Ask a new question

Export from Word 2013 to PDF alters table formatting

Is there a way to control the formatting of tables when exporting/printing to PDF?

The image attached is what tables look like after printing to PDF. The borders are messed up generally (they should all be the same width!) but there is no consistency regarding the borders when a cell or row has a background colour.

What is happening here and how do you fix it?

Is this just a display issue, or does the difference also show up on printout?
Microsoft MVP (Word) since 1999
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://ssbarnhill.com
http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com
Screen shots captured with TechSmith's Snagit

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Actual printout from both Word doc and PDF look fine. It's how it displays on screen in PDF. A pretty vital element when sending branded docs and quotes.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I would like to know more information to assist you better.

How did you create the tables? Did you use any Styles within Word document?

How did you save the document? Did you use the pdf printer or used the built in option within Word application?

Are you able to reproduce this issue in a new Word document?

Which pdf viewer are you using to view the pdf documents?

Provide more information to assist you better.

Thank you.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hello,

(I'm not Thomas, don't know who that is!)

I created the tables using Insert > Table.

There are no styles applied for the table.

I highlighted the top header row and simply changed the background color.

Saved document with File > Print and used Adobe PDF

I also tried saving the document as File > Saves as and used the built in PDF creator.

I am able to produce it every time.

View document with Adobe Acrobat.

Thanks

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I have corrected the typo. We will check on your issue and get back to you.

Thank you.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

If you want to send me a copy of the document, I will investigate the issue.
Hope this helps,
Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word)
dougrobbinsmvp@gmail.com
It's time to replace ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’ with ‘Excellence, Opportunity & Civility’ - V Ramaswamy

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Cheers Doug,

I've replied via gmail.

Thanks

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

This is, as Doug discovered, a PDF rendering issue as when zoomed into the PDF as far as you can it does look ok. However, viewed at normal magnification it doesn't look right. Unlike a PDF created in InDesign which does look ok.

There must be an issue with how word outputs the contents to a PDF.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

 
 

Question Info

Last updated May 15, 2024 Views 2,770 Applies to: