How to Prevent Acrobat from Accepting Word Track Changes During PDF Conversion
Question details
Users need to preserve visible tracked changes when converting a Microsoft Word document to a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat, preventing the revisions from automatically appearing as accepted.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Add-in for Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a Microsoft Word document with tracked changes and comments into a PDF using the Adobe Acrobat add-in.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat's default conversion preferences convert comments to PDF notes, which unintentionally forces all tracked changes to appear as accepted and hides the revision marks in the final PDF.
Ensure you have your Microsoft Word document saved and verify that the Acrobat tab is visible in your Word ribbon.
Adjust Acrobat Add-in Preferences in Microsoft Word
Modify the Acrobat conversion settings within Microsoft Word to prevent comments from being converted to PDF notes, which resolves the track changes display issue.
The Adobe Acrobat add-in for Word has a specific setting for handling comments. When it attempts to convert Word comments into Adobe PDF notes, it can interfere with the document layout and cause tracked changes to be automatically accepted in the output file.
Disabling this specific preference allows you to preserve the visible tracked changes and important document features like bookmarks.
Open your document in Microsoft Word. Click on the 'Acrobat' tab located in the top ribbon, then select 'Preferences'.
In the Acrobat PDFMaker dialog box, go to the 'Word' tab. Locate and uncheck the option labeled 'Convert Displayed Comments to Notes in Adobe PDF'.
Click 'OK' to save the preferences. Then, click the 'Create PDF' button on the Acrobat ribbon to convert your document with the tracked changes preserved.
Use Adobe PDF Printer to Preserve Markup
Use the print functionality to 'Print to PDF' and force the inclusion of document markup.
Try WPS Office for Seamless PDF Management
If you frequently encounter formatting issues when converting documents with Microsoft Office and Acrobat, try WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative featuring a built-in PDF converter that handles tracked changes and formatting flawlessly without requiring expensive third-party plugins.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free suite and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your Word document containing the tracked changes.
- 3. Export to PDF: Go to the 'Menu' and select 'Export to PDF'. WPS Office will natively process and preserve your layout without relying on external add-ins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Word track changes disappear when I save as a PDF?
When using the Adobe Acrobat add-in in Microsoft Word, the default setting that converts comments into PDF notes often conflicts with revision tracking. This conflict forces the document revisions to appear as accepted, thus hiding the track changes markup.
How can I convert to PDF and keep both track changes and my document bookmarks?
You should use the 'Create PDF' button from the Acrobat ribbon in Word rather than the 'Print to PDF' function. Ensure you go to Acrobat Preferences within Word and disable 'Convert Displayed Comments to Notes in Adobe PDF' first to retain both track changes and bookmarks.
Is it better to use 'Print to PDF' or the Acrobat 'Create PDF' button?
It depends on your needs. The Acrobat 'Create PDF' button is generally better as it preserves interactive features like bookmarks and hyperlinks. 'Print to PDF' acts as a virtual printer, meaning it captures exactly what is on the screen but strips out interactive document data.
