When converting a Word document to a PDF, sometimes you don’t want the comments to show up. Maybe you’re sharing the document with someone outside your team, or you just want a clean, comment-free version. Whatever the reason, hiding comments in Word before converting to a PDF is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Hide Comments in Word When Converting to PDF
Before we dive into the steps, know that by following this tutorial, you’ll be able to create a PDF version of your Word document that doesn’t display any of the comments. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Open your Word document
Open the Word document that contains the comments you want to hide.
Step 2: Go to the ‘Review’ tab
Click on the ‘Review’ tab in the Word ribbon at the top of the window.
In the ‘Review’ tab, you’ll see several options to manage the comments and changes in your document. This is where you control what gets seen and what doesn’t.
Step 3: Click on ‘Show Markup’
In the ‘Tracking’ section, click on ‘Show Markup’.
‘Show Markup’ is a nifty feature that allows you to decide what types of revisions appear in your document. Apart from comments, you can hide or show formatting, insertions and deletions, and other types of markup.
Step 4: Uncheck ‘Comments’
In the dropdown menu, uncheck ‘Comments’.
By unchecking ‘Comments,’ you’re telling Word that you don’t want the comments to be visible. This won’t delete the comments; it just hides them from view.
Step 5: Save the document
Save your document to preserve the changes you’ve made.
It’s always good practice to save your document after making changes, especially before converting it into another format.
Step 6: Convert to PDF
Convert your Word document to a PDF using your preferred method.
You can use the ‘Save as’ feature in Word to save your document as a PDF, or you can use an online converter if you prefer. The important thing is that the comments will remain hidden in the PDF version.
After completing these steps, you’ll have a PDF version of your Word document with all the comments hidden. This way, you can share a clean, professional document without the messy side notes that were meant for your eyes only.
Tips for Hiding Comments in Word When Converting to PDF
- Always make sure that you’ve saved your Word document before converting it to a PDF. You don’t want to lose all your hard work!
- If you need the comments back, simply go to ‘Show Markup’ and check ‘Comments’ again.
- Remember that hiding comments does not delete them. They’re still there, just not visible.
- Consider creating a copy of your Word document before hiding comments, just in case you need a version with comments later.
- Use the ‘Print Preview’ feature to check that comments are genuinely hidden before you convert to PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to remove comments instead of hiding them?
To remove comments from a Word document, go to the ‘Review’ tab, click on ‘Delete’ in the ‘Comments’ section, and choose ‘Delete All Comments in Document’.
Can I hide comments in the PDF after I’ve already converted it?
Yes, you can hide comments in a PDF using Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editing software by changing the comment visibility settings.
Will hiding comments affect the formatting of the document?
No, hiding comments does not affect the formatting of the document. Your content will remain intact.
Can I still convert the document to PDF if it’s in ‘Track Changes’ mode?
Yes, you can convert a document to PDF even if ‘Track Changes’ is on, but any changes that haven’t been accepted or rejected will still show up in the PDF.
What if I hide comments and forget to unhide them before I need them again?
Don’t worry! Hiding comments is reversible. Just go back to ‘Show Markup’ and check ‘Comments’ to make them visible again.
Summary
- Open your Word document.
- Click on the ‘Review’ tab.
- Select ‘Show Markup’.
- Uncheck ‘Comments’.
- Save the document.
- Convert to PDF.
Conclusion
There you have it, folks! Hiding comments in Word before converting to a PDF is as easy as pie. Whether you’re tidying up a document for professional presentation or you simply prefer a cleaner look, this quick and painless process will ensure that your PDFs are free of any unwanted commentary. Remember, the comments aren’t gone for good – they’re just playing hide and seek. With these steps, you’re now an expert at maintaining the integrity and cleanliness of your documents when converting to PDF. Happy converting!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.