Document Conversions

Understanding how SuperDoc converts documents

How Document Conversion Works

SuperDoc uses Gotenberg, a powerful document conversion engine, to transform DOCX files into PDFs while preserving formatting, styles, and layout.

Conversion Process

1. Upload

   Your DOCX file is uploaded to our secure servers
2. Validation

   We validate the file format and check for compatibility

3. Conversion

   Gotenberg processes the document using LibreOffice

4. Optimization

   The PDF is optimized for size and quality
5. Delivery

   The converted PDF is returned in the response

Supported Features

Text Formatting

• Fonts and font sizes - Bold, italic, underline - Text colors - Paragraph alignment - Line spacing

Document Structure

• Headers and footers - Page numbers - Table of contents - Sections and page breaks - Columns

Media & Objects

• Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF) - Tables with formatting - Charts and graphs - Text boxes - Shapes and drawings

Advanced Features

• Hyperlinks - Bookmarks - Comments (converted to PDF annotations) - Track changes (accepted changes only) - Form fields

Best Practices

Optimize Your Documents

For best results: - Use standard fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri) - Embed custom fonts in your DOCX - Keep file size under 10MB for faster processing - Use high-resolution images (300 DPI)

Handling Large Files

For files larger than 25MB:

1. Compress images before conversion
2. Split documents into smaller parts
3. Contact support for enterprise options

Conversion Quality

SuperDoc maintains high fidelity during conversion:

Feature	Preservation Rate
Text formatting	99.9%
Layout & spacing	98%
Images & graphics	100%
Tables	97%
Custom fonts	95%*

*When fonts are properly embedded

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Fonts Not Displaying Correctly

Problem: Custom fonts appear as default fonts in PDF

Solution:

• Embed fonts in your DOCX file
• Use standard system fonts
• Convert fonts to curves/outlines

Images Missing or Distorted

Problem: Images don’t appear or look wrong

Solution:

• Use standard image formats (JPEG, PNG)
• Ensure images are embedded, not linked
• Check image resolution (300 DPI recommended)

Layout Issues

Problem: Page breaks or margins are different

Solution:

• Use explicit page breaks
• Set fixed margins in DOCX
• Avoid complex nested tables

Performance Considerations

Typical conversion times:

File Size	Conversion Time
< 1MB	< 2 seconds
1-5MB	2-5 seconds
5-10MB	5-10 seconds
10-25MB	10-30 seconds

Conversion times may vary based on document complexity and server load.