PDF malware?

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Level 1

4 points

PDF malware?

Since 2 days...

When I have a Word document (MAC Word) and save it as a PDF file i grows from 150 kb as a Word-file to 2,2 GB as a PDF. NO pictures. Normally it would keep the same size or a little less.

I have tried to save the text as unformatted text in a new document, save, and then formatting again. Same problem. The problem seems to be in the conversion to PDF. And when trying to reduce file size when it has become a PDF, it simply doesn´t work, it is just "chewing" and only way to get it to stop is to do a "hard restart".

Suggestions?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 23, 2021 7:37 AM

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Answer 1

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,520 points

Apr 24, 2021 11:06 AM in response to Alassie

The Word document may be corrupt. Open the file and also start a new one. Copy/paste the text from the problem document into the new, blank document. Try saving a PDF from the new doc.

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Answer 2

Alassie Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2021 7:38 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Hi, yes that is what I did. It seems as something happened at a certain date, and only with a special group of of documents. I used a layout from some years back and copy/pasted unformatted text. That did the trick.

I have now trashed all documents in the group that have been worked on for less than 2 weeks. Crossing my fingers that this will work for the coming week and then fear for the Big Sur update when all my 32-bits programs will be dead, forever...

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,112 points

Apr 24, 2021 5:36 AM in response to Alassie

For Word problems you can also ask in the forum devoted entirely to that app:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word-mso_mac

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Apr 23, 2021 9:01 AM in response to Alassie

As I recall from ages ago, I think some PDFs include the Fonts if non standard, & I gave up on Word in Word95® as everytime I printed it it included another copy of the whole Printer driver!

https://www.printivity.com/insights/2020/09/13/how-to-embed-fonts-in-pdfs/#:~:text=When%20you%20create%20a%20PDF,process%20is%20known%20as%20embedding.

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Answer 5

Alassie Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2021 7:39 AM in response to etresoft

I will definitely try that if it happens again, thanks!

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Answer 6

Alassie Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2021 7:40 AM in response to Alassie

Thanks to everyone that have responded, I hope the problem is solved for now.

Cheers!

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Answer 7

etresoft

Level 9

56,326 points

Apr 24, 2021 11:28 AM in response to Alassie

How are you saving to PDF? Word has an option where you can safe as PDF. But you can also print the document and then save as PDF from the print dialog, or just open the PDF in Apple Preview.

I'm not saying this is a fix, but it would be interesting to see if you encounter the same behaviour in these different context. That might help to isolate where the problem is.

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PDF malware?

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