Document-to-PDF conversion

The document-to-PDF conversion feature is designed to simplify the display of various document formats on our platform. When a document is uploaded, such as a .doc or .ppt, we automatically convert it into a PDF. This conversion ensures consistent viewing across different devices and platforms.

Note that the resulting PDF file may differ from the original file (font changes, general layout changes, text wrapping changes). We recommend reviewing the PDF output to ensure that no significant cosmetic changes have negatively impacted the readability or layout. If that is the case, we recommend workarounds.

How it works

When adding a document to a course, depending on the document type, it will be converted from it's original document type into a PDF. The converted PDF is then displayed within the platform, allowing users to view it directly. The original document remains available for download, ensuring that users can access and use the document in its original format if needed.

The following file types will be converted to a PDF when uploaded to the platform:

• Slideshow
  • .pptx
  • .ppt
  • .ppta
  • .ppsx
  • .odp
  • .pptm
  • .ppsm
  • .pps
  • gslides
  • flipchart
  • .ppta
• Word
  • .docx
  • .doc
  • .docm
  • .odt
  • .pages
  • .rtf
  • .story
  • .dotx
  • .dot
  • .wps
  • .sdoc

Workarounds

if you encounter issues with document-to-PDF conversion while uploading to the platform, here are some workaround methods you can use:

• Enable Document Download: Ensure that the option to download the document is enabled. This will allow users to download the original document if the conversion fails.
  • For more details on enabling downloads, please visit Add a document to a course.
• Export to PDF before uploading: Convert your documents to PDF format before uploading to the platform. This bypasses the PDF conversion process.
  • In this scenario, the original document will not be available for download, only the manually converted PDF.

Here’s a list of possible issues, along with their cause:

• Fonts: If the original fonts are not embedded or supported by the PDF format, they may be substituted with similar ones, which could affect the look of your text.
• Text Alignment: Margins or text alignment might shift slightly, especially if the original document has complex formatting (e.g., columns, indents, or spacing).
• Images: Image quality may decrease slightly due to compression during the conversion process. Placement of images could also be altered if they were aligned or wrapped around text in a non-standard way.
• Hyperlinks: Hyperlinks in the original document may work incorrectly after conversion, depending on how they were embedded.
• Page Breaks: Page breaks or pagination might shift, especially in longer documents with variable content on each page.
• Tables and Graphs: Complex tables or graphs could be misaligned or lose some formatting, like border styles or cell colors.