Print PDF Menu and Shortcuts

Question

Level 1

11 points

Print PDF Menu and Shortcuts

Hi,
I've looked around online and not been able to find any answers. So this might not be possible, but thought it worth checking on here.

I often print files as PDFs so I'd like to be able to do this using keyboard shortcuts. Pressing ⌘P brings up the print dialogue box, and pressing ⏎ then prints to a printer. Tabbing takes me through the various printing options, but doesn't take focus to the PDF menu at any point and I can't seem to set a working shortcut up to 'Save as PDF...'.

Is it possible to create a personalised keyboard shortcut to 'Save as PDF...' or any of the other PDF print options. It would be great if this was possible as I use 'Save PDF to Web Receipts Folder' quite regularly too.

Thanks

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 2:22 PM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,895 points

Nov 22, 2009 2:27 PM in response to Satkin

Have you googled for a related plug-in for Safari, as an example - be sure any you try are quoted as being Snow Leopard compatible or don't bother....good luck in any case.

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Nov 22, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Satkin

the only way I know how to do that is via CUPS-PDF.
it installs a virtual printer that just prints pdf files to a fixed folder. then you can simply use command+p and enter.
http://www.codepoetry.net/projects/cups-pdf-for-mosx

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Answer 3

Nov 22, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Satkin

Satkin wrote:
but doesn't take focus to the PDF menu at any point and I can't seem to set a working shortcut up to 'Save as PDF...'.

Probably not what you are looking for, but the PDF menu does take focus, it's just that the focus ring isn't drawn. Depending on the whether you are using the expanded or simple dialog, the focus seems to jump from the help ? to either Supplies or Preview. But tabbing once after the help ? and then using the down arrow reveals the items in the PDF menu.

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Answer 4

Nov 22, 2009 6:23 PM in response to Satkin

It's fairly straightforward to do this. See this hint: Shortcuts for Print - PDF menu. I set the Print as PDF... shortcut to ⌘P. So to print to a PDF in an application, I hit ⌘P to open the print dialog and then ⌘P again to save it as a PDF. Works in all the basic apps - TextEdit, Safari, Mail, MS apps, etc.

This works on my MPB in 10.6 as well. Post back and let us know if this works for you.

Mark G.

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Answer 5

Satkin Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 22, 2009 11:27 PM in response to Mark Griffin

Thanks for the tip. Setting ⌘P for 'Save as PDF...' does work. However, assigning different shortcuts to other PDF menu options don't. E.g. Save PDF to Web Receipts Folder assigned to ^⌘P doesn't do anything, so it's only working partly.

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Answer 6

Nov 23, 2009 12:09 PM in response to Satkin

You're correct. It may have to do with the fact that the options below the thin gray line in the PDF options list are PDF workflows. I did notice that if you click the PDF button and release and then use the ^⌘P, it saves it to the Web Receipts folder like expected.

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Answer 7

Satkin Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 23, 2009 12:39 PM in response to Mark Griffin

So it does. Although it isn't as simple as just pressing the shortcuts it can all be done without having to use the mouse which is what I was aiming for, so thanks to everyone for the help on this.

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Answer 8

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Nov 23, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Mark Griffin

Mark Griffin wrote:
It's fairly straightforward to do this. See this hint: Shortcuts for Print - PDF menu. I set the Print as PDF... shortcut to ⌘P. So to print to a PDF in an application, I hit ⌘P to open the print dialog and then ⌘P again to save it as a PDF. Works in all the basic apps - TextEdit, Safari, Mail, MS apps, etc.

This works on my MPB in 10.6 as well. Post back and let us know if this works for you.

Mark G.

that's a very neat trick. thanks for sharing.

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