Saving .pdf as docx

Question

Hello!

I have a strange issue with my Word 2016 for Mac. Since the latest update (16.23) when I save a document as a pdf, it converts the document but gives it a .docx extension. The result is a file that cannot be opened until I manually go in and change the extension to pdf (as it is in limbo, neither a document nor a pdf).

I have looked on the forums but don't find anything similar.

Does anyone else have this issue?

StevenBey

MacBook Pro running Mojave (macOS 10.14.3)

Word 16.23 (Office 365 Home)

Answer 1

Hi Steven,

Sorry for the delay as I was on my weekend. Thank you so much for your detailed description and screenshots.

Per my test this issue with Word 16.23 and OneDrive 19.012.0121.0009, I can reproduce this issue once. However, I will be still able to open *.docx files which should be saved as *pdf files on my end later. So I continue checking some versions like 16.21 16.22, 16.16.8 (one-time purchase) and 16.24 (insider). I get the following results:

1.16.22,16.23 and 16.24 cannot save PDF to the latest version of OneDrive. 

2.16.21 can save as PDF but I cannot open it as PDF. It seems to be related to OneDrive.

3.16.16.8 works fine. It seems to be Office version.

Besides, I check the previous OneDrive version. Seems the behavior works fine. So I would like to continue checking more versions and it will take some time. I will post back once I get more information and resource regarding this issue. We kindly appreciate for your patience and feedback.

Best Regards,

Eli

Answer 2

Hi Eli.

It is OneDrive Version 19.012.0121.0009.

There are no error messages per se, but I have taken screenshots of a little demo which I hope helps make it clearer.

1. Created a document to save as a pdf to OneDrive
2. A popup confirms that the document is being converted
3. However the document has been incorrectly saved with the .docx extension instead of .pdf
4. If you try to open this document you get the following two error messages (in order)
5. But by changing the file's extension using the macOS Finder's rename facility
6. The document is now a proper pdf that can be opened by any pdf reader

Regards

Steven

Answer 3

Hi Steven,

Thank you for writing back and tell us the latest update. 

What's the behavior displaying when you are trying to save document as PDF to OneDrive? Is there any error message or just grey button? Could you share the screenshots of this situation with us to better understand this situation?

Please also share your current OneDrive version with us. 

Regarding warning: inode_val: object (oid 0x5865fd): invalid bsd_flags (0x10)" error, we received some feedback from other customers before. Here is the primary thread for your reference.

Feel free to post back and let us know the latest situation.

Best Regards,

Eli

Answer 4

Hi Eli!

Thanks for the reply.

Things have  changed a bit since my post, but to answer your questions..

1. The issue started after the Office 16.23 update (I think ... could be after OneDrive update, see below)
2. It occurs with any document and is even universal to all my Office 365 apps.

This is what has happened since my last.

I logged into Safe Mode as you suggested, but the issue persisted, I noticed other problems in Word for example the cursor moved whilst typing but no text was visible (checked text settings - nothing wrong there).

I decided to completely uninstall and the reinstall Office 365 from Microsoft not through App Store (original installation was also from Microsoft).

Now I can save as a pdf to my Mac's Hdd but not to OneDrive, so the issue may well lie with OneDrive.

I have had other issues with OneDrive eg. "warning: inode_val: object (oid 0x5865fd): invalid bsd_flags (0x10)" error in Disk Utility that is caused by OneDrive.

Uninstalling and reinstalling OneDrive has not changed anything.

Thanks again.

Steven

Answer 5

Hi Steven,

I test this situation you mentioned on my side. I can export PDF file from Word and the extension of the document shows correctly in the same macOS and Word version.

Given the situation, I would suggest you try accessing Safe Mode on Mac to see if the issue persists. 

(Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.)

If the issue remains, I would like to confirm the following points to better understand the issue:

1.When did the issue start to happen? Does the issue start to happen when you update to 16.23 or macOS update?

2.Does the issue occur in the certain document or any document? If you create new file, can you save it as PDF expectedly?

Regards,

Eli