How Does a PDF Converter Work
Anyone who has encountered a PDF file knows that this format does not always behave the same way we might expect from other data types. PDFs can be very dynamic documents in terms of how users can apply them, but it is somewhat rigid as a format. For ex-ample, PDFs aren’t meant for extensive text editing and word processing, so it is best to convert them to another file format for such efforts. However, simply opening the document in a reader style PDF tool doesn’t provide the option to re-save in a different format.
That’s where software that can convert these files becomes essential. Whether you try an online PDF converter or opt for purpose-built software, what do these tools do? Why do you need a particular program to convert files to PDF? The answer has to do with the unique coding applied to display data in PDFs.
What Goes on Behind the Scenes When You Convert PDFs
The key difference to understand is that a word processing file, such as a Microsoft Word .docx file, works primarily to display its data in software that can interpret it. This format is highly malleable and easy to edit because it is meant for works in progress and other applications. On the other hand, a PDF aims to be a perfect representation of its data on any system or screen. To do this, the format is based on a unique programming language called PostScript.
PDF files use their own “language” to rigorously define the exact location of every element on every page, whether that’s a line of text or an image. By defining these locations, software that can interpret PDFs can accurately recreate its content regardless of local settings.
These unique properties are why we need a PDF converter such as Kofax Power PDF. Think of this software as a real world translator who understands multiple languages. To take a non static format such as Excel or Word and convert it to PDF requires a program that knows how to redefine the contents in the PostScript language or vice versa.
Related Post: The Beginner’s Guide to PDF Files
How to Use Power PDF to Convert Files Easily
If all that sounds complicated, don’t worry — it all takes place behind the scenes, and with the right software, it can take mere seconds to complete. With Power PDF, you can convert one or one hundred files with the same level of ease. Here’s a quick look at a sample document conversion workflow:
- Open the PDF file.
- Using the File menu, select “Save As.” Use the dropdown menu to choose your preferred document format as you would when saving a regular file.
- Choose a destination to save your file and give it a name. Press OK.
- Power PDF’s built in converter parses the file’s data and outputs an accurate new version in your requested format.
You can also learn how to convert other documents into PDFs with ease.
Acquiring the Conversion Capabilities You Need is Easy
With fast and easy document conversion, you can fully unlock the versatility of a PDF as an effective vehicle for sharing and displaying data. Power PDF, with its rapid conversion capabilities built from the first line of code with efficiency and simplicity in mind, can be a cornerstone of your document editing software. Discover all you can accomplish with the PDF format when you use a fully-featured solution built for user-friendliness. Find the easiest way to convert files to and from PDF when you download a 15-day free trial of Power PDF today.
