To understand what file conversion is, you first have to understand what a “file” is. Files on your computer or device will generally contain information in a certain format. The definition of a file format is the file type, identified by its extension, that tells your computer what program to use to open it. Common examples include:

• .pdf, a portable document format
• .doc, a Microsoft Word document
• .xls, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
• .jpg, a JPEG image file (joint photographic experts group)

A digital file conversion involves changing a file format from one format to another, giving it a new use and, therefore, a new way to open and use it.   

What Changes When a File is Converted?

A file converter is a program that identifies the existing file type and converts it to a different file type.

The file converter must be able to recognize both the old and new formats. These converters are specific to their respective file formats. File converter examples include changing PDF to DOC and JPG to PDF. 

In actuality, the file conversion process duplicates the original, giving it a new format.  

For example, when you convert a Word doc into a PDF, you’ll retain your original .doc and have a second file with a .pdf extension. The new extension tells your computer how to store and open the file’s data.  

What changes when you convert a file? Well, in the background, the coding of the file changes. Sometimes, the appearance will change and functions will disappear. For example, when you change an Excel sheet to a PDF, you’ll lose the cell-by-cell functions and formulas; this type of conversion delivers a snapshot of a spreadsheet rather than the full functionality. This is why you may lose features when converting — different formats support different functions. 

Why Do You Convert File Formats?

There are four primary reasons to convert files:  

1. Some file formats are easier to share than others.

PowerPoint files, for example, are excellent for presentations but tend to be large files that aren’t practical for sharing. Converting a .ppt to a .pdf makes it more shareable. 

2. You may want to work with a file in a different program.

For instance, you might build a contract in Microsoft Word but need to send it to your legal team as a PDF so they can annotate and review it without altering the base document.

3. You may want to combine two or more files of differing types into a single file type.

JPGs are great for pictures, but you can have only one .jpg per file. If you want to create a digital photo album, you’ll need to convert the .jpg files and merge them into a single .pdf file.

4. Some formats can help protect the contents from being altered.

You might want to convert a file into a non-editable format, so you can share it without worrying about anyone changing the contents. Protecting the format of a document is a complicated process. Learn more about locking and unlocking PDFs.

How Do You Change File Format? 

You can convert your files in three ways: 

1. Save as… 

Using a file’s default program (like Microsoft Word with .doc files), open that file and select File → Save As. You’ll see a list of available formats, which varies depending on the program. In document editors, your options may be limited. In photo editors, you will be able to save an image as a JPG, TIFF, PNG or other image format. If you don’t see Save As, check for File → Export As or File → Download As.

2. Use a file converter service

File converter services convert your files from one format to another. Most file converter services operate within a web browser, so you don’t need to download and install special software. It’s especially helpful if you don’t have the original default program. You simply drag and drop your file, and download the result. This post explains how PDF.Live works. 

3. Rename the file with a different extension

Renaming a file and changing the extension manually may be an option for changing certain types of files. It won’t always work, as the type of data the file holds will need to be compatible with the app associated with the new file type. A couple of caveats: (1) changing a file extension does not duplicate the file — it modifies the original; (2) files may not work properly when you rename the extension, even if the data is technically compatible. Methods 1 and 2 are more fool-proof.

Quick Answers to FAQs About File Conversion

What is a PDF converter?

PDF converters change file formats to and from PDFs. For example, a PDF converter can reformat a PDF to a JPG or a PPT to a PDF. The converter translates the data within a file to a different format so that your computer can use a different program to open it. 

What is a file converter?

A file converter is a program that identifies your existing file type and converts it to a different format. The converter recognizes both the old and new formats, duplicates your original file, and gives the copy a new extension so you can open it with a different program.

What does it mean to convert a file from one format into another?

Converting a file means changing it from one format to another, giving it a new use and a new way to open it. The conversion process duplicates your original file and creates a copy with a different extension. You keep both the original and the converted version.

How do you change a file format?

You can change a file format three ways: (1) use your program’s Save As function and select a new format from the dropdown menu; (2) use a file converter service that operates in your web browser; or (3) manually rename the file extension (though this doesn’t always work and may cause compatibility issues).

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Convert Bank Statement From PDF to Excel

1. Head over to PDF.Live’s PDF to Excel converter. Drag and drop your bank statement into the converter to get started. 

When your document is ready, you’ll see the message, “Upload Successful — Ready to convert!”

2. Click Convert to Excel. Your bank statement should be converted in under a minute, depending on the file size and your internet connection. 

3. Click Download file to download your Excel spreadsheet. 

You will need to create a PDF.Live account to download your converted bank statement.

Why do we ask you to create an account? Creating an account gives you access to PDF.Live’s full suite of tools during your free trial. It also saves your converted files to your PDF.Live dashboard, so you can come back and download them later instead of starting over.

