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FM PDF To Word Converter Pro 3.05 Giveaway
$39.90
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — FM PDF To Word Converter Pro 3.05

Process PDF files in batch and save them as Word documents.
$39.90 EXPIRED
User rating: 126 56 comments

FM PDF To Word Converter Pro 3.05 was available as a giveaway on February 8, 2016!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$36.00
free today
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FM PDF To Word Converter Pro can process a batch of PDF files at one time and save them as Word documents with a useful built-in PDF viewer. It uses an accurate cloud-based conversion engine, so it is a powerful professional software for converting PDF to an easily editable Word DOC or DOCX document formats. The program uses an artificial intelligence and accurately recognizes and converts images, paragraphs, tables, bullets, numbered lists, newspaper columns and other standard document formatting features. FM PDF To Word Converter Pro can create output Word DOC(X) documents that are well-formatted and easily editable.

Key features:

  • Batch mode processing;
  • PDF password protection;
  • Amazing cloud-based conversion engine;
  • Simple and accurate GUI control;
  • Multi-page PDFs support;
  • Built-in PDF viewer with online feature;
  • Unicode text;
  • Simple adding online-based PDFs;
  • Scope function for PDF pages;
  • User-friendly graphical interface.

System Requirements:

Windows XP/ Vista/ 7/ 8/ 10 (x32/x64); Processor: 2 GHz CPU with SSE2 support, Intel Pentium 4, Pentium Core or Atom, AMD Athlon 64 or above; System memory: 512 MB; Hard disk: 20 MB; Other: Active Internet connection (proxy servers currently not supported)

Publisher:

FM Software Studio

Homepage:

http://fm-pdf.com/pdf-to-word.html

File Size:

6.7 MB

Price:

$39.90

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Developed by Microsoft
Create PDF documents from printable files.
Developed by ES-Computing
Generate, edit, convert and protect PDF files.

Comments on FM PDF To Word Converter Pro 3.05

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#36

Gentlemen,
I was by here last night and didn't see that I needed the batch ability of this software. Checking back today several times and reading excellent suggestions by Mike R, XP Man and Allan I got the bug to try it myself for the limited uses on stand alone PDF Files. The download, install and activation went without hitch. 10 Mins. Win 10 Pro w/Office 2016.

I was able to convert a small 250 kbit PDF to MS Doc File in under 2 minutes and it is near perfect and editing is a breeze. I went on to convert a small 20 page tech manual in about 10 minutes also with excellent results. I was surprised and am happy that it does work well and to think I wasn't interested.

Recently it has been painful to see the discontent here and while change IMHO is not always good I am hopeful that I will be seeing a more humble attitude of helpful sharing here!

Thanks

Rick Martin

Reply   |   Comment by Rick Martin  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#35

Well, my tuppence worth is that when I eagerly ran the programme (because I've long wanted to back up my web-based emails, some going back to 2000 (!), the programme took one look -- and gave up.

Within a few seconds it reported back that either it, or I, had "violated" some protocol or other, and wouldn't proceed....

I thought I had been pretty polite, actually....

Anyway, despite high hopes, it didn't work for me.

Reply   |   Comment by Tranmontane  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#34

Using an old Windows Vista Home Premium desktop and when I try to do the setup it crashes and says that the setup has stopped. Is Vista not supported?

Reply   |   Comment by Thomas Stewart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#33

Installed and registered on Windows 7 pro, tried to convert two simple pdfs with no success -software progresses to 100% and opens folder but MS office 2010 states the documents are involved. Uninstalled.

Reply   |   Comment by Paul  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

Paul
>>Involved? I dunno where that came from >>corrupted - 2010 states the documents are corrupted. Now that I know my pdf's were being converted online I would be very wary of using this software for any sensitive material.

Reply   |   Comment by Paul  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#32

Won't convert any PDF I throw at it. I even created a simple text file in word, simply a repeated sentence. It converted it as it did with most files, but when I tried to open it in word it said sorry, but there is unreadable content. If a simple pdf of a text file created in word can't be converted, I think this program needs some serious work.

