File Formats

Supported input and output formats for document conversion

Supported Input Formats

Currently, SuperDoc API supports DOCX (Microsoft Word) files as input:

DOCX (Microsoft Word)

.docx - Office Open XML format - Full formatting support - Maximum file size: 25MB (authenticated) / 5MB (public) - Supports all modern Word features

DOCX Compatibility

SuperDoc is compatible with DOCX files created by:

• Microsoft Word (2007 and later)
• Google Docs (exported as DOCX)
• LibreOffice Writer (saved as DOCX)
• Apple Pages (exported as DOCX)
• Other Office suites that support OOXML

Looking for support for other input formats? Contact us to discuss your needs.

Supported Output Formats

SuperDoc converts documents to PDF format:

PDF (Portable Document Format)

.pdf - Adobe PDF format - High-fidelity conversion - Preserves formatting and layout - Universal compatibility - Optimized for web and print

PDF Features

Our PDF output includes:

Text Preservation

• All text remains selectable - Fonts embedded or substituted - Character encoding preserved

Layout Fidelity

• Page dimensions maintained - Margins and spacing preserved - Column layouts intact

Interactive Elements

• Clickable hyperlinks - Bookmarks for navigation - Form fields (when applicable)

Metadata

• Document properties - Creation timestamps - Author information

File Size Considerations

Input File Limits

Endpoint Type	Maximum Size	Recommended Size
Authenticated	25MB	< 10MB
Public	5MB	< 2MB

Output File Optimization

SuperDoc automatically optimizes PDF output:

• Image compression - Reduces file size while maintaining quality
• Font subsetting - Includes only used characters
• Metadata cleanup - Removes unnecessary data
• Structure optimization - Efficient PDF organization

Large input files result in proportionally large PDF outputs. Consider compressing images in your DOCX before conversion.

Format-Specific Features

DOCX Input Features

Text and Paragraphs

• Rich text formatting (bold, italic, underline, etc.)
• Multiple font families and sizes
• Text colors and highlighting
• Paragraph alignment and spacing
• Bullet points and numbered lists
• Indentation and hanging indents

Document Structure

• Multiple sections with different formatting - Headers and footers (including different first page) - Page numbers and fields - Table of contents - Footnotes and endnotes - Page and section breaks

Tables and Objects

• Complex table structures - Cell formatting and borders - Table styles and themes - Merged cells and nested tables - Images and embedded objects - Charts and SmartArt graphics

Advanced Elements

• Hyperlinks (internal and external)
• Cross-references
• Comments and track changes*
• Form fields and controls
• Text boxes and shapes
• Watermarks and backgrounds

*Track changes are flattened (accepted changes only appear in PDF)

PDF Output Characteristics

PDF Version

• PDF 1.4 compatibility - Ensures maximum compatibility
• PDF/A compliance available on request
• Searchable text - All text remains selectable
• Vector graphics - Scalable elements preserved

Security Features

• No password protection by default - Print permissions enabled - Copy permissions enabled - Modification restrictions available on request

Accessibility

• Tagged PDF structure
• Alternative text for images (when present in source)
• Reading order preservation
• Logical document structure

Quality Comparison

Before and After Conversion

Element	DOCX Source	PDF Output	Fidelity
Text formatting	✅ Rich formatting	✅ Preserved	99.9%
Page layout	✅ Complex layouts	✅ Maintained	98%
Images	✅ High resolution	✅ Optimized	100%
Tables	✅ Complex tables	✅ Preserved	97%
Hyperlinks	✅ Active links	✅ Clickable	100%
Comments	✅ Reviewers’ notes	⚠️ Flattened	N/A

Future Format Support

We’re actively working on expanding format support:

Coming Soon

• RTF (Rich Text Format) - ODT (OpenDocument Text) - HTML to PDF conversion

Under Consideration

• PowerPoint to PDF - Excel to PDF - Markdown to PDF

Have a specific format requirement? Let us know and we’ll consider adding it to our roadmap.

Best Practices by Format

Optimizing DOCX for Conversion

1. Use standard fonts - Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri work best
2. Embed custom fonts - Ensure fonts are included in the DOCX file
3. Optimize images - Use appropriate resolution (300 DPI for print, 150 DPI for web)
4. Simplify layouts - Avoid overly complex table structures
5. Test compatibility - Preview in different Word versions

PDF Output Optimization

1. Consider end use - Web viewing vs. print requirements
2. Monitor file size - Balance quality with download speed
3. Verify links - Test hyperlinks in the output PDF
4. Check accessibility - Ensure proper reading order
5. Validate structure - Confirm all elements converted correctly

Technical Specifications

DOCX Processing

• Engine: LibreOffice-based conversion
• Memory limit: 1GB per conversion
• Timeout: 60 seconds maximum
• Concurrent processing: Load-balanced across multiple servers

PDF Generation

• Renderer: Gotenberg PDF engine
• Compression: Automatic optimization
• Color space: RGB (can convert to CMYK on request)
• Resolution: Maintains source image DPI up to 300 DPI