4. Open the converted bank statement* in a spreadsheet viewer like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Let’s see how it turned out:

The PDF-to-Excel converter did a good job at converting our sample statement to a spreadsheet! Although you may not need the header information with the bank name and statement information, the converter transferred it anyway. You can delete unwanted information, such as the bank’s logo, address and headers when you open it in your spreadsheet program (Excel or Google Sheets). 

How to Convert PDF Bank Statement to CSV

1. First, follow the above steps to convert your PDF bank statement to an Excel file. Then, open the spreadsheet in Excel or Google Sheets. 

2. In your spreadsheet program, select File and then Download. Select Comma Separated Values (.CSV) from the list of options. 

3. You will now have a CSV version of your PDF bank statement! You may want to rename it, though, as the name may have gotten messy from all of the conversions. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Bank Statement-to-Excel Conversions

Can I convert multiple bank statements into Microsoft Excel sheets?

Yes, you can convert multiple bank statements to a single spreadsheet. There are two different ways to go about this:

• Merge your bank statement PDFs into a single PDF. Then, convert the single large PDF to Excel. 
• Convert your bank statements individually using our PDF-to-Excel conversion tool. Then, copy the necessary cells into a new Excel spreadsheet or tab. 

Can I download my bank statements to Excel?

Yes, some online banking services allow you to download bank statements as Excel spreadsheets instead of PDFs. Check your bank’s website for a section like “My Documents” or “Statements.” Many banks offer options for preferred download formats — PDF, CSV or XLSX being the most common. Our bank-statement-to-Excel conversion option is a good backup plan if your bank’s option isn’t working or doesn’t offer CSV or XLSX downloads. 

How do I convert Excel spreadsheets to PDFs?

If you want to convert Excel spreadsheets back to a PDF, you can use PDF.Live’s Excel to PDF tool. Here’s an Excel document we converted back to a PDF using the conversion tool:

How do I convert a bank statement to a Google Sheet?

Use PDF.Live’s PDF to Excel conversion tool, download the XLSX file, then from Google Drive, select New >> File Upload >> select the file on your device and click Open. When Google Drive signals “upload complete,” double click to open the XLSX file. Select Open with Google Sheets. Google easily converts any Excel file to Sheets.  

*Source for the bank statement example: TemplateLab. 

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PDFs are among the best file formats to share information online. They’re easy to compress and won’t lose formatting settings between devices. In fact, PDFs can be a great way to share presentations between devices as they can be converted to and from PPT files. 

There is one big differentiation, or limitation, between using a PDF versus a PowerPoint, Google, or similar presentation file: PDFs are flat files that don’t easily accommodate animations. So, if you want to dazzle your audience with animated text, GIFs or videos, you’ll be better off converting your PDF into a PPT to add the animations.

So how do you turn a PDF into a slideshow? PDF.Live offers PDF to PowerPoint conversion entirely online.  

Convert PDF to PowerPoint

1. Go to the PDF.Live Studio and select the Convert to PPT option.

Either drag and drop your file into the converter or select the file wherever it’s located on your desktop or device. You can also select a PDF that you’ve already uploaded to the PDF.Live Studio.

2. Click Convert to PowerPoint.

Once your PDF is converted to a PPT, select Download File.

3. Open your converted PDF on the slideshow editor of your choice. 

From here, you can open your converted PDF on Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Slides, or another presentation program to test if your PDF was converted properly. Simply open the program and select the PPT file you downloaded from PDF.Live. If you’re using Google Slides, you will need to upload the downloaded PPT to your Google Drive account. 

From here, you can make further edits to it as you would any other PowerPoint. You can also test presenting the new slideshow to see how it will look when on the big screen. PDF.Live also offers a PPT to PDF converter, if you want to eventually turn your presentation back into a PDF. You can, for example, convert a PDF to a slideshow, make edits, and then convert it back into a PDF! PDF.Live has a lot of powerful tools you can utilize to make it as easy as possible to work with PDFs. 

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How to Save, Export and Convert Excel Spreadsheets as PDFs 

The spreadsheet editing software Microsoft Excel is one of the most effective tools for organizing, analyzing and interpreting large amounts of data. However, it’s not always the ideal choice for sharing data, especially if the person you’re sharing it with isn’t adept at spreadsheets. Sending an XLSX or XLS file directly would require them to open that file in Excel. In other cases, you may not want to share all the work behind the Excel pivot tables or graphs and, instead, show the final analyses. Yes, you could lock your spreadsheets to prevent others from making changes, but if you simply want to share a snapshot of a part of a spreadsheet, for a proposal or presentation, for example, we’ll cover that here. Exporting your Excel file as a PDF ensures that your data report is easy to interpret by anyone who receives it. 

