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Convert file extension from .docx to .pdf

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Posted on by Alexman

Hello,

Recently I have been tasked to create a flow where a document from the SharePoint library is being sent for approval and signature to the management. Now all the documents are created in .docx format to be editable. After that they go through verification and edition processes at a few specialists and afterwards are sent via email to the CEO for signature.

The signature is a digital one, so it only can be applied on a PDF file. I managed to make the conversion from .docx to .pdf using OneDrive, so when the CEO receives the email, the file is already in PDF, just to be downloaded and digitally signed.

The other flow works backwards, when CEO responds to the same email with the digitally signed PDF uploaded, it gets back this file to the same file library.

Here I am facing a problem - when I am trying to update the initial .docx document via Update file properties and Update file actions, I am managing to update just metadata and content of the file, but not the file extension, so it stays in the library as .docx, although it has a PDF content.

I know that I can delete the old file and recreate a new one with the new extension, but I would like to preserve the initial ID of the file in the library.

Is there a solution for this?

Please advise.

Thank you.

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Michael E. Gernaey 53,414 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @Alexman

If you converted the file to a PDF, you should see the PDF version. It sounds like the PDF was put into a different place than where you are looking? If you converted, there should not be a DOCX version.

If I have helped you, I would really appreciate if you please Mark my answer as Resolved/Answered, and give it a thumbs up, so it can help others

Cheers

Thank You
Michael Gernaey MCT | MCSE | MCP | Self-Contractor| Ex-Microsoft
https://gernaeysoftware.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgernaey

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Alexman 9 on at

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Yes, indeed. I mentioned that I used OneDrive to export and convert files there. However the issue is placing back the file in a different format that would substitute the original one without changing the ID in the library.

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Michael E. Gernaey 53,414 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@Alexman

But if you just change the Extension, that will not make that file a PDF. You would end up making the document invalid.

And you cannot delete it and recreate it, nor can you just overwrite it with the actual PDF. No matter what you do its either a new id, or a broken file.

If I have helped you, I would really appreciate if you please Mark my answer as Resolved/Answered, and give it a thumbs up, so it can help others

Cheers

Thank You
Michael Gernaey MCT | MCSE | MCP | Self-Contractor| Ex-Microsoft
https://gernaeysoftware.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgernaey

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Alexman 9 on at

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I managed to actually format the document to PDF in OneDrive, however when I update the original file with the new content (PDF) I can't change the extension to PDF. That is why it stays displayed as a .docx file, however the content is already updated to PDF.
So I am trying to find out if there is a way to actually change the extension in the SharePoint library.
I found a solution that worked back in 2021 that looks like this:
However now it just doesn't do the job. It runs with no errors, but the extension stays the same.

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