Fix PDF Metadata Missing When Creating PDFs from Word 365
Question details
The user is experiencing a loss of document metadata, such as document language and title, when converting Word 365 documents to PDF.
- Product
- Word 365, Acrobat plug-in
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Word document to a PDF file using the Acrobat plug-in for Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- The resulting PDF loses metadata such as the document language, and the initial view displays the filename instead of the document title.
Ensure your Word 365 document has the correct metadata configured (such as title, author, and language) in the document properties before attempting the PDF conversion.
Manually Add Metadata and Set Initial View in Acrobat
Since the plug-in drops some metadata, the most reliable method is to re-add the missing properties directly in Adobe Acrobat after the PDF is created.
The Acrobat Word plug-in does not always preserve all Word metadata or expose specific settings for mapping the document language and the initial PDF view. Configuring these settings directly in the finished PDF guarantees accurate metadata.
Open the generated PDF in Acrobat, go to the 'File' menu, and select 'Properties'.
Under the 'Description' tab, enter the correct Document Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords.
Switch to the 'Initial View' tab and change the 'Show' dropdown from 'File Name' to 'Document Title'.
Go to the 'Advanced' tab, navigate to the Reading Options section, select the correct 'Language' from the dropdown, then click 'OK' and save the file.
Use Word's Built-in 'Save As PDF' Feature
Microsoft Word's native PDF export feature often preserves different metadata properties compared to the Acrobat plug-in.
Seamlessly Convert Word to PDF with Intact Metadata Using WPS Office
WPS Office offers a built-in, highly compatible Word to PDF conversion feature that seamlessly preserves your document titles, metadata, and formatting without the need for additional costly plug-ins.
- 1. Open your Document in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your Word document (.docx).
- 2. Access PDF Export: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and navigate to 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Verify Export Settings: In the export dialog, ensure the export settings match your preferences and that document properties are set to be included.
- 4. Export and Check: Click 'Export' to create the PDF, then open it in WPS PDF to verify your document properties and initial view settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat plug-in ignore my Word document title?
The plug-in sometimes fails to map Word's internal title property to the PDF's initial view settings, defaulting to the filename instead. You can manually fix this in the PDF properties under the 'Initial View' tab after conversion.
Can I set the document language automatically during PDF creation?
The Acrobat plug-in for Word 365 may not expose settings to map document language automatically during the export process. You usually need to define the language post-conversion in the PDF's 'Advanced' properties.
Is there a way to force Word to include metadata when saving as PDF natively?
Yes. When using Word's native 'Save As' or 'Export' feature, click 'Options' before finalizing the save, and ensure the checkbox for 'Document properties' is selected.
