You're on LibreOffice rather than Word. The PDF needs to be editable in Writer. DOCX works, but ODT is Writer's native format — fewer conversion artefacts, better feature parity.
DOCX vs ODT in LibreOffice
LibreOffice Writer opens both DOCX and ODT. DOCX is the import format — some features get mapped imperfectly. ODT is native — everything works as designed.
For casual use, DOCX is fine. For documents you'll edit heavily in Writer, ODT removes friction.
Conversion options
Flint's convert hub outputs ODT directly. Or convert to DOCX and open in Writer, then Save As ODT. One step is faster but the two-step also works.
Quality is similar across both routes.
What carries across
Body text, headings, lists, tables, images, hyperlinks — all preserved. Bookmarks and cross-references usually survive. Comments and tracked changes don't (PDFs don't include them).
Fonts are subject to the same substitution rules as DOCX — install the original fonts locally for exact rendering.
Open Document beyond LibreOffice
ODT is the ISO/IEC standard format. It opens in LibreOffice, OpenOffice, NeoOffice, AbiWord, Calligra, and surprisingly in Microsoft Word too (with some quirks). Useful for archival, government workflows, anywhere the open standard matters.
FAQ
Can Word open ODT?
Yes, since Office 2007. Some advanced LibreOffice features don't carry across perfectly, but basic documents are fine.
Will LibreOffice macros work?
PDFs don't carry macros. If you need Basic macros in your ODT, write them after conversion.
What about tables?
Convert as native ODT tables, fully editable. Complex merges may simplify.
Will images carry?
Yes, embedded in the ODT package. File sizes scale with image count.
Native LibreOffice editing. Convert your PDF to ODT for the open-source workflow.