Reply   |   Comment by Dennis  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#31

After multiple attempts to install abd register were unsuccessful...I keep getting the following error message: "An error occurred during the initialization phase! To solve this problem click on blinking antenna icon at the bottom to try retrieve data from the server." Clicking on the blinking antenna results in the same error message. My internet connection is working fine, and I even tried disabling my anti-virus program. Any advice as to how to solve this problem?

Reply   |   Comment by Rodney Brantley  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#30

Sadly I have to report that my security software was obviously not too eager to cooperate with this software. Download from the maker's page was sent to quarantine straight away. Ever so often will throw his weight around. Too bad :-)
However, thoroughly reassuring to see the 2/3 positive rating. Won't be long and we can forward to better still?

Reply   |   Comment by Sigrid.DE  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)

Sigrid.DE
look forward

Reply   |   Comment by Sigrid.DE  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#29

Like I replied to a couple of other commenters, every time I tried to convert several pdf documents to Word, it would convert, but not open! It would say, "Unknown Protocol" when trying to open the converted documents. It would also state, Document Corrupted! I will probably delete this software, since it doesn't work!

Reply   |   Comment by Bill  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#28

Regarding in the error message unknown protocol, yet again I experienced this error.

However, noticed that it only appeared on the first item in the list when I loaded a folder.

Ignored it and allowed to go further down the list without difficulty, then went back to the first line of the list because the error and it converted again without difficulty.

Dim distant memories of writing and creating a horrific code in many languages I do recall of problems with the first in a list causing problems.

This appears a very similar problem and I wonder if it's a bug in the code.
So for those of you experiencing problems maybe it is worth putting an unwanted PDF on the first line and after the errors reported make it continue down the list, it worked for me hopefully it will work for you.

Reply   |   Comment by XP-Man  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)

XP-Man
I also downloaded this software program with no problems but, when I tried to convert SEVERAL pdf documents to word, it kept saying unknown protocol and unknown error occurred when converting to Word!?! Document conversion corrupted!?

Reply   |   Comment by Bill  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)

XP-Man
Thank you very much XP-Man! (From a DOS and WordStar man....)

I tried your "trick" -- and it WORKED!

There is a real benefit to something called "experience"....

I'll remember that, in case it ever happens with any other programme.

Thanks once again.

Reply   |   Comment by Tranmontane  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#27

The secret to getting to the .docx filetype is:-

1. Convert .pdf to .doc

2. Save the .doc file as an .rtf file

3. Then open the .rtf file, and save it as an .docx file

Reply   |   Comment by Othello86  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

Othello86
Way too much work for a program that claims to do it in one step.

Reply   |   Comment by Dennis  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)

Dennis

It's called "a work-around"

If there is a better way, just let me know.

Reply   |   Comment by Othello86  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#26

I installed the program in WinXP and in Win10.
This program sends all the PDF to a server at 50.62.125.121.

I do have some PDF's, but the upload from my house is not fast.
Therefore I used some URL.
Because of Surely I put the links in a HTML:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Link-PDF.htm

Something from NASA and export to DOC.
And something about Traffic Signs

A screen dump:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/TekstAfbeelding.png

And when some text is deleted:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/DocDeleteTekst.png

The same PDF with another converter:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/FineReader.png

And not all the PDF's I have, I am allowed to send to someone else in the world. Something about copyright law.

Reply   |   Comment by Ootje  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#25

I've successfully installed and registered the program. When I tried two PDF files that I downloaded from Gutenberg.org (common formats), I was treated to the message "Unknown protocol." Well, if the ordinary PDF format is an unknown protocol, I guess I don't want this program. Uninstalled.

Reply   |   Comment by Frank D  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#24

What languages does it support? Asian languages? How about artificial languages? How does this compare to ABBYY? Does it offer any improvements?

Very vague description.

Reply   |   Comment by Jim Jones  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#23

Am I correct that this will only work if I am online? I am not enthused about that limitation. Also, if I convert a file in this manner, and save it on my local machine, what remnants of my file remain on their server when I close the software?

Reply   |   Comment by Sparky  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+19)

Sparky
They make copy of everything that is sent to them, be careful, your ID may be stolen.

