How to Fix Gibberish or Missing Characters After Combining PDF Files
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where text turns into unreadable gibberish, boxes, or Xs after merging PDF files.
- Product
- PDF Editors
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Combining multiple PDF documents, particularly when one or more source files were generated from an Excel spreadsheet.
- Observed behavior
- The merged PDF displays corrupted text, Xs, missing characters, or empty boxes instead of the original text content.
Identify exactly which source PDF file contains the text that turns into gibberish when combined. Keep a backup of all original, unmerged PDF files before attempting repairs.
Reprint the Source PDF to Repair Encoding
Flatten and rewrite the source PDF file using a Print to PDF function to fix incorrectly embedded fonts or malformed encoding before merging.
Often, PDFs generated from lightweight engines do not correctly embed font sets. Printing the file to a new PDF forces the system to recreate the document structure and bake the fonts into the file, which usually prevents corruption during the merge process.
Open the specific source PDF file that becomes corrupted when combined in your preferred PDF reader.
Navigate to the 'File' menu and select 'Print', or press Ctrl+P (Windows) / Cmd+P (Mac).
In the printer dropdown list, choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF', 'WPS PDF', or a similar virtual PDF printer.
Click 'Print' and save the newly generated PDF file. Use this new file in your combining process instead of the original.
Ensure Fonts are Embedded During PDF Creation
Modify export settings in the original source application (such as Excel) to guarantee that all fonts are fully embedded in the PDF.
Use Acrobat Preflight to Repair PDF Objects
Utilize advanced PDF repair and normalization tools in Adobe Acrobat to fix damaged PDF objects and missing fonts.
Combine PDFs Safely with WPS Office
WPS Office provides robust PDF tools that accurately handle fonts and encoding when converting Excel files to PDF and combining multiple PDF documents. Easily merge files without losing characters or getting gibberish text.
- 1. Open PDF Tools: Launch WPS Office and switch to the 'PDF' tab from the main workspace.
- 2. Select Merge PDF: Click on the 'Merge PDF' tool found in the PDF editor toolbar.
- 3. Add Your Files: Click 'Add Files' to import the PDFs you wish to combine, including any generated from Excel.
- 4. Merge and Save: Click the 'Merge' button to accurately combine the documents without losing any text formatting or fonts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do PDF files show Xs or boxes after being combined?
This happens when the source PDF has missing or incorrectly embedded fonts. When combined, the destination PDF viewer cannot find the required font data, causing the text to display as fallback characters like Xs or empty boxes.
Does saving a PDF as PDF/A help prevent missing characters?
Yes, saving a file in PDF/A format forces all fonts used in the document to be embedded. This ensures that the text renders correctly on any device or after combining with other PDFs.
Can I fix corrupted PDF text without the original Excel file?
Yes, you can often fix it by opening the problematic PDF and using the 'Print to PDF' function to generate a new, flattened PDF file, which resolves the encoding conflicts before you merge it.
Why does this missing character issue specifically happen with Excel-generated PDFs?
Excel spreadsheets sometimes use non-standard printer drivers or lightweight PDF export engines that optimize file size by not embedding fonts, which leads to structural conflicts when merged with other fully-formed PDF files.
