'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Acrobat on iPad Changing Decimal Commas to Periods in Excel to PDF
Question details
Converting an Excel spreadsheet to a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat on an iPad alters the regional number formatting.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- A user tries to convert an Excel file containing European number formatting (using decimal commas) to a PDF using the mobile version of Adobe Acrobat on an iPad.
- Observed behavior
- The decimal commas in the Excel spreadsheet are automatically and incorrectly replaced with decimal periods in the resulting PDF document.
Verify that your iPadOS is updated to the latest version, as regional formatting bugs are frequently patched in system updates, and ensure your iPad's language settings match the intended format of your document.
Adjust iPad Region and Number Format Settings
Adobe Acrobat relies on the host operating system's regional settings to interpret numbers during conversion. Changing the iPad's system region to one that uses decimal commas can resolve the override.
The iPadOS conversion engine pulls default number formatting rules directly from your system settings. If your iPad is set to a region like the US or UK, it will forcefully apply decimal periods during the PDF export process.
Launch the 'Settings' app from your iPad home screen and tap on 'General'.
Scroll down and tap on 'Language & Region'.
Tap on 'Region' and select a country that uses the decimal comma by default (e.g., France, Germany, or Spain).
On the same screen, review the 'Number Format' section to ensure the preview displays a comma as the decimal separator (e.g., 1 234,56).
Force close the Adobe Acrobat and Excel apps, reopen them, and attempt the Excel to PDF conversion again to see if the commas are retained.
Use Apple's Native 'Print to PDF' Feature
Bypassing Adobe Acrobat's conversion engine and using the built-in iOS print preview feature preserves the exact visual layout of the Excel file, including decimal commas.
Use WPS Office for iPad to Convert Spreadsheets to PDF Accurately
WPS Office for iOS features a highly compatible spreadsheet editor with a reliable built-in PDF converter. It natively processes your files without overriding your regional number formats, ensuring your decimal commas stay exactly where they belong.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPad.
- 2. Open the Excel File: Launch WPS Office and open your .xlsx spreadsheet containing the decimal commas.
- 3. Access the File Tools: Tap the 'Tools' menu icon located at the bottom of the screen, then select the 'File' tab.
- 4. Select Export to PDF: Tap 'Export to PDF' and configure your preferred page layout and export range settings.
- 5. Generate the PDF: Tap the 'Export' button to instantly save a pristine PDF that correctly retains all original decimal formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat change commas to periods when converting files on iPad?
Adobe Acrobat mobile apps often rely on the default region and language settings of the host operating system (iPadOS) during file processing. If the iPad is set to a region that uses periods as decimal separators, the conversion engine may forcefully overwrite the commas in your spreadsheet.
Can I fix this within the Adobe Acrobat iPad app settings?
Currently, the Adobe Acrobat mobile app lacks advanced internal regional formatting controls for Excel-to-PDF conversions. You must adjust the global iPadOS Language & Region settings or use a different PDF converter.
Does this conversion issue affect Word documents on iPad?
It is much less common in Word documents because they are primarily text-based. Spreadsheets handle numbers as specific data types, making them highly vulnerable to automatic regional format overrides during data processing.
How can I provide diagnostic information to Adobe Support?
To help developers reproduce the bug, you can upload your original Excel file and the resulting faulty PDF to a cloud service (like iCloud or Google Drive) and share the link in the Adobe Support Community, alongside your exact iPadOS and Acrobat version numbers.