Reply   |   Comment by jollie  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#22

Using Surface 3 Pro i7, Win8.1 pro
No installation problems.
Several standard PDFs of varying size attempted......
None were converted owing to "unkown file type" error.
Uni stalled as a waste of time

Reply   |   Comment by Dave Jackson  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#21

Win10 64Bit
installation no problem, also clean deinstallation.
conversion so hap-hazard as to be useless, despite the batch feature.
By contrast conversion in Word 2016 faultless, however needs to open documents for conversion. No batch feature.

BTW, reboot did not alter anything, had it done I'd been somewhat concerned.

Reply   |   Comment by Sigrid.DE  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#20

I installed the program in WinXP and in Win10.
This program sends all the PDF to a server at 50.62.125.121.

I do have some PDF's, but the upload from my house is not fast.
Therefore I used some URL:
https://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiR-t26v-jKAhUHCBoKHet5DGMQFggdMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fpdf%2F58223main_Water.on.Mars.pdf&usg=AFQjCNF6iS3gnpK0trGuGN1H411Puv2qEg&cad=rja
Something from NASA and export to DOC.
DOCX won't open in Word2013 and 2016.

Another URL: "https://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj5g4aAwOjKAhXF8Q4KHehgAtEQFggcMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F491661%2Fdg_191955.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEBvU8OJE4gFFpmE_NGSYwKGkMZJQ&bvm=bv.113370389,d.d2s"

A screen shot:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/TekstAfbeelding.png

And when some text is deleted:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/DocDeleteTekst.png

The same PDF with another converter:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FMPDFToWordConverterPro305_20160208/Win10/FineReader.png

And not all the PDF's I have, I am allowed to send to someone else in the world. Something about copyright law.

Reply   |   Comment by Ootje  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#19

@MikeR
Having tried out various conversion software in the past and found none of them were acceptable, I must admit I was quite sceptic when I read your review. However, I decided to give it a go. I don't have Microsoft Office installed although I do have Microsoft Office Starter 2010 but I usually rely on Kingsoft WPS for all my needs. Sadly my year's free licence for the Pro version (macro use) expired last August and I couldn't get another Pro version as a giveaway so I have installed a standard version with another year's free licence. Can't complain about that as it was a free offer again.

I tried a pdf conversion to docx but was quite perplexed as I was unable to find the docx converted file despite extensive searches and despite the software going through the motions of conversion on screen. Nothing was ever found in the specified output folder or elsewhere on the HHD. I concluded, or rather surmised, that in some way a full installation of Microsoft Office might be essential to the software's generation of the docx file.

So I then tried a conversion to doc. This went quite smoothly but when I loaded up the converted file into Kingsoft Writer it displayed as a veritable dog's breakfast with everything jumbled up, out of place and overprinted. Obviously useless.

As an afterthought I loaded the doc file into Microsoft Word Starter 2010. It took quite some time to load up but this may well have been down to Word taking a while to set itself on an additional virtual drive. Eventually it loaded and I was blown away - it was perfect! The pdf document I tried it on was one with 17 pages, borders, lines, twin columns of text, paragraphs and images and I couldn't fault the conversion. Yes, I know about the text boxes - I expected that. I reckon this pdf was pretty good as a test. Full marks for a good doc conversion and as I never use docx anyway I'm definitely keeping this!

The test pdf I used for anyone interested was the file cse_standard.pdf from http://www.customerserviceexcellence.uk.com/standardRequirementCSE.html. The download point appears at the end of the first paragraph.

Thank you GAOD and FM Software Studio!

Reply   |   Comment by Colin  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#18

I have tried removing and reinstalling program on my Windows 10 Pro but keep getting a "Unknown protocol" error.
Can someone tell this senior citizen how to correct this error or what could be wrong?
Respectfully submitted.

Reply   |   Comment by Graphics Guy  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#17

If GOTD will be kind enough to let this comment appear, I thought it might be helpful if I provided a little hardware / software info additional to my original comment, seeing as some fellow GOTDers are wondering about that.

Hardware used to test out today's giveaway, then: desktop PC, AMD FX Quad Core, NVidia GForce GTX, 8Gb RAM. OS: Windows 7 Home Premium. Software used for today's test: Word 2000 (part of my 17-year-old Office 200 Professional suite) and freeware Kingsoft Office (as it was) version 2013 , because it is this version which most closely replicates -- by an amazing coincidence, Mr Microsoft Legal Department -- Office 2000 Pro.

