> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://superdoc-dependabot-npm_and_yarn-npm_and_yarn-e04d5d616f.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# File Formats

> Supported input and output formats for document conversion

## Supported Input Formats

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

<Card title="DOCX (Microsoft Word)" icon="file-word">
  **`.docx`** - Office Open XML format - Full formatting support - Maximum file
  size: 25MB (authenticated) / 5MB (public) - Supports all modern Word features
</Card>

### 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

<Info>
  Looking for support for other input formats? [Contact
  us](mailto:api@superdoc.dev) to discuss your needs.
</Info>

## Supported Output Formats

SuperDoc converts documents to PDF format:

<Card title="PDF (Portable Document Format)" icon="file-pdf">
  **`.pdf`** - Adobe PDF format - High-fidelity conversion - Preserves
  formatting and layout - Universal compatibility - Optimized for web and print
</Card>

### PDF Features

Our PDF output includes:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Text Preservation" icon="font">
    * All text remains selectable - Fonts embedded or substituted - Character
      encoding preserved
  </Card>

  <Card title="Layout Fidelity" icon="layout">
    * Page dimensions maintained - Margins and spacing preserved - Column
      layouts intact
  </Card>

  <Card title="Interactive Elements" icon="mouse-pointer">
    * Clickable hyperlinks - Bookmarks for navigation - Form fields (when
      applicable)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Metadata" icon="tag">
    * Document properties - Creation timestamps - Author information
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## 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

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

## Format-Specific Features

### DOCX Input Features

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Text and Paragraphs" icon="paragraph">
    * 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
  </Accordion>

  {" "}

  <Accordion title="Document Structure" icon="sitemap">
    * 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
  </Accordion>

  {" "}

  <Accordion title="Tables and Objects" icon="table">
    * Complex table structures - Cell formatting and borders - Table styles and
      themes - Merged cells and nested tables - Images and embedded objects - Charts
      and SmartArt graphics
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Advanced Elements" icon="magic">
    * Hyperlinks (internal and external)
    * Cross-references
    * Comments and track changes\*
    * Form fields and controls
    * Text boxes and shapes
    * Watermarks and backgrounds
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

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

### PDF Output Characteristics

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="PDF Version" icon="file-pdf">
    * **PDF 1.4 compatibility** - Ensures maximum compatibility
    * **PDF/A compliance** available on request
    * **Searchable text** - All text remains selectable
    * **Vector graphics** - Scalable elements preserved
  </Accordion>

  {" "}

  <Accordion title="Security Features" icon="shield">
    * No password protection by default - Print permissions enabled - Copy
      permissions enabled - Modification restrictions available on request
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Accessibility" icon="universal-access">
    * Tagged PDF structure
    * Alternative text for images (when present in source)
    * Reading order preservation
    * Logical document structure
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## 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:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Coming Soon" icon="clock">
    * **RTF** (Rich Text Format) - **ODT** (OpenDocument Text) - **HTML** to PDF
      conversion
  </Card>

  <Card title="Under Consideration" icon="lightbulb">
    * **PowerPoint** to PDF - **Excel** to PDF - **Markdown** to PDF
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  Have a specific format requirement? [Let us know](mailto:api@superdoc.dev) and
  we'll consider adding it to our roadmap.
</Note>

## 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