How to Save Excel as a PDF

You can save your Excel files as PDFs directly from Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Apple Numbers. 

1. Select File and Save as. 
2. Select Save as type and then PDF. 
3. Review the preview file to ensure your Excel document is exporting correctly. 
4. Select Save. 

Excel’s print to PDF will also allow you to save a spreadsheet as a PDF. Select Print and from the drop-down box that says PDF, select Save As PDF. Both methods will export your Excel document as a PDF. You can share it much easier across the web. 

Take note that your spreadsheet data may look a bit empty on the PDF if you haven’t formatted your Excel document. For example, consider adding a title to your document by editing the header and footer of your document. 

Convert Excel Sheets to PDFs Online

If you don’t have access to Microsoft Excel or a similar spreadsheet editing program, there are options available to you. Consider using PDF.Live’s Excel to PDF converter to convert your spreadsheets to PDFs online. PDF.Live’s converter is easy to use and doesn’t require additional programs to operate.

Simply drag and drop your XLS or XLSX file into the converter and click Convert Excel to PDF. Follow the prompts to download your PDF. Use the PDF editing tool to annotate your PDF, if needed.

How to Convert PDF to a Spreadsheet 

What about the other way around: Saving a PDF as an Excel file? 

This is a bit more complicated as you won’t be able to open PDFs using Excel. Excel can only handle XLS or files that are intended for spreadsheets. However, if you’re sent a PDF that contains data in table format, and you want to extract the data to use in a spreadsheet program like Excel, you may need a PDF-to-Excel converter. 

How do you do this? 

For extracting data from a PDF to Excel, you’ll need a specific file converter that can turn PDFs into Excel documents. 

Just like with the above converter, simply drag and drop your PDF into the converter and click Convert PDF to Excel. The better quality the data is in the PDF, the easier the conversion will be. For example, data in a table will be easier to convert than bulleted lists or paragraphs of text. 

Download your converted PDF to XLS file to complete the process. Double click to open it with Excel. If you receive this message, it could be that Microsoft Excel has found some formatting issues, which is not unexpected. Remember, spreadsheets are designed to do mathematical calculations, so if they cannot recognize characters, they cannot do math.

Click Yes to allow Excel to do its thing and clean up the converted information. (This is why it is important to keep your software programs like Microsoft Office updated; the more recent the version, the better it will fix errors.)  

Below you can see the results. PDF.Live did a good job of recognizing the data in the PDF and converting it to an Excel sheet. Excel took it a step further by formatting the text and numerals. 

How to Insert a PDF Into Excel

Sometimes, the contents of a PDF is needed in a spreadsheet but doesn’t quite match the “cell” format that Excel demands. Fortunately, you can actually embed PDFs in spreadsheets as objects. An example of this use case might be for end-of-month reporting, when you want to include a PDF document in an Excel workbook for explanations or footnotes. 

To do this, open a spreadsheet in Excel and select Insert Object. This capability will range depending on which spreadsheet editor you use. For example, some versions of Excel require you to select Insert > Text > Object. 

However, once you’ve done this, you’ll have the option to create an object from a file. You can then select a PDF file. 

If your version of Excel doesn’t allow you to insert objects, you can insert your PDF as a picture. Keep in mind that this picture will need to be a JPG or PNG file — it will not accept a PDF. Keep in mind that when inserting PDFs into Excel, only the first page will be inserted. If you need to insert multiple PDFs, you’ll need to extract pages or separate the PDF’s pages.

If you convert your PDF to one of these formats, or just take a screenshot of it and save it as a picture, you can then insert it in your spreadsheet. Using the Snipping tool is an especially effective way to do this, as you’ll be able to insert specific elements of your PDF in a spreadsheet. 

Miscellaneous Excel and PDF Functions

Attach a PDF to Excel

To link a PDF to Excel, save it in a cloud drive, such as One Drive or Google Drive, copy the web address of the file and paste it into a cell on the spreadsheet:

• From Google Drive or One Drive, locate your PDF (or any file), right click and select Share.
• In your spreadsheet, navigate to the cell that has content you want to attach the PDF to, select Insert >> Hyperlink and paste the link in the Address field. 
• Click the link to test it. It should open the PDF within your browser.

Convert Excel to PDF Landscape

If you need landscape orientation but your page layout defaulted to portrait, you’ll need to change the page layout in Excel. And this takes a little bit of know-how in Excel. Before converting your Excel into a PDF, select Page Setup >> Orientation >> Landscape. 

Then, go to Print and, before selecting PDF, adjust your margins and scale to fit the page width as needed. For step-by-step tutorials, visit Microsoft’s support article on formatting spreadsheets for printing. 

