How to print to a PDF

I had purchased an iPad and then discovered that the browser would not print to pdf. For me, this is an essential capability since my primary focus is use of the web. I like to save articles for future reference. I also keep receipts for all of my purchases as pdf files by printing them on-line. And pdfs are a convenient way to save and share maps. (Note: some apps which require you to copy the web page and paste it into the app for conversion to pdf probably don't work for all cases, not to mention the hassle) So, despite how much I liked the iPad, I decided to return it. The Apple folks were nice about taking it back even though it was more than 14 days past the purchase date. Ironically, the emailed a pdf receipt to me for my return. 🙂 I guess I will be taking a serious look at the Nexus 7 since that reportedly has this essential capability: http://www.nexus7tablethelp.com/2012/07/how-to-convert-html-webpage-to-pdf-in.ht ml

If Apple were to add the print to pdf feature (which the MacAir has), the iPad would be my first choice because of all of the other Apps and features.

Glad to see its not just me, I own a company that used to have reams of paper for jobs so decided to go electronic however you cannot sign pages documents so spent ages looking for a signing app. I eventually found a few with the best being signature or PDF writer I think it's called but tend to use signature for its simplicity!!??!!

Brilliant finally there!! The problem now is I need PDF copies of the pages documents, only solution I have at the minute is e-mail the pages doc to yourself as a PDF then open in signature voila, sign document all is happy.

Yeah till you get to a client with no mobile reception, no Wi-fi etc etc.

What do you do now? I know just save as a PDF- no, print using a PDF driver - nope nothing seems to exist

What I want to achieve as I have engineers and I need something simple as they are already mourning, is create my pages document then be able to print to PDF pretty much like you can with any other apple device!! Then we can get documents easy using open in,

Does anyone have any ideas please?

I use Printopia on my Mac and this allows me to print any file to PDF in my dropbox account - provided my Mac is open and running (i.e. I'm on the same network). May not work if you are 'out and about' but if you are near a desktop/laptop/on wifi network it works very well. It shows up in the print menu.

Sorry, I should have been more clear that I was not directly replying to you as the original poster but to an issue that someone posted after you more recently in August. Sorry to have irritated you with my reply to this thread. I guess I assumed that since your post was so many months ago that you wouldn't necessarily assume it was directed to you.

I would agree this is a functionality that is needed. I'm looking for a solution myself, and while most apps find some type of work around they certainly don't meet your needs.

Molks

Try http://getstartapp.com/

It's an app which can pretty much save anything to a PDF. It's got a built in browser, which looks like safari, and I've tested saving a google map, a jpeg image and BBC homepage. Works beautifully. I used the free version test and then updated to paid version (£1.49) But yes, only if it were built within Safari. Shouldn't be a big deal for apple!

Ta.

Molks - thanks for starting this discussion.

My understanding/summary

- NO "app" will give you the "PDF-printer" - that is: act like a printer ...

- Workaround - use an "app"-s built in browser and have the chance to use the built in "PDF-printer" when needed (when surfing). It is NOT possible to just use it when the content is there in Safari. Then the log-in etc. will prevent a cut&pase of link to those type of apps.

MOLKS: Do you agree with the summary?

If so - please advice the best solution (app) you have found so far. Did you test "getstartapp"?

I find this "print to PDF" functionality very useful and do not understand those who claim that this is not correct use of the iPad. The point is to avoid paper and get the exact output the content provider lets you print (and maybe not letting you get otherwise). Example from the PC-world is "CutePDF" etc.

Thanks a million again for taking this up - if somebody know where to send a suggestion to Apple I would love to send in this one (quickly browsing through the disc I get the impression that Apple does not allow "print to pdf" ...

I have been looking for the same solution. I'm hopeful by the CNET review at http://download.cnet.com/Virtual-PDF-Printer-for-iPad/3000-2094_4-75706961.html for Virtual PDF Printer by AppRey.com. It's $20 though.

Just checking to see if you bought this and if you like it, or if anyone else found anything good. Like the rest of you mentioned, I just can't keep buying apps in the hopes that one of them works right. Thanks.

Whoops, I just saw that it is no longer available.

I have read this thread (and the one that this grew from). I agree to the point that if this doesn't get resolved, I will not be getting another iPad when I replace the one I have. I just happen to be a GoodReader user. For those of you who are, I came upon this in the Help file for GoodReader. I have tried it and it works well. Now I am trying to learn if I can crop the PDF using GoodReader to get rid of any extra information that copied that I might not want.

This may or may not help some of you. I keep my files in GoodReader anyway, so this might be the solution I'm looking for (for now).

How do I save a file from Safari to GoodReader?

If you browse the Web with Safari, and open a file that is of interest to you, there is a way of saving this file into GoodReader's internal local storage, so you will be able to view this file with GoodReader without loading it from the Internet every time (like it happens in Safari).

(for directions to save an embedded HTML5 video from Safari to GoodReader see this article)

To save a file from Safari to GoodReader:

• open the file of interest in Safari
• tap Safari's address bar (the keyboard will appear)
• go to the very beginning of the file's URL address, where the http:// or https:// part is
• add a single letter g in front of the address, so you'll get ghttp:// or ghttps:// instead of http:// or https://
• press Go on the keyboard (this will close Safari and start GoodReader)
• the file will start to download into GoodReader automatically (check Web Downloads section to find it)

If you plan to do this often, you can simplify this process substantially. In GoodReader's settings, General section, tap the button called Bookmark for files and webpages. Then go to Safari and create a new bookmark. Bookmarking absolutely any page will do. Name this bookmark, for example, Save to GoodReader. Then press the bookmark button, and then Edit. Select this new bookmark. Now Safari will let you modify an address of this bookmark. Delete the old address and paste the text from the pasteboard (GoodReader has prepared this