BoardPro supports most file types and automatically converts them to PDF in the board pack. Excel (and Tableau) files receive special handling. They are distributed ‘as-is’ within the board pack but not converted into PDF. Readers will see these in the board pack as a link to download and view rather than as part of the board pack. This is because Excel files are often large tables across multiple tabs, which do not generally convert well to portrait or landscape PDF formatting.

When you see an attached document in your Index like this (blue with ** instead of a page number), it is a downloadable link for that document. BoardPro does that when a document cannot be converted to PDF, e.g., an Excel file.

Why can't a document be converted to PDF?

There are many reasons related to the content inside your document (e.g., embedded objects, complex diagrams, dependencies on documents outside of BoardPro). In these cases, you can decide if you want to keep the downloadable link OR convert it to PDF from within Word.

If the document is to be read within the board pack:

Convert it first to a PDF in its native application (i.e. Excel) and then attach it to BoardPro. This way, the document owner (e.g. the Finance Manager or Sales Manager) can best control how this file will appear as a PDF. The repeating rows, page width, blank tabs, etc.

If the document is to be kept in its native format (i.e., not converted to a PDF):

Attach it to the agenda item as is. The board pack index will list it as one of the papers for the meeting. Further, if the board member clicks on the file name, they will be able to download that file directly from BoardPro.