How to Preserve Simple Markup and Change Bars When Converting Word to PDF
Question details
The user wants to export a Microsoft Word document to PDF while retaining the Simple Markup and change bars in the margins to show revisions.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a revised Word document to PDF to share with readers while clearly indicating where changes were made.
- Observed behavior
- The exported PDF document does not display the expected Simple Markup or change bars, leaving the margins blank.
Verify that your Microsoft Word document contains tracked changes and that they are currently visible on your screen by selecting 'Simple Markup' or 'All Markup' in the Review tab.
Enable 'Document showing markup' in PDF Export Options
Word's default export settings often ignore tracked changes. Adjusting the PDF options ensures that revisions and change bars are included in the final file.
When using the 'Save As' or 'Export' functions, Microsoft Word requires you to explicitly tell it to include document markups in the final PDF.
Click 'File' > 'Save As', select 'PDF' from the file format dropdown, and click the 'Options...' button.
In the Options dialog box, look under the 'Publish what' section and select 'Document showing markup'.
Click 'OK' to close the dialog, then click 'Save' to generate your PDF with the change bars visible.
Use Microsoft Print to PDF with Print Markup Enabled
If standard exporting fails, using the virtual PDF printer is a reliable alternative to force the change bars to appear.
Use WPS Office to Export Documents with Tracked Changes to PDF
WPS Writer provides an intuitive built-in PDF converter that perfectly retains your Microsoft Word formatting, including tracked changes, simple markups, and change bars.
- 1. Open Document: Open your .docx file in WPS Writer.
- 2. Check Revisions: Go to the 'Review' tab and ensure your track changes and markups are displayed exactly as you want them.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click 'Menu' in the top left corner, then select 'Export to PDF'.
- 4. Generate File: Verify the export layout settings and click 'Export' to save your PDF with all change bars intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my change bars disappear when I save as PDF?
This usually happens because Word's export or save settings default to saving the document without its markup. You need to explicitly select 'Document showing markup' in the PDF Export Options before saving.
Can I export just the change bars without the detailed text revisions?
Yes. In Word's 'Review' tab, set the tracking view to 'Simple Markup'. This displays the change bars in the margin while hiding the inline text deletions and insertions. Once set, export to PDF with markup enabled.
Does Adobe Acrobat control how the markup is exported from Word?
No, the initial display and inclusion of markup is controlled by Microsoft Word's print and export engine. You must enable 'Print Markup' in Word before generating the PDF, regardless of the PDF reader you use.
