Level 1

65 points

OS X Big Sur print, "Save As PDF" not an option!

I am a full time REALTOR® and use the "Save as PDF" function daily when printing documents. Now with the OS X Big Sur update, if the document is protected, I can no longer use the Print, "Save as PDF" function. I have an older MB Pro (Catalina) and that function is there no matter if the document is protected or not. DOES ANYONE HAVE A SOLUTION? I need to SEPARATE PDF's on a regular basis or MARK THEM UP (even protected documents that I don't have the password to) and the old OS Catalina did this just fine. Big Sur, does not work.

Posted on Nov 15, 2020 8:12 AM

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63 replies

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Dec 10, 2020 9:07 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Here is a link to a sample document. Try to download it, open it up, then choose the Print - Save as PDF option.

Old Toad

Level 10

218,368 points

Nov 16, 2020 9:26 AM in response to dkazreal

Have you considered using a macro app that you can assign key combinations to open apps or files? I use Keyboard Maestro and use the key combination of Shift+Control+Option+Clear (on the full keyboard with the keypad) to open the Calculator.

R50rider

Level 1

8 points

Nov 25, 2020 9:31 AM in response to dkazreal

Agreed. I used the "save as PDF" option to print select pages to a pdf from a pdf. With this option no longer available, I can no longer "extract" pages from a pdf into a separate pdf. This is too bad because I know may have to find (and potentially pay for) another program to have to do this.

Old Toad

Level 10

218,368 points

Nov 25, 2020 10:28 AM in response to R50rider

The Print to PDF option is available as long as the print is not password protected. I never tested it in Catalina but it works as intended in Big Sur, i.e, if the print is password protected then one can print, print to pdf, export to pdf or Save as without the password.

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Nov 25, 2020 2:15 PM in response to Old Toad

No you can't copy and past text from the file. It highlights in big chunks (like 6 per page). The file is a lender sensitive document for people who are getting a mortgage and comes from the mortgage broker. I have no idea how it is protected, but this is not the only type of tile that is protected. When a Buyer or Seller has contract documents, they are protected from the electronic signing program, time, date stamped and specific ID number assigned. We are not given the password to unlock. We can save or print, those are the only options.

Nov 26, 2020 11:21 PM in response to VikingOSX

I found this thread late at night, funny enough, trying to extract and offer from a large "offer pack" as I'm also a Realtor. This solution makes no sense at all, but IT WORKED!!!! LOL Why the old "print, select pages and save as PDF" stopped working is beyond me, this has allowed me to get on with it. Thanks for the post/answer. Two thumbs up 👍🏼👍🏼

Dec 9, 2020 3:31 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

It works with Catalina, not Big Sur, so I don't think it matters what kind of pdf it is.

I get where you are coming from, but the process of hiding private info would create a new pdf in the process which would work fine.

Further, if you can view a pdf on your display, you should be able to print to pdf, period. Basically, Big Sur should not even have the option or ability of graying the "print to pdf" option.

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Dec 10, 2020 2:59 PM in response to Brent Darting

Brent that is 100% my point. In Catalina you could use the Print > Save as PDF function. But in Big Sur you can not do that with the PDF. It is not a password protected PDF but it was a PDF that had Digital Signature Tracking on it.

Jan 22, 2021 1:27 PM in response to aopalenik

I edited a pdf and it took minutes to delete 3 pages, "that was a bit weird," I thought. then I needed to save some web pages as pdfs and it just takes forever. Which ever button I press Export as PDF or use print then save as PDF, the beach ball of death appears and the program doesn't even ask where I want to save it. Your solution did not help me and this issue is far from solved.

Jan 27, 2021 12:35 PM in response to Toffeelite

This bug for me turned out to only be a symptom of something greater that Apple has not identified and has so far refused to confirm as too wether or not they're even working on the problem, they just reset my computer completely and considered it job done.

Apr 28, 2021 9:04 PM in response to aopalenik

Please be aware, this is not a solution. It is a work around. There are clearly reliability issues in Bug Sir when creating PDFs using the PDF menu in the print dialogue box. There is plenty of activity across multiple fora regarding this.

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Nov 16, 2020 7:36 AM in response to aopalenik

YES! This solution works. Thank you.

Now if we could just get the CALCULATOR WIDGET back I will be happier :)

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Nov 18, 2020 4:33 AM in response to Old Toad

I appreciate that, but I have my brain trained to slide over the widgets and start typing on the calculator. I would like to get the calculator widget back.

Old Toad

Level 10

218,368 points

Nov 25, 2020 12:53 PM in response to R50rider

How is the PDF protected? Just for printing or for opening?

dkazreal Author

Level 1

65 points

Nov 25, 2020 2:16 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

The document is opened in the native Preview App built into macOS Big Sur. I did select the whole document but for Secuirty purposes cropped the photo.

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OS X Big Sur print, "Save As PDF" not an option!