Fix PDF Text Turning into Boxes After Dragging Pages in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user experiences missing characters or box symbols replacing text when combining multiple PDF documents.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Standard 2017
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Dragging pages from multiple source PDFs into a single destination document.
- Observed behavior
- Text characters convert into square boxes or disappear entirely after the pages are moved or merged into the new PDF.
Ensure you have safe backup copies of all original PDF files before attempting to merge or alter them, and verify that your PDF editor is updated to its latest version.
Embed Fonts When Recreating the Source PDFs
Ensuring all fonts are fully embedded in the original documents prevents font substitution errors and missing characters during page merging.
When you drag and drop pages between PDFs, the destination file attempts to render the fonts used in the source pages. If the original fonts were not embedded and are missing from your system, the text will default to square boxes or bullet symbols.
Open the original source file (such as a Word or Excel document) before it was converted to PDF.
Go to File > Save As and select PDF from the file format dropdown menu.
Click on 'Options' or 'More options' in the save dialog and check the box that says 'PDF/A compliant' or explicitly choose 'Embed all fonts'.
Save the new PDF file. Open it in Acrobat and attempt dragging the pages into your destination document again.
Recreate the PDF using 'Print to PDF'
If you don't have access to the original editable file, re-printing the existing PDF can flatten the fonts and resolve merging conflicts.
Identify and Isolate Damaged Source Files
Test each PDF file individually to find which specific document is causing the text boxes to appear, as a single corrupted file can affect the entire merge.
Merge PDF Pages Flawlessly with WPS Office
Avoid font corruption and missing characters when combining PDFs. WPS Office provides a robust PDF editor that securely merges pages while preserving all original text, formatting, and embedded fonts.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab from the main dashboard.
- 2. Select the Merge tool: Click on 'Merge PDF' from the top toolbar or the PDF toolkit menu.
- 3. Add your files: Click 'Add Files' and select all the PDF documents you want to combine.
- 4. Arrange pages: Drag and drop the files to organize them into your preferred order.
- 5. Merge flawlessly: Click 'Merge' to create a unified document with all fonts and text perfectly intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do fonts turn into boxes or strange symbols in PDFs?
This typically occurs when the original fonts used in the document are not embedded in the PDF file and are missing from the system where the file is being viewed or merged. The software substitutes the missing fonts with default characters, often rendering as boxes.
How can I check if fonts are embedded in my PDF?
Open the PDF in a reader like Acrobat or WPS PDF, go to Document Properties (Ctrl+D), and check the Fonts tab. It should display '(Embedded)' or '(Embedded Subset)' next to the font names used in the file.
Does using 'Print to PDF' fix font issues?
Yes, utilizing the 'Print to PDF' feature often flattens the document and hardcodes the text rendering, which bypasses font substitution errors and prevents text from turning into boxes during subsequent merges.