In other words: I'm one of those who has an oldish computer, out of date Microsoft software, a yesteryear OS, and out of date freebie stuff. I know. I'm a cheapskate. I also have a 10-year-old Dell laptop running Windows XP. Both machine and OS work flawlessly, so I guess I'm both a cheapskateand a Luddite.

Although I can't explain why, it may be that, for some unfathomable reason, my continuing use of old hardware and old / cheapo software has had a bearing on the way today's giveaway functioned in my hands. But I can only speak as I find: 100% accurate .doc output; 100% .docx output. And no error reports or failures in three subsequent tests.

As to the existence of text boxes, I appreciate they can be something of an irritant but in my case, I only ever need PDF conversions to deliver me a usable, readable file from which I can instantly extract material. Like Asylumsblood, wose post is elsewhere on this comment thread, I've just thrown a huge user manual (Nikon camera) at today's software because though I don't need all of it, I do need excerpted (copied) text to paste into my own mini-guide, complete with post-edit notes to myself. I also need a different font / larger type size on account of me being nowadays threatened by both senility and myopia.

I've sometimes encountered software myself which others have said works fine for them but which, when it came to my turn, either didn't function at all or performed so badly as to merit only a quick uninstall. My sympathies, then, with those whose experience of today's giveaway has been so different to mine; I wish I could explain it, but I can't. I just hope I haven't inadvertently wasted others' time. (PS: I have *no* connection with today's developer.)

Reply   |   Comment by MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)

MikeR
I also had an XP computer until November when my hard drive died on me. I got a new computer instead on just a hard drive because my graphics were also outdated. I don't think you are a cheapskate. If something isn't broken, don't fix it.

Reply   |   Comment by Velvet  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#16

Ran the program to create a .DOCX and got error "unknown protocol".
Ran the program again to create a .DOC and got the same error again.
Ran the program again to create a .RTF again got the same error.

OK, I GIVE UP. MY SYSTEM .... WIN 7 ULTIMATE

Reply   |   Comment by patrick  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#15

Very surprised when About said "License Expires: Never" but assume, as usual, that means until the next update. I found no option to stop automatic updates and since the pdfs are uploaded to be converted, I guess the license will last until the next update. The website says to check often because they update often.

I hope it won't be too soon because the software works, but not on my pc with Word 97, only the one with Word 2010. Pdfs converted on the Word 2010 pc can be copied and opened on the Word 97 though.

My only concern now is whether I will use it enough to make it worth the $40 full price, which is only good through February, before I get newer machines. The 1 pc license described on the website doesn't say it can be transferred. It is also alarming that when I select buying the $40 version on the website, it brings up the $300 site license with no way, I can figure, to change it.

Software works, but lots of questions about the developer's business mode.

Reply   |   Comment by dw0rd  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#14

I managed to download but unable to finish it with the following errors message:
Unable to execute file
C:\Program files (x86)\FM Software Studio \ FM.....
ShellExecuteEx failed: code 1155
Please hel me.

Reply   |   Comment by bill  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#13

I can confirm that the program does not respond if launched immediately after installation (Windows 10). However after a restart it converted my Panasonic camera manual (189 pages) very faithfully to .doc format and the text and illustrations could be copied and pasted from the Word doc into other programs (notepad, dtp software, image editing software).

Very impressive.

Reply   |   Comment by Roy Robertson  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#12

Sending documents to an external server raises so many privacy issues, therefore, I will not install it.

Reply   |   Comment by Sertta  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+21)
#11

After reading MikeR's comments I thought this would be worth a try. Download and installed without any problems. I tested this on a simple 4 page PDF converting it to a .DOCX file which it appeared to do so very quickly. However when I tried to open the converded file with MS Word, I got the error that the file format wasn't recognized, tried again convertinc to a .DOC file and got an non-editable image. Like the GUI, easy to use but doesn't live up to the hype. Description is a bit misleading.

Reply   |   Comment by Lenny  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)
#10

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents, as I've never commented here before that might be all its worth.

