this posting will compare a number of different possible ways to convert PDF files into Word Doc format, including freeware programs and free web and email services. Six different programs/services are tested: (1) PDF2HTMLgui, (2) the Koolwire email PDF to DOC conversion service, (3) the Zamzar web service, (4) Free PDF To Word Doc Converter, (5) Adobe PDF to HTML email conversion service, and (6) the MediaConvert web service.

In order to do this test I created a PDF document using Open Office’s export to PDF function that had the following elements (1) a two-column table with special formatting, which contained (2) three thumbnail-szied jpeg images. My PDF document also contained (3) working hyperlinks; and (4) it featured text that was bolded; (5) contained bulleted points, as well as (6) a numbered list.

For the sake of simplicity my PDF was only a single page. To see what the document looked like click on the screenshot to the right.

The objective: was to get a converted document that could be loaded into MS Word where the text/contents could be edited and subsequently saved as .DOC format, which is to say any of the following formats would be satisfactory: .DOC, .HTML, and .RTF.

Comparative results: look for them at the bottom of this positng.

#1: PDF2HTMLgui: this is a GUI for the open source PDF2HTML. It took me a long time to find this on the net, as the project seems to have been abandoned (download link provided below). Some notes on this one:

• Very straightforward interface.
• You will need to point the program to both the PDF2HTML executable. You will also need to download and install Ghostscript and point it to that.
• Note: use the “no frames” option to get a single HTML file rather than an index page that points to the different individual pages of your document.
• Download link: click here to download. Note that the zip archive contains both PDF2HTMLgui and PDF2HTML v0.39. You can go to the PDF2HTML project page to check for newer versions of the latter (at the time of this writing there was an experimental version 0.40 available, which I did not test). Go here to download the latest version of Ghostscript.
• The results: see the results section below

#2: Koolwire (doc[at]koolwire.com): Koolwire is a web service that allows you to upload a PDF file or send it via email as an attachment, will convert it to RTF format for you, and will email the converted document back. Here are more notes on this one.

• You can email a file that is less than 10 megs in size. Files over 10 megs can be uploaded through the Koolwire website Koolwire also provides conversion to PDF, MP3, and WAV
• Once I had sent in my email to “doc[at]koolwire.com”with my document attached (subject lines and message content do not matter), I received the converted document in within two minutes, as an attachement (not a download link).
• Privacy policy: their legal blurb states that users will not receive any unsolicited emails at any point. They also maintain “the right (but not the obligation) to verify Content (i.e. view your documents) at their sole discretion”.
• Results: see the results section below.

#3: Zamzar: this is a web-based file conversion service that I first reviewed in Feb, 2007. Zamzar will let you upload a file through its web interface, convert it, then email you a download link. It covers a very wide range of possible input and output formats. More notes as follows:

• Max uploadable file size is 100 megs in the free version.
• Response time: is variable: I converted three documents over 3 days. For two of these that were performed mid-day it took two hours to get my download link. A third file that was uploaded past midnight took around 5 minutes.
• Privacy policy: your files are deleted once the conversion happens and the converted files are deleted once the download link expires. Also, to quote “files stored for download are only accessible by Zamzar”. Another quote: “Zamzar does not rent, sell, or share your personal information or email address with any other companies.” Not sure if they will send you promotional emails, but I have not received any.
• Results: see the results section below.

#4: Free PDF to Word Converter: this is a program that, when I first tested it seemed to finally provide a fully freeware PDF to Word solution. What I did not realize that after a while the program starts asking for one-off registration keys that you can visit a page and obtain a free code. More notes on this program:

• You will need to get a key every time you do a conversion, which involves visiting a page full of ads and solving a math problem (no joke). The end result is a kind of innovative – and very annoying – nag screen that moreover prevents the use of this tool if you are not connected to the internet.
• Performance: once you do get the registration key the program converts your document very quickly.
• Results: see the results section below.

#5: Adobe email conversion service (pdf2html[at]adobe.com): Adobe provides a PDF conversion service by email similar to #5: Koolwire (#2 above). However, it seems that only conversion to HTML is offered (no RTF or DOC). For more info, go here. Here are more notes on this one.

• The PDF file to convert is sent to “pdf2html[at]adobe.com], the subject and message content are not important. Adobe also provides conversion to TXT (pdf2txt[at]adobe.com).
• It took about a minute to get my converted file sent to me by return email once I had sent the document it. This arrived as an attachement (not a download link).
• Privacy policy: not sure, but I assume its the same as the others above.
• Results: see the results section below.

#6: Media-Convert web service: another web-based file conversion service simialar to Zamzar (Freewaregenius review here, Nov 2006). You can upload your file up to a max of 150 megs to Media-Convert and download the converted version. Here are more notes on this service.

• You do not need to provide an email address to use the service (nothing is emailed to you).
• Supports many input and output filetypes. I converted PDF to RTF
• Unlike Zamzar, you do not have to wait for hours between uploading your file and downloading the converted file (my file converted and I got a download link in under 1 minute).
• Privacy policy: not sure, but I assume its the same as the others mentioned above.
• Results: see the results section below.

Comparison of Results:

Image handling:

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: although the images were imported into the converted documented, they were not placed in their proper location on the page but simply placed on the top of the document.
• (2) Koolwire: did an excellent job for both importing and placement of images. Best treatment.
• (3) Zamzar: all three images plus the visual formatting of the table were converted into one image. The document seems to have been split into “text” and a single image comprising all visual elements.
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: imported images more or less with the right placement.
• (5) Adobe email service: simply truncated/did away with the table and all its contents, including the images. I am not sure if it would have otherwise imported images if they were not inside a table.
• (6) Media-Convert: imported images more or less with the right placement.

Handling of the table: none of the resulting documents actually contained an editable table; tables were generally “recreated” using floating text boxes that aimed to approximate the layout and look of the original table:

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: did not recreate a table or its formatting; the contents of the table were “flattened” into a single column
• (2) Koolwire: did the best job of “recreating” the table using text boxes, including producing the most faithful re-creation of the formatting. Best treatment.
• (3) Zamzar: created text boxes that approximated the placement of the text inside the table fairly well. The visual formatting of the table was converted into a background image (that moreover included all images on the page, see the images section above).
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: although it ignored the table and its formatting, this meant that you at least didn’t have to deal with a large number of floating text boxes. The placement of the text was faithful to where it was located inside the table.
• (5) Adobe email service: simply truncated/did away with the table and all its contents, including the images.
• (6) Media-Convert: set to re-create the table using floating text boxes, but did not handle the table’s formatting. Both the text and images were more or less correctly placed where they otherwise would have been inside the table.

Handling of text and/or text boxes : this is probably the most important element, since it is probably safe to assume that the point of converting a PDF to Doc is to allow for editing the text of the document.

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: the text was re-cast into a single column, but the continuity of the text was interrupted by carriage returns at the end of each line.
• (2) Koolwire: employed a continuous text without carriage returns, most conducive to easy editing. Best treatment.
• (3) Zamzar: continuous text in a single text box, but with carriage returns at the end of each line.
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: continuous text in a single text box, but with carriage returns at the end of each line.
• (5) Adobe email service: the text that was imported (text outside the table) was continuous text without carriage returns.
• (6) Media-Convert: each line of text was its own text box, crowding the page with dozens of separate text boxes and making the editing process very complex and time consuming.

Handling of text formatting: this comprises font style and color, bulleted points, numbered list, and working hyperlinks

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: the formatting was preserved, including style, font color, bullet points, and numbered list. Hyperlinks were preserved.
• (2) Koolwire: same as above.
• (3) Zamzar: same as above.
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: same as above, except no working hyperlinks.
• (5) Adobe email service: not enough info, because the table was removed. Bullet points and numbered lists were preserved, as was the text style.
• (6) Media-Convert: each text box had a single text style (e.g. if there was a bolded word in a row the entire row was bolded). Bullet points, and numbered list preserved, Hyperlinks not working.

Best way to load into MS Word:

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: open the HTML file with a browser then select the contents of the page and paste into Word and save as DOC format. This will get rid of the dependency on external image files.
• (2) Koolwire: simply open RTF file with Word.
• (3) Zamzar: simply open DOC file with Word.
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: simply open DOC file with Word.
• (5) Adobe email service: same as #1 above.
• (6) Media-Convert: simply open RTF file with Word.

The verdict:

• (1) PDF2HTMLgui: a good choice if your document does not contain tables or if you do not care to email and/or upload your file to a web service. You might need to do a good degree of manual work to re-constitute your document though.
• (2) Koolwire: the best all-round solution, and the best at handling all of the different elements. A Freewaregenius PICK.
• (3) Zamzar: does an OK job, but has 2 strikes against it. (1) The unpredictability of lag time between the time you upload your file to the time you get your link (which can take a couple of hours), and (2) the way it lumps all visual elements/images into a single background image.
• (4) Free PDF to Word Converter: does an OK job, but not great, and is simply too annoying with the visiting a web page and obtaining a code business every single time you need to run a conversion.
• (5) Adobe email service: a big disappointment.
• (6) Media-Convert: is an OK option. The handling of text rows each in its own text box is a big liability though, and can translate into lots of manual work if you are interested in editing the text.

Lastly, if you know of a free PDF to DOC conversion service that was not covered here please let me know.