How to Use GIRDAC PDF to Word Converter Pro: A Quick GuideGIRDAC PDF to Word Converter Pro is a desktop application designed to convert PDF files into editable Microsoft Word documents (DOC or DOCX). This quick guide covers installation, basic and advanced conversion steps, tips for handling scanned/OCR documents, troubleshooting common issues, and suggestions for preserving formatting and layout.
Getting started: installation and setup
- System requirements
- Windows 7 or later (64-bit recommended)
- At least 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
- 100 MB free disk space
- Microsoft Word installed for previewing/editing converted files (recommended but not required)
- Download and install
- Download the installer from GIRDAC’s official website.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
- Launch the application from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
- Registration and licensing
- The Pro version requires a license key. Open the Help or About menu in the app, choose Activate, then paste your license key and confirm.
- If you don’t have a key, use the trial mode to evaluate the software (trial limitations may apply).
Basic workflow: converting a single PDF to Word
- Open GIRDAC PDF to Word Converter Pro.
- Click the “Add Files” or “Open” button and select the PDF you want to convert.
- Choose the output format: DOC or DOCX. DOCX is recommended for compatibility with modern Word versions.
- Select the output folder where the converted file will be saved.
- Click “Convert” (or “Start”) to begin. The app will show progress and notify you when conversion finishes.
- Open the resulting DOC/DOCX file in Microsoft Word or another word processor to review and edit.
Tips:
- For documents with complex layouts, convert to DOCX to retain more formatting.
- Use the preview pane (if available) to inspect pages before conversion.
Converting multiple PDFs (batch conversion)
- Click “Add Files” or “Add Folder” to load multiple PDFs at once.
- Verify output settings (format and destination) apply to all files.
- Optionally configure per-file settings if the app supports them (e.g., different OCR settings).
- Click “Convert” to process the entire batch. Batch mode greatly speeds up converting large numbers of documents.
Handling scanned PDFs and OCR
Scanned PDFs are images; to convert them into editable Word text, enable OCR (Optical Character Recognition):
- In the conversion settings, enable OCR.
- Choose the correct language(s) for OCR to improve accuracy.
- Optionally select layout retention settings (e.g., preserve columns, tables).
- If available, adjust OCR resolution or sensitivity to balance accuracy vs. processing time.
- Start conversion and review the output carefully — OCR can introduce recognition errors, especially in low-quality scans or unusual fonts.
Tips:
- Higher-quality scans (300 DPI or more) produce better OCR results.
- Manually correct OCR mistakes in Word after conversion; search-and-replace can fix recurring errors.
Advanced settings and preserving layout
- Preserve formatting/layout
- Enable “Retain layout” or “Exact layout” if you need the Word document to closely match the PDF.
- Note: exact layout modes may use text boxes and frames, making editing harder in Word.
- Image handling
- Choose whether to extract images separately or embed them in the Word output.
- Adjust image quality/compression to keep file size manageable.
- Tables and columns
- Enable options to detect tables and convert them to editable Word tables.
- For multi-column pages, enable column detection to preserve reading order.
- Fonts and substitution
- If the original PDF uses uncommon fonts, Word may substitute fonts. Consider embedding fonts in the PDF before conversion or installing missing fonts on your system.
Editing and cleanup after conversion
- Open the converted DOC/DOCX in Word.
- Check pagination, headings, lists, and tables.
- Fix any OCR or formatting errors: reflow text, merge/split paragraphs, adjust fonts.
- Use Word’s Find & Replace and styles to apply consistent formatting quickly.
Quick fixes:
- Reapply heading styles to enable a navigation pane and easier structure editing.
- Convert text boxes to regular paragraphs if you need to reflow content (select text, copy, and paste into a blank paragraph).
Troubleshooting common issues
- Conversion fails or app crashes: ensure you’re using the latest version, reinstall, and check system requirements.
- Poor OCR accuracy: increase scan resolution, choose correct OCR language, or try preprocessing (deskewing, contrast adjustment) with an image editor.
- Formatting lost: try switching between “Exact layout” and “Flowing text” modes; convert to DOCX if using DOC produces worse results.
- Large file sizes after conversion: enable image compression or reduce image quality in settings.
- License activation problems: verify the key, check firewall/antivirus blocking the app, and contact GIRDAC support.
Security and privacy considerations
- Work offline when processing sensitive documents; the desktop app does not require uploading files to external servers.
- If using cloud or online conversion options, verify the provider’s privacy policy before uploading confidential material.
Alternatives and when to choose them
- Use a dedicated OCR tool (ABBYY FineReader) for heavy OCR needs or difficult scans.
- Use Adobe Acrobat Pro for advanced PDF editing and high-fidelity export.
- Use free online converters for one-off, non-sensitive conversions; avoid them for confidential documents.
Quick checklist before converting
- Choose DOCX for better compatibility.
- Enable OCR for scanned documents and select the correct language.
- Pick “Retain layout” only if you need exact visual matching.
- Review and correct the converted file in Word.
If you want, I can write a shorter version (one-page quick start), create step-by-step screenshots, or produce a checklist you can print.
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