PDF file conversion

Question

Hello! 
 I am currently working on the translation of a PDF document. 
 The document contains different features such as tables and images and also equations. 
 Now, Studio 2014 does not seem to be able to convert the equations as they are not displayed in either the segments in the editor nor 
 in the saved word document. What could be the problem?

Jerzy Czopik · Accepted Answer

You are talking about automated conversion, unwatched by the user. 
Your expectation here are unfortunately far too high. If you wish to have a PDF converted accurately and with all bells and whistles to Word, use a decent tool for that and control the whole process manually.

Jerzy Czopik · Answer

It is an automated process, which you do not control. I am not an expert in Studio PDF conversion, but I do not trust any automated PDF conversion at all. PDF = problems, this is an equation one should always consider and thus use the best tool available for it. The best conversion can only be achieved, if you control the process manually and see what is converted and - which is even more important - how it is converted. 
This said I must admit, that even my favourite converter, the Abbyy FineReader will most probably have problems with mathematical equations. I would not convert them but leave them as graphics in the text. In fact they usually do not change, as variables and numbers remain variables and numbers in the translation. 
So it could be worth checking, if the equations aren't included in the translation, but as graphic parts.

Jerzy Czopik · Answer

You're welcome. 
PDF was, is and will unfortunately always remain a pain somewhere, as the format is designed for NOT being edited... 
However, you could also try other tools, like InFix PDF editor by Iceni. For some PDF files this tool delivers amazingly good results, while you edit the PDF itself! It makes PDFs (not scanned PDFs) editable, allowing you to export XML to process in Studio for example. There is a version planed to export XLF and this version shall be released quite soon from what I know. So for certain purposes it is the best tool, however your deliverable will be PDF then.

Alison Field · Answer

Jude, 
 Jerzy is of course absolutely right, PDF (Portable Document Format) was not created to be a text editor and the complexity of the format and how it is generated makes it very hard to reproduce accurately in a 100% translatable format. 
 Take a look at this recent post, where a similar topic was discussed... 
 The impossible file challenge 
 All the best, 
 Ali

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PDF file conversion