Word found unreadable content...

You can reduce the PDF file size by using the Quartz Filter menu when saving the PDF from Preview:

ADDEMDUM: website obsolete.

With the highlighted filter I was able to reduce a 568 MB pdf file to 30 MB.

The file is named Reduce to 150 dpi average quality - STANDARD COMPRESSION.qfilter. Here's the content of the file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Domains</key>

<dict>

<key>Applications</key>

<true/>

<key>Printing</key>

<true/>

</dict>

<key>FilterData</key>

<dict>

<key>ColorSettings</key>

<dict>

<key>ImageSettings</key>

<dict>

<key>Compression Quality</key>

<real>0.0</real>

<key>ImageCompression</key>

<string>ImageJPEGCompress</string>

<key>ImageScaleSettings</key>

<dict>

<key>ImageResolution</key>

<integer>150</integer>

<key>ImageScaleFactor</key>

<real>0.0</real>

<key>ImageScaleInterpolate</key>

<integer>3</integer>

<key>ImageSizeMax</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>ImageSizeMin</key>

<integer>0</integer>

</dict>

<key>MonoImageScaleSettings</key>

<dict>

<key>ImageResolution</key>

<integer>150</integer>

<key>ImageScaleFactor</key>

<real>0.0</real>

<key>ImageScaleInterpolate</key>

<integer>3</integer>

<key>ImageSizeMax</key>

<integer>0</integer>

<key>ImageSizeMin</key>

<integer>0</integer>

</dict>

</dict>

</dict>

</dict>

<key>FilterType</key>

<integer>1</integer>

<key>Name</key>

<string>Reduce to 150 dpi average quality - STANDARD COMPRESSION</string>

</dict>

</plist>

Modify PDF files with Quartz filters in ColorSync Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Try opening the file with Pages or the free LibreOffice and then export at a word document (change the name to preserve the original file) without making any changes. Then try opening with Office 2011 again and see if you can add to the file.

Are you having this problem with any Word document or just one document? Did anything occur or change prior to this problem occurring which might have caused it? You might try reinstalling the Word app and see if that helps. Also you might visit the Microsoft user group's site and look for a similar problem there. Good luck.

The document is apparently corrupt.

Contact Microsoft for support. Word is not an Apple product.

Alternately, if you are using Time Machine, restore the document from a backup of the last known good state.

I wouldn't even suggest Pages when Word cannot open the document. Just cut to the chase and use LibreOffice which has rescued many apparently damaged Word documents for me over the years.

Where did you get it?

Is there a link you could provide or might it be Private?

Sounds suspiciously like Malware included.

There is one other possibility. You might try opening the file with the TextEdit app.

Hi have you found a solution for your issue yet? and if so, would you please share it? I have the same problem and the document is some 20 pages long...

Thank you

I have this issue now, unfortunately for my Ph.D. dissertation file.

The file opened with Office 2011 but I can't add to the file and still looking for a solution.