatically disables add-ins that take too long to load or cause the application to crash in order to maintain performance. You can re-enable it manually through the COM Add-ins menu in the Options settings.
Do I need Adobe Acrobat to convert Word and Excel files to PDF?
No. Modern versions of Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as alternative office suites like WPS Office, feature built-in 'Export to PDF' or 'Save as PDF' capabilities that do not require third-party PDF software.
How do I fix permission errors when converting files in Acrobat?
Permission errors often occur if the Office file is marked as 'Read-only' or is stored in a restricted network location. Try copying the file to your local desktop, right-click it, select 'Properties', uncheck 'Read-only', and try converting again.
Will combining Excel sheets into a PDF preserve the table formatting?
Yes, but it is highly recommended to set your Print Area and scaling options (such as 'Fit Sheet on One Page') in Excel before converting. This ensures the layout is maintained and prevents tables from being split across multiple PDF pages.
