How to convert PDF to HTML: Steps for converting via Word

Key points of this article

PDF records character positions, while HTML records paragraph and table structures. Direct conversion is prone to misalignment. Convert to Word first to better control the results.
First use the method of selecting text to determine whether the PDF is a text version or a scan. The scan must be OCRed first and then exported.
After exporting to Word, read through it first, correct line breaks, blank lines and titles, and then save it as HTML, which can save a lot of rework.
After the conversion is completed, open the HTML with a browser and check the text, tables, pictures and formulas item by item. Important content should be compared with the original text.

If you have a PDF in hand and want to put the content into a web page, knowledge base or blog, you will probably find a large number of "one-click conversion" websites when you search for "how to convert pdf to html". After actually trying it, I found that either the layout was completely messed up, or the text turned into pictures. The problem lies in PDF itself: it records where each character is placed on the page, while HTML records the structure of headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables. The two are not the same information.

This article talks about a more stable route: first export PDF to Word, and then save Word as HTML. This route does not rely on some mysterious one-click function. Every step can be checked, and if there is a problem, you will know which step to return to. The following will first talk about the judgment and preparation before taking action, and then give the operation steps and verification methods. After reading this, you should be able to determine which method is suitable for your file, and get an HTML file that can be opened directly in the browser.

How to convert PDF to HTML? One sentence conclusion

Direct answer: For most text-based PDFs, exporting to Word first, and then saving as HTML is a common practice where the results are easy to control. If the PDF is a scan, perform OCR to recognize the text first, and then export it.

your situation	Recommended practices	reason
Text version PDF, mainly text	Export to Word and save as HTML	Titles and paragraphs can be retained and the structure is clear
Text version PDF with more tables	After exporting to Word, check the tables one by one and adjust them manually if necessary.	Tables in PDF are often just lines and text, which can easily become misaligned after conversion.
Scanned or photographed PDF	Use OCR to identify text first, then export to Word	When text cannot be selected, direct conversion will only result in images.
Papers or reports containing formulas and charts	After exporting to Word, focus on checking the formulas and diagrams, which can be compared and modified in the UniDoc web editor.	Formulas and pictures are easily lost or deformed during format conversion
Just display the page as is	Keep the original PDF and present it as an attachment or embedded in the web page	Forcibly change it to HTML structure, it is easier to display it as it is.

Before you start: Confirm these points first

Determine whether the PDF is a text version. Open the file and drag and select a section of text with the mouse. If you can select and copy text, it is a text version; if you cannot select and copy the text, it is a scanned version. This step determines whether to do OCR first. If the judgment is wrong, all subsequent results will be distorted.
Confirm whether you want content or layout. HTML will be reformatted according to web page rules. Fixed pages, columns, headers and footers in PDF are usually not retained as they are. If you only need text and tables, this route is fine; if the layout must be consistent, keep the PDF.
Check whether the file contains sensitive information. When using an online conversion website, the files need to be uploaded to someone else's server. For contracts, invoices, medical records, etc., it is recommended to process them on the local desktop client first, or delete sensitive fields first.
Keep the original PDF. The conversion process will change the content, and the original is the basis for subsequent comparison and the starting point for restarting when an error occurs.
Clear the purpose of HTML. If you only want to read it locally, just open it with a browser; if you want to put it on the website, you also need to check whether the image is placed in the same folder as the HTML, and whether the style can be displayed normally.

Steps to convert PDF to HTML via Word in OmniDoc

Download and open the OmniDoc desktop client (download.omnidoc.top), which supports Windows, macOS and Linux.
Open the file to be converted in a PDF editor. If it is a scanned document, first use the OCR function to recognize the text and confirm that the recognized text can be selected.
Use the export function, select Word format, and get a .docx file. Don’t rush to convert to HTML after exporting, keep this intermediate file first.
Open the exported Word file with desktop office software, quickly browse it from beginning to end, and correct obvious line breaks, extra blank lines, and misplaced titles.
Execute "Save As" in Word, select web page format or HTML format, and save to a separate folder. This is a common operation. The menu names of different office software may be different. Just find the option with the words "Web Page" or "HTML". Note that Word usually generates a folder with the same name to store the pictures at the same time, and you need to take them with you when moving the files.
Open the generated HTML file directly with a browser and check whether the text, tables and pictures are displayed normally.
If you need to continue editing, you can open the .docx file in UniDoc web editor (app.unidoc.top), modify it, and then export it to HTML format.
Save the final version and archive the exported Word file and HTML together for easy use in future modifications.

Check each item after completion

After the conversion is completed, do not publish or archive directly, check each item according to the table below.

Check items	How to see it	What should you do if there's a problem?
Text integrity	Compare with the original PDF, randomly check the beginning, end, and each page paragraph to ensure no missing paragraphs or duplicates	Return to Word to complete the gaps; If it is a scan, re-OCR and check for recognition errors
Table	Check if the rows and columns are aligned, and whether merged cells are preserved	Manually adjust tables in Word and then re-export them, or organize them in HTML
Images and charts	Open the webpage to see if the images display and if the clarity is acceptable	If images are missing, check whether the image folder is placed together with HTML; Blurry images can be replaced with original high-definition images
Formulas and special symbols	Check whether the subscripts, Greek letters, and fractions are correct	Correcting each item by comparing with the original text; there are many errors in the formulas, so it is recommended to re-check in UniDoc
Titles and lists	Check whether the heading level, paragraph spacing, and list numbers meet expectations	After adjusting the title style in Word, re-export

OCR and format conversion may have identification or formatting errors involving contract terms, amounts, data, and technical terminology, so be sure to check each item against the original PDF.

📊 Core Comparison

There are three common practices in practice, each suitable for different scenarios:

Method	Suitable for the situation	Notes
Export Word from desktop clients and save them as HTML	Documents that are important and require gradual inspection or contain sensitive content	There are many steps, but each step can be checked, making the results more controllable
Online conversion websites are converted in one step	Temporary use, file sensitivity	Pay attention to file size limits, privacy policies after upload, and whether the converted structure is complete
Copy and paste into the web editor	The content is shorter and only requires text	Formats are easily lost, and tables and formulas often need to be reorganized

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do you convert PDF to HTML format? Is there a convenient method?

If you are only using it temporarily, you can upload a PDF from an online conversion website, but be sure to carefully check file size restrictions and privacy policies first. For sensitive content or repeated revisions, it is recommended to follow the "export Word, then save as HTML" route, with controllable intermediate steps.

2. How do you convert PDF to HTML invoices?

Invoice formats are fixed and there are many forms; when converted to HTML, amounts, tax numbers, and dates are easily misaligned. It is recommended to export to Word first and verify these key fields item by item against the original. If you are just archiving, preserving the PDF original is usually more reliable than converting it to HTML.

3. The converted HTML only shows one image when opened. What happens?

This usually means the original PDF was a scanned copy, or the page was treated as an image when exported. First, go back to the PDF and try selecting the text. If you can't select it, use OCR to recognize it, then re-export the Word and HTML files.

4. What are the three steps to convert PDF to HTML?

It can be summarized into three steps: first determine whether the PDF is a text version or a scan, and perform OCR on the scanned copy first; Then export to Word and read through for check; Finally, save as HTML and open the verification content in a browser.

📝 Summary

There is no one-click method that works everywhere for PDF to HTML. First, you determine the file type, then transfer it to Word, and verify the results item by item. This is a more reliable and universal approach. Make sure to judge and prepare before starting, keep intermediate files at every step during the conversion process, and quickly trace back if problems arise. The time saved from rework often exceeds the extra steps.

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