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Why Dates Change to English Format When Converting Excel to PDF
Question details
Users want to know why their regional date formats in Excel spreadsheets are automatically changed to an English format upon PDF conversion.
- Product
- Acrobat Reader Mobile
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting an Excel spreadsheet to a PDF document using the Acrobat Reader Mobile application.
- Observed behavior
- The dates in the generated PDF file appear in a global English format instead of preserving the original regional format set in the Excel file.
Verify the original regional date formats applied in your Excel spreadsheet cells before attempting the conversion to PDF.
Understand Acrobat Web Services Formatting Behavior
Learn why the Acrobat Reader Mobile app alters the date format during PDF creation and how to use an alternative conversion method.
When using the 'Create PDF' option in Acrobat Reader Mobile, the app relies on Acrobat web services to process the file conversion in the cloud. These web services use global formatting settings by default, which overrides local regional date formats and outputs the dates in English.
Because this is an expected behavior of the cloud service, retaining your specific regional date formats requires performing a local file conversion instead of relying on the mobile web service.
Avoid using the 'Create PDF' tool in Acrobat Reader Mobile if your document contains strict regional date formats that must be preserved.
Open the original Excel file on a desktop computer using your preferred spreadsheet software (such as Microsoft Excel or WPS Office).
Navigate to the 'File' menu, select 'Save As' or 'Export', and choose the PDF format. Processing the file locally ensures your system's regional settings and date formats are preserved in the final document.
Convert Excel to PDF Locally with WPS Office
To prevent cloud services from altering your regional date formats, use WPS Office. The built-in PDF converter processes files locally on both mobile and desktop devices, ensuring your dates look exactly as intended.
- 1. Open your Excel file in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office app on your device and open the spreadsheet containing your regional date formats.
- 2. Access the Tools menu: Tap on the 'Tools' icon at the bottom of the screen on mobile, or navigate to the top ribbon menu if you are using a desktop.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Find and select the 'Export to PDF' option located under the 'File' or 'Export' tab.
- 4. Save the PDF file: Choose your desired save location and tap 'Export'. The resulting PDF will retain your exact original date formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the global formatting settings in Acrobat Reader Mobile?
No, the global formatting settings are applied server-side by Acrobat web services. There is no option within the mobile app to customize these regional settings for PDF conversion.
How can I convert Excel to PDF on mobile without changing the date format?
You can use an alternative app like WPS Office, which handles the PDF conversion locally on your device. This bypasses cloud-based global formatting rules and preserves your original dates.
Does this issue happen when converting Word documents to PDF as well?
Yes, any document containing auto-updating date fields or specific regional formatting may be converted to a global English format when processed through Acrobat web services.
