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How to Fix Question Mark Boxes When Converting Word to PDF
Question details
User experiences small boxes containing question marks in their PDF file after converting it from a Word DOCX document.
- Product
- Word to PDF Converter
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Word DOCX file containing specific characters or fonts into a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The resulting PDF displays question mark boxes in place of actual text or symbols, which were rendering perfectly in the original Word document.
Ensure that your computer has all the custom fonts used in the original Word document installed and updated before attempting another PDF conversion.
Embed Fonts in the Word Document
Embedding fonts ensures that any custom or special fonts are saved directly within the document file, preventing substitution errors like question mark boxes during conversion.
Missing or unsupported fonts are the most common cause of characters turning into boxes or question marks. By embedding the fonts directly into the Word document, the PDF converter will have the exact data it needs to render the text properly.
Open your DOCX file in Microsoft Word. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, click on the 'Save' tab located in the left sidebar.
Scroll down to the 'Preserve fidelity when sharing this document' section. Check the box that says 'Embed fonts in the file'. For smaller file sizes, you can also check 'Embed only the characters used in the document'.
Click 'OK' to apply the changes, save your Word document, and proceed to convert the file to PDF again.
Replace Unsupported Fonts with Standard Fonts
If the original font is corrupted or not supported by the PDF converter, changing it to a standard, web-safe font will instantly resolve the rendering issue.
Use Print to PDF Instead of Export
Using the 'Print to PDF' virtual printer can sometimes bypass encoding bugs found in standard 'Save As' or 'Export' conversion engines.
Convert Word to PDF Flawlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office features a built-in, highly compatible Word to PDF converter that accurately renders complex formatting and natively embeds fonts, ensuring your text appears perfectly without any missing character boxes.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the DOCX file you want to convert.
- 2. Access Export Feature: Click on 'Menu' in the top left corner, navigate to 'Export to PDF', and click on it.
- 3. Configure Settings: In the dialog box, ensure your save path is correct. WPS Office automatically handles font embedding in the background.
- 4. Export the File: Click the 'Export to PDF' button to instantly generate a flawless PDF without question mark boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do question marks appear when I convert my Word document to PDF?
This usually happens when the PDF converter cannot locate or read the font used in the original document. When a font is missing or corrupted, the system substitutes the unrecognized characters with standard question mark boxes.
Will embedding fonts increase my Word document file size?
Yes, embedding fonts will slightly increase the file size because the font data is packaged within the document. You can minimize this size increase by selecting the option 'Embed only the characters used in the document' in the Word Options menu.
Can I fix the question mark boxes directly inside the PDF file?
If you have a premium PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro or WPS PDF Pro, you can attempt to edit the text and change the font directly in the PDF. However, it is usually faster and more accurate to fix the font issue in the original Word document and re-export the file.
Does WPS Office support converting documents with custom fonts to PDF?
Absolutely. WPS Office accurately processes and exports documents containing custom fonts to PDF, provided those custom fonts are properly installed on your local operating system.
