I have Word 2010 on a Windows 10 64-bit PC. When attempting to save a Word doc as a pdf, the [save] operations changes the original word document by causing errant text to appear. I have tried to use the [save as] options as well as the [print to pdf] option. Both result in the original Word document being changed with the insertion of errant text. Never had this problem before, but now I can't seem to find a work-around solution. Need to create an error-free pdf.

Give us a clue about what the issue is. We cannot see your documents.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Unless you need it for Excel or Access, there is no reason to be using the 64-bit version of Office. The 64-bit version may not work with Add-Ins.

Are you using Adobe Acrobat or Word's built-in pdf utilities?

You could attach an example Word document and the problematic pdf.
How to attach a screenshot or file in this forum.

I have attached three jpg's.
[Original] is how the Word doc looks prior to conversion.
[New original with errors] is what happens to Word doc when I attempt to save the file as a pdf. This also occurs when I try to "print to pdf". Notice the additional text now appearing in the header (grayed out). That additional text is being obtained from the body of the text document.
[pdf error] shows the errant text now being reflected in the created pdf.

This only occurs on some pages. I have tried to use [Format paint] in an attempt to "paint" a good header format in place of the supposed bad header, but there was no effect.

Attached Images

	Original Doc.JPG (179.1 KB, 16 views)
	New original with errors.JPG (167.2 KB, 16 views)
	pdf error.JPG (85.0 KB, 16 views)

Without the document, I can't tell from a screenshot.

I suspect that you have a StyleRef Field in your header that is picking up text formatted in the given style; that text should not be formatted in that style. The number of characters, though, exceeds what such a field will copy.

That could give you the effect of appearing to change the document when you convert to pdf or print to pdf.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried changing the style field for the header to "normal", then saved to pdf, but the error reappeared.

In deference to an earlier post about styfle formatting, I attached a screen shot of the style format information screen being used for the header. Can't see anything amiss although the error continues following conversion to pdf.

Attached Images

Style formet.JPG (43.3 KB, 14 views)

Look at the link on the StyleRef Field. It is not the style of the header that matters!

If you can't attach a part of the problem document, then try pressing Alt+F9 to see what fields are in the header.

I attached some sample pages with the Alt-F9 features exposed.

Attached Files

sample.docx (23.7 KB, 7 views)

Your header has three fields in it, at least one of which does not belong there.
00 deleteme 1.png

There is no reason for a TOC field to be in a header. I suspect that field is what is causing at least part of your problem, but it could be the Ref field.

Read the information on the StyleRef field and decide if that might be what you want to be using instead of the Ref field. I think you do. Then you would not have to unlink your headers and put in a different ref field.

If there is a reason you want a TOC field, tell us and someone will tell you what to use instead.

You can likely get rid of the \* MERGEFORMAT switch from each of these fields as well.

I'm amazed that your document worked at all with a TOC field in the header.
That is a Table of Contents field.

By the way, the Alt+F9 command controls the setting on your computer to display field codes. It does not change the content of the document at all. Remember to use it to toggle the display back when you are done looking.

Thanks for the feedback. I have to admit that I do not know what the various codes mean that are found in the header. As for the TOC, I wonder if that appears when I [insert] [Cross Reference] [Heading] which happens to match the TOC. As for the \* MERGEFORMAT, I do not know what causes them. I will attempt to erase each and see what the impact is, then start the process all over again. If all fails, I can take the basic text document, and start all over again with new headers and see what happens. Appreciate the support.

• Again, I urge you to follow the link on the StyleRef Field. There is no need or reason to be using a cross-reference that I can figure out.
• The TOC field does not get inserted as a side-effect of the Ref field.
• The \* MERGEFORMAT switch gets entered automatically when you let Word insert fields without unchecking the box to preserve formatting during updates. You would think that is what you want, but you do not. However, that switch is not causing the problem you've observed.

So, I looked at the StyleRef link but could not understand how to follow instructions that applied to a book layout - chapter titles on left (even) page and page numbers on odd page. I am able to set up the odd/even format, but didn't see how the StyleRef would allow insertion of the chapter titles on the even pages. From other web instructions, they said to [Insert] [Cross Reference] [Heading] which worked for most of the pages, except where it failed. Any suggestions on how to set up chapter titles in the header of an odd/even typical book layout using StyleRef?

This really is very simple.
1. Go to Page Layout|Page Setup>Layout and choose 'different odd and even'.
2. Insert the StyleRef field into an even page header.
3. Delete all content except the {PAGE} field from an odd (primary) page header.
Done.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

To All: Thanks for your help on this issue. I appreciate the time you took to respond and I learned from your expertise.