Excel and PDF are two widely used file formats for exchanging important information. While Excel is commonly used for data analysis and calculation, PDF is the format of choice for important documents like contracts, invoices, and reports. But what if you need to convert your PDF file into Excel format or vice versa? In this article, we will discuss the best ways to convert PDF to Excel and Excel to PDF, as well as some frequently asked questions.
How to Convert PDF to Excel
There are several ways to convert a PDF file to Excel format. You can use online tools, desktop software, or even Microsoft Excel itself. Let’s take a look at some of the best options.
1. Online PDF to Excel Converters
There are many online tools that allow you to convert your PDF file to Excel format for free. One of the best is Smallpdf. Here are the steps to convert a PDF file to Excel using Smallpdf:
- Visit smallpdf.com/pdf-to-excel in your browser.
- Click the “Choose Files” button and select the PDF file you want to convert.
- Wait for the file to upload and be processed. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the file size and the speed of your internet connection.
- Once the file has been processed, click the “Download” button to save the Excel file to your computer.
Other popular online PDF to Excel converters include Nitro PDF and FoxyUtils.
2. Desktop Software
If you need to convert PDF files to Excel format on a regular basis, you may want to consider investing in a desktop software solution. There are many options available, including Adobe Acrobat Pro, Able2Extract, and PDF Converter Elite. Here are the steps to convert a PDF file to Excel using Adobe Acrobat Pro:
- Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
- Click the “File” menu and select “Open.” Browse to the location of the PDF file you want to convert and click “Open.”
- Click the “Export PDF” tool in the right pane.
- Select “Spreadsheet” as the output format.
- Select “Microsoft Excel Workbook” as the spreadsheet type.
- Click the “Export” button and save the Excel file to your computer.
Desktop software solutions can be expensive, but they offer advanced features like batch processing and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) that can make them worth the investment.
3. Microsoft Excel
If you already have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can use it to convert a PDF file to Excel format. Here are the steps:
- Open Microsoft Excel.
- Click the “File” menu and select “Open.”
- Browse to the location of the PDF file you want to convert and select it.
- Click the “Open” button.
- Excel will attempt to convert the PDF file to an Excel file automatically. If the conversion is successful, you will see the Excel file in the main Excel window.
Keep in mind that the conversion process may not be perfect, especially if the PDF file contains complex formatting or non-standard fonts. You may need to manually adjust the Excel file after conversion to ensure that all the data is correct.
How to Convert Excel to PDF
Converting Excel files to PDF format is also important, especially when you need to share important information with others. Here are three ways to convert Excel to PDF:
1. Save As PDF in Excel
If you have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can use it to save your Excel file as a PDF file directly. Here are the steps:
- Open the Excel file you want to convert to PDF.
- Click the “File” menu and select “Save As.”
- Select “PDF” as the file type.
- Click the “Save” button and choose a location to save the PDF file.
2. Online Excel to PDF Converters
There are many online tools that allow you to convert your Excel file to PDF format for free. One of the best is Smallpdf. Here are the steps to convert an Excel file to PDF using Smallpdf:
- Visit smallpdf.com/excel-to-pdf in your browser.
- Click the “Choose Files” button and select the Excel file you want to convert.
- Wait for the file to upload and be processed. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the file size and the speed of your internet connection.
- Once the file has been processed, click the “Download” button to save the PDF file to your computer.
Other popular online Excel to PDF converters include Nitro PDF and Online-Convert.
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro
Another option for converting Excel files to PDF format is Adobe Acrobat Pro. Here are the steps:
- Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
- Click the “File” menu and select “Create PDF.”
- Select the Excel file you want to convert and click “Open.”
- Acrobat will convert the Excel file to PDF format automatically.
- Click the “Save” button and choose a location to save the PDF file.
FAQ
1. Can I edit data in a converted Excel file?
Yes, you can edit data in a converted Excel file just like any other Excel file. However, keep in mind that the conversion process may not be perfect, especially if the original PDF file contains complex formatting or non-standard fonts. You may need to manually adjust the Excel file after conversion to ensure that all the data is correct.
2. Can I convert multiple PDF files to Excel format at once?
Yes, many PDF to Excel converters allow you to upload multiple files at once and convert them all together. This can save you a lot of time if you need to convert a large number of files.
Conclusion
Converting PDF files to Excel format and Excel files to PDF format is an important task for many professionals. Whether you need to extract data from a PDF file for analysis or share an Excel file with others in a secure and universal format, there are many tools available to help you get the job done. By following the steps outlined in this article and using the recommended tools, you can easily convert your files and take your productivity to the next level.
Video Tutorial
Check out this video tutorial on how to convert PDF to Excel using Adobe Acrobat Pro:
