Xilisoft PDF to Word Converter: Troubleshooting Common Issues

How to Use Xilisoft PDF to Word Converter — Tips & Best Settings

1. Install and launch

• Download the installer from the vendor website and run it.
• Follow on‑screen prompts, accept defaults unless you need a specific install folder.
• Launch the program after installation.

2. Add PDFs

• Click Add File(s) or drag-and-drop PDFs into the main window.
• For multiple files, use batch mode to convert them at once.

3. Select output format and folder

• Choose DOC or DOCX depending on target compatibility (DOCX preferred for modern Word features).
• Set an output folder using Browse so converted files are easy to find.

4. Page range and layout options

• Use Page Range to convert all pages or specific pages (e.g., 1-3,5).
• Select layout options:
  • Keep Original Layout — preserves visual layout but may use more manual fixes.
  • Flowing Text — better for editing; Word reflows text.
  • Plain Text — strips formatting for maximum editability.

5. OCR for scanned PDFs

• Enable OCR if the PDF is a scanned image.
• Choose the correct language for best OCR accuracy.
• Higher OCR accuracy often requires more processing time; test one page first.

6. Image and table handling

• Configure image extraction: Keep Images to retain pictures, or Extract to Separate Files if you need originals.
• Enable Table Recognition if the document has tables; verify results and adjust cell merging options if available.

7. Fonts and character encoding

• If the PDF uses uncommon fonts, enable Embed Fonts or let Word substitute fonts; verify after conversion.
• For non-Latin scripts, ensure the correct encoding and font support are selected.

8. Batch settings and profiles

• Save common settings as a profile (if supported) to reuse for similar conversions.
• Use batch convert with profiles to process many files consistently.

9. Quality vs. speed trade-offs

• Higher quality (detailed layout, OCR, and images) increases conversion time and CPU use.
• For quick edits, choose flowing text and skip OCR if the PDF already contains selectable text.

10. Post-conversion checks and edits

• Open the converted DOC/DOCX and check:
  • Headings, lists, and bullets
  • Table structure and cell alignment
  • Image placement and captions
  • Footnotes, headers, and page numbers
• Make manual corrections where layout or spacing shifted.

11. Troubleshooting common issues

• Missing text: enable OCR and confirm language selection.
• Broken layout: try “Keep Original Layout” or re-run with different page-range granularity.
• Garbled characters: change encoding or substitute fonts.
• Large file size: remove embedded images or compress them in Word.

12. Tips for best results

• Use the latest version for improved OCR and compatibility.
• Convert a small sample first to refine settings.
• Keep source PDF fonts available on your system to reduce substitution issues.
• For critical formatting, consider manual tweaks after conversion rather than forcing a perfect automatic result.

13. Alternatives and final note

• If a file consistently converts poorly, try another converter or export PDF to Word from Acrobat/other PDF editors as a cross-check.