Downloaded this GOTD and installed and registered with no problems (Win10). Tried converting 3 PDF's. 1) 355 page automobile users manual 2) 5 page document from where I work (class facilitators guide) and 3) a laminate flooring installation manual.

My results were that with all conversions that it worked with no problems when converting to .doc format but was unsuccessful when converting to .docx format (said the file was corrupt). All conversions were opened with Word2013. Will be keeping this GOTD for the few occasions that I will need it.

Reply   |   Comment by Asylumsblood  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#9

Multiple attempts at installation were unsuccessful. I keep getting the following error message: "An error occurred during the initialization phase! To solve this problem click on blinking antenna icon at the bottom to try retrieve data from the server." Clicking on the blinking antenna results in the same error message. My internet connection is working fine, and I even tried disabling my anti-virus program. Any advice as to how to solve this problem?

Reply   |   Comment by Allan  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)

Allan
My guess is that you are on a proxy server. That means you don't actually have a direct link to the internet. Your access is controlled by another computer. This software, FM PDF To Word Converter , needs to have a direct link to your machine. It can't communicate correctly with you, through a proxy server. (They do mention it on their website.)
Bypassing your proxy server might fix it, but that's not the simplest of endeavors. And I also imagine there is a valid reason you are currently using a proxy server.

On a side note, why don't any of these comments ever mention what their test PDF files were generated by?
For example, in Adobe, to find what generated your file, select File/Properties/Description/Application...
Was it PDFMaker, or InDesign, or PDF4Net, or PageMaker, or LiveCycle, or... this list goes on and on...

Because, you can't truly evaluate a PDF to Word converter if you are not also evaluating what you are feeding into it.

Say, for example, your test PDF was generated by PDFMaker. Guess what?! Your test PDF document originally was a Word doc.

So, don't be too surprised if you now use a PDF to Word converter to turn it back into a Word doc and it looks pretty good. PDFMaker does a fine job of converting Microsoft technology into Adobe technology. Any decent PDF to Word converter shouldn't have a really difficult time converting it back to Word.

However, if your test PDF was generated by... say... InDesign... then it is a native PDF, still rife with the incompatibilities between Adobe and Microsoft. Take the following sentence for example, written with a Verdana font:

This word is bold and this text is italic.

In Word, you use the Verdana font and then you markup the target words as bold or italic. Then, numerous word processor calculations occur in the background.

In PDF, you set the font as Verdana, then change it to the Verdana-Bold font, just for the one word, then set it back to Verdana for the next words, then change it to the Verdana-Italic font, then change it back to Verdana, and so on. No calculations required.

And you should see the structural issues that have to be dealt with for tables, and lists, and bullets, and text wrapping, and images with removed backgrounds, and macros, and ligatures, and WordArt, and so on!

Not to mention that Word is a very robust word processor while PDF is just a file format.

It's no wonder it's difficult to create a converter that cleanly turns a native PDF into a Word doc. Or vice versa.

So, please take into account the source of your test PDF files when testing software such as this.

Cheers

Reply   |   Comment by Jaywalker  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)

Jaywalker
No, I'm not on a proxy server, and my Firefox network preferences are set to "No proxy". I should have mentioned that in my comment. I should have mentioned that, as well as the fact the installation was on a 64-bit Windows 7 Home Professional machine, in my comment.

Reply   |   Comment by Allan  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#8

Installed quickly and easily on my Win 10, 64bit system.
Last night, I spent about an hour trying to find a way to get a picture saved from a pdf file that I had and figured I would tackle it again today. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I did my Morning Coffee (best Firefox extension ever!) and found that this program was being offered.
I tried it on said pdf and left it on the default docx and, like Giz of Oz, it said that it was corrupt. The same thing happened with a doc file. Then I realized that, for some reason, Win 10 kept opening it with the Office APP instead of my registered copy of Office 2007.
I saved the files and did a "right click" "Open with" to use Word 2007 and the docx file was still reporting as corrupt, but the doc file opened perfectly.
Thanks, GOTD, I'm keeping this one!!!

Reply   |   Comment by KnittingFits  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-3)

KnittingFits

I spent about an hour trying to find a way to get a picture saved from a pdf file

Next time try a screenshot program!

