What you should know
DOCX to PDF is the conversion from writing to delivery. DOCX is for writing and editing; PDF freezes the layout so the document displays identically for the recipient.
A browser cannot reproduce Word's layout. FileXvert therefore hands this conversion to LibreOffice on its server: fonts, images, tables, headers and pagination are kept. The file is sent to our server over an encrypted connection, after a notice shown before upload, converted in an isolated service with no Internet access, then deleted as soon as the result is returned.
Strengths
- Layout, images and tables kept, like an export from Word
- Calibri and Cambria replaced by metric-compatible fonts: pagination does not move
- Characters from every language, including Chinese and arrows
- File deleted from the server as soon as the PDF is returned
Limitations to know
- The file leaves your device for the duration of the conversion, unlike the site's other conversions
- 25 MB maximum per file
- A rare font missing on the server is replaced by a similar one
- Macros, dynamic fields and comments are neither run nor shown
When to use it
Export to PDF as soon as the document leaves your machine: sending, printing, archiving, signing. If the document is highly confidential and you have Word or LibreOffice, prefer their built-in PDF export, which needs no upload.
Quality, size and compatibility
LibreOffice reproduces Word layouts very faithfully on everyday documents: headings, styles, tables, images and pagination. Any differences come from rare fonts or very complex objects, such as nested text boxes. Check the last page and the tables of important documents.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the PDF match the DOCX exactly?
- For an everyday document, yes: layout, images and tables are kept. A rare font may be replaced by a similar one, which sometimes shifts the text slightly.
- Why is my file sent to a server?
- Because browsers cannot reproduce Word's layout. The file is converted by LibreOffice on our server, then deleted immediately; it is neither kept nor read.