As PDF format has good compatibility and features safe in file transmission, so it is easy for us to view PDF files on different platforms. Things become different if we want to edit PDF. As PDF cant be editable, you need to convert PDF to word or text for editing. Though there are tons of applications are designed for Windows, little for other platforms, especially for Mac OS X. Thus for Mac users, it would be not as convenient as we normally do in Windows. A clear example is that Windows users can easily save PDF as Word with free PDF to Word Converter, while Mac users can hardly do that similar work using some applications effectively. Fortunately, we now find several feasible solutions to save PDF as word on Mac for easy editing.
1. Preview
Preview is a default PDF reader on Mac if you without installing Adobe reader. If necessary, when viewing PDF files with Preview, users would habitually "save PDF as Word" in the process, which actually is, click Text Tool and select contents and then copy and paste from PDF to Word. Actually, only the text can be saved in Word. Most of time, they are just in a mess and you need to reformat them. Besides, the other elements like graphics, hyperlinks and layouts would be lost. Moreover, it would be tedious and hard work if there are tons of text need to manually copy and paste.
Pros: free and easy to realize
Cons: manual work, the formats and most of contents are lost, not working for encrypted PDF files
2. Adobe Reader X for Mac
If you use Adobe Reader X for PDF viewing, you can directly save PDF as text and then copy it to word for easy editing. But this method is only available for unencrypted PDF files. If your PDF file is encrypted (youll find a lock icon on the left side of the file), you have to use other Mac applications like PDF to Word converter for Mac or
PDF converter for Mac.
Pro: free and easy to realize
Cons: manual work, the formats and most of contents are lost, not working for encrypted PDF files (see picture as follows)
If the PDF file is encrypted, with a lock icon or secured sign, you cannot copy or edit it. In this case, you have to use
PDF converter for Mac or PDF to Word for Mac to convert PDF to word.
If the PDF file is encrypted, with a lock icon or secured sign, you cannot copy or edit it. In this case, you have to use PDF converter for Mac or PDF to Word for Mac to convert PDF to word.
3. Adobe Acrobat
Mac users can easily save PDF as Word document on Mac if they have already installed
Adobe Acrobat previously. Add your PDF file in Acrobat and then directly save PDF as Word. The problem is that the app is designed for editing. If you have many files which need to be saved as Word, it would be still a tedious job. And some elements like graphics could not be re-edited.
Pros: fast and accurate
Cons: too expensive and not cost-effective, no patch conversion.
4. Online Software Conversion
To make use of online software is a good solution, such as
pdftoword.com,
zamzar.com, and so on. You just need to upload your PDF files and type in your email, then click convert and get a cup of coffee. After conversion, you would receive word document as an attachment in your email.
However, considering its security, people may not choose this way to save PDF as Word, because some PDF files need to convert are confidential. It would be not safe if you upload them online. Another problem is that only one PDF file can be converted at a time. It would be a time-consuming job if you had many files to handle.
Pros: standalone of any operating OS
Cons: unsafe and low efficiency
5. Professional PDF Conversion software for Mac
If you want to find a simple and cost-effective way, especially want to convert encrypted files, its better to buy a
PDF converter for Mac or PDF to word for Mac. It would be a direct and appropriate way to save PDF as Word. You just need to follow 3 steps on
how to convert PDF to word: import customize convert. And the work will be done in a few seconds. Whats more, either of the Mac app can support batch or partial conversion that you can convert all pages or a specific page as you like.
Pros: high efficiency and accuracy with partial and patch conversion; good security-you can find it on PDF to Word for Mac on Apple Downloads
Cons: not free but would be cost-effective