Reply   |   Comment by Lorem Ipsum  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#7

I am a bit surprised by some of the reviews about a pdf reader that does not support OCR.
Tested it with 4 documents. Two times very good match in word viewer (not in word alternatives) once a "unknown protocol" error (no output produced), and last, a scan to pdf that resulted in a non editable picture. I am impressed by that the layout in word viewer matched the "no-OCR-needed" pdfs almost exactly, but I use Office alternatives (layout horribly gone wrong).

The better PDF conversion softwares include OCR and THAT IS a (very) difficult thing to program (typefaces, languages). When no OCR is needed, and it only looks good in Word... I am not so impressed by this conversion software.

Reply   |   Comment by Lowres  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)
#6

Installed on a Win 10, 64 bit system but each time I tried to do a conversion it literally spat the dummy and locked up my pc. When it actually "worked" Microsoft word 2010 reported the output file as corrupt and unreadable. I was actually hoping that this would work; but not to be, on my system anyway. Nonetheless, thanks for the offer...

Reply   |   Comment by Giz of Oz  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+11)

Giz of Oz
Being a couple of versions ahead of you with MS Office I cannot remember (nearer my God to thee syndrome) as to whether MS Word 2010 had the pdf converter included (OCR).
What is for sure is that you will never get an editable word doc (x) out of any pdf file created by pixel-based software. In other words a picture stays a picture regardless of the output format, no more than a sort of wrapping.
For a text-based pdf file, at least since Word 2013, conversion from pdf to word works. No tantrums by PC either.
Batch conversion however not included because MS never offer the complete package. Not even for money. A charade of also-programmers can fill or fail to fill the gaps. Reminds me of Cabaret's signature tune "money makes the world..."
Nice try from the Hungarian bunch today, but if they don't even want mail contact?
Slightly too expensive to fly out to Vienna or Budapest just to give them a live demo.

Reply   |   Comment by Sigrid.DE  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#5

It's always interesting to discover a developer's attitude to life before checking out their software. That's especially the case here, where a check on the product price page of FM Software Studio's website produces one of the most refreshingly different Support texts I've ever encountered:

Don't feel free to email us if you have any questions or comments.

On that basis alone, I'm instantly drawn to this developer: though CS departments worldwide would dearly love to be able to tell customers to, er, go away, only this one has been brave enough to actually say so. Kudos to FM Software Studio!

Bravery aside though, and all joking, too, in a software sector bedevilled with some of the most useless products ever coded (and by many a major developer, too) does the deliciously idiosyncratic FM Software have the slightest chance of standing out from the mediocre pack?

Well . . . Download, installation and registration go just fine. So fine and so fast, in fact, you begin to wonder if you might, just, be dealing here with a developer who actually knows how to bring a promotional offer to market. And then things get even better: an attractively designed, clutter free GUI delivering an excellent preview window, drag 'n drop file loading, output format options going back to Microsoft Office 2000 (and earlier), and instant access user chooser options.

Hmm. What's going on here: software that. . . works?

OK, then. Test 1. A 40-page PDF originally created by myself as a travel itinerary for a trans-America road trip. It's overloaded with images and route maps and text panels in various colors and sizes and positions. The last time I ran it through a PDF conversion to Word, the software I used (from a household-name software house) produced an incomprehensible mess that ran to double the pagination. Whereas here:

Test 1 result. Processed in 3 minutes 10 seconds into .doc format. Placed into my nominated Desktop output folder; folder automatically opened. Output: 100%. . . perfect. (That may need saying again. Output: 100%. . . perfect.)

Test 2. A 26-page PDF created from an original .docx file I authored about a complex corporate legal issue, heavy on text but with several graphs plus images.Test 2 result: processed in 1 minute 30 seconds to .docx output, delivered to desktop folder, folder opened. Output: 100% . . . perfect. (And no, I won't say that again. You might think I'm trying to stretch credibility too far.)

Test 3. This is a killer test, a downloaded PDF version of a regulatory authority's landscape-format print publication where text and images are set out in double-page spreads. There's a lot of text, a lot of check boxes, a lot of bullet points. Weirdly, a lot of different colors, too. Total pagination: 19 landscape A4 pages / 38 brochure pages. Throwing this kind of document at *any* of the various PDF converters I currently have on my computer produces only gibberish, so if FM PDF to Word Converter manages to get even a quarter of this thing into copyable / editable guise, it'll be a minor miracle.

Test 3 result: 1 minute conversion time to .doc, output to desktop, desktop folder opened. Outcome: pagination accuracy, 100%; legibility: 100%; editability -- the font in this instance has come out at something called BGFLame Light -- also, 100%. Images, graphics, captions and positioning: 100%. Check box handling, bullet point handling: 50% (but legible nevertheless.)

Ye gods. This software. . . works.

Not only that, it does so quickly, cleanly, and easily. Yes, it fell over a bit on the usual suspects (check boxes and bullet points, which no conversion software in my experience has ever been able to render faithfully on output) but on all other counts it has not only equalled the best converter I presently use but has far, far exceeded it. And that really is some going, because when you're creating PDF conversion apps, you really are into some heavy, heady software engineering. This is not kid's stuff.

Verdict: I guess I had a soft spot for today's developer from the start, seeing as how that giddy mis-translation of its Support text is so endearing. But away from that, FM PDF To Word Converter Pro 3.05 has proved to be appealing in its own right. No, I haven't run a batch conversion because (a) I don't have time and (b) I'll never need that facility anyway. What I need is a PDF conversion product which does what it says on the tin. And this one. . . does.

Obviously, everyone's needs and everyone's hardware are going to be different but based on my own experience of rival products in this sector -- both freeware and paid-for -- FM PDF To Word Converter PRO has just made 'em all candidates for immediate uninstall. Congratulations, then, to FM Software Studio and many thanks both to it and to GOTD for a real 5* opportunity. (And as for that delightful Support blooper: please, FM Software, please don't ever change it, OK?)

Reply   |   Comment by MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+68)

MikeR
Thanks for the long test!

Reply   |   Comment by Tom Hagen  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)

MikeR
I was getting exited about installing and using today's giveaway while reading this... then I read all the contradicting comments below.

I'm going to give it a go and hope for the best!

Reply   |   Comment by Cain  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

MikeR
it just pastes pdf pages in a word doc as images / page and the docx files won't even open in the latest word

Reply   |   Comment by bart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

MikeR
Since your experience differs sharply from almost all others, can you describe you system to us?

Thx.

Reply   |   Comment by paul  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

MikeR
I always take note of your comments and so was surprised with your results being so different than mine.

I hate to be unfair to developers and so I reinstalled the program but then did a reboot this time and ran my tests again.

This time the PDF file that it had claimed a problem with the protocol converted perfectly.
The other files where it had made a mess of the conversion again were perfect.

In fact it converted six complex PDF documents better than anything else I've had before.
The only point I did not like was that the text was put in text boxes.

Reply   |   Comment by XP-Man  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+15)
#4

Cannot work with Proxy servers

Reply   |   Comment by Chaim  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#3

Installed without any problems, tried two PDF files with mix of pictures, graphics, and various texts. The output file was a very faithful copy when viewed with Microsoft Doc viewer, but Libre Office said file was locked and could only be opened as read only and the pix and text were separated and on different pages. Will need more playing to see if useful to me.

Reply   |   Comment by 4Bunny Rabbits  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)
#2

No problems getting the program onto my system as registered.

The first file I tried on my computer manual in PDF format, it complained about unknown protocol, and that was that.
My second test was on a simpler document with a few graphics in it, it change to an image in a document and so was not editable.
On a text only PDF file it did managed to create a Word document, unfortunately all the text was in text boxes.

Tested the above in a Wondershare converter the results were much better and so was not much point in me keeping this program.

Reply   |   Comment by XP-Man  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+18)

Important Please Note
It looks like there was a problem with my first installation of today's programe.
After reading MikeR’s write-up above did a reinstall and then reboot and then ran my tests again.

Unlike the dreadful results I got initially this time the results were like MikeR’s, absolutely superb.

Reply   |   Comment by XP-Man  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#1

I think our old friend Karl proved these were not worth the effort of downloading... maybe this one is different, but I won't bother.

Reply   |   Comment by Kiwi1960  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-23)
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