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How do I change a PDF to a JPG?

JPEG file formats have a lot of benefits. JPEGs are compatible with almost any image editing software and don’t have overly large file sizes. In fact, if you do have a large one, and you moderately reduce its size, you rarely lose quality online.

With JPEG being so versatile, it can sometimes be beneficial to convert a PDF into a JPEG, but the use case is not very common. PDFs can have multiple pages. JPEGs are single “pages.” In fact, it’s more common to convert JPEG to PDF, so you can create multipage photo albums, look books or e-books.

Still, you asked, so we’re answering how to change from PDF to JPG. In this article, we’ll be going through how to perform the conversion of PDF to JPG on most devices.

How to Convert a PDF to JPEG on Mac

Open the Preview app and use the app to open the PDF you want to export as a JPEG. For example, this handsome fellow may be on a specific page of a multipage PDF and you want him as a JPEG.

Once you navigate to the page that you want as a JPEG, go to File > Export. The menu that pops up should look like this:

Here, you’ll see several options for file formats to export the single page of the PDF. You can also choose the folder where the JPEG will be stored. Then, hit save.

Preview can export only one page of a PDF into a JPEG at a time. Multiple pages in a single JPEG are simply not possible; the JPEG file format does not support multiple frames. If you need a single document with multiple pages (like a photo collection), the PDF is meant for this.

If you have multiple JPEGs that need to be in a single document, consider converting them into a PDF file with PDF.Live’s online JPG to PDF Converter. As with any JPG to PDF converter, PDF.Live converts one JPEG at a time; then, you can use the merge feature to combine several PDFs into one, and arrange the pages as you like.

How to Convert a PDF to JPEG on Windows

Windows does not come with a PDF viewer built into the system. However, you can download an app like Adobe Acrobat that allows you to open and edit PDFs. This app also allows you to export PDFs in any format that you need to. Here is how to do it on Acrobat:

1. Open the PDF file with Acrobat.
2. On the toolbar, select “Export PDF”
3. In the export menu, select Image > JPEG
4. Leave the “export all images” unchecked and then Export

Alternatively, you can use a free PDF to JPEG app on the Microsoft Store. The ClearBar App, for example, is a Windows desktop alternative that includes built-in PDF conversion tools. Other options also exist on the Microsoft store, depending on what specific features you’re looking for.

With most PDF to JPG converters, you can only export one page of the PDF into a JPEG at a time. Or, the converter will convert the multiple pages into several different JPEG files. JPEGs have resolutions (e.g. 500×800) and don’t work well with multiple images within a single file. A single file with multiple pages would have a very high resolution and look extremely oblong. They wouldn’t be usable on most devices. PDFs are better for storing multiple images within a single file.

Consider using PDF.Live’s online JPG to PDF Converter if you need to have multiple JPGs in a single file to send around online.

Answers to FAQs About Changing PDFs to JPEGs

Can you export PDF to JPG?

Yes, in some programs, PDFs can be exported as images such as JPGs. You will need to use a PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat to do this. When you have the PDF open, select Export and then click the Convert To dropdown. Select Image. 

From here, you can select which image format you would like your PDF to save as. Note that with Adobe Acrobat, the image will be exported within a .zip file. 

Is it possible to convert multiple PDF pages to JPG?

Yes, this method allows you to convert multiple PDF pages to JPGs. However, it will convert each PDF page as a separate JPG. This is because if all the PDF pages were exported as a single JPG, the image would be very stretched out and difficult to read. The above method will “pack” all of your JPG pages into a single ZIP file.

In this example, a PDF with 6 pages was converted to 6 separate JPGs: 

Can you just save a PDF as a JPEG?

Technically, no. You need to use a PDF conversion tool to export your PDF as JPG images. The export process may look very similar to saving a PDF, but differs slightly. A web browser, for example, can be used to view PDFs but won’t let you save PDFs as JPG files.  

What if I need a high-resolution JPG?

When converting your PDF to a JPG, you may have noticed that you can adjust the image quality of the exported JPG files. The higher the image quality, the higher the resolution of the resulting JPGs will be. Note that this will cause the exported JPGs to have a larger file size and take more memory to store. You can learn more about file compression quality in this post about lossy versus lossless file compression. 

What is the best way to convert a PDF to a JPG?

The Adobe Acrobat Reader is the best way to convert PDFs to JPGs. The free version of the reader lets you open and view PDFs with some simple commenting and highlighting abilities. It also allows you to export your PDFs to image files. However, the Adobe Acrobat Reader is a separate program that does require a download to use. If you need to convert your PDFs to and from other file formats, check out PDF.Live’s web browser-based conversion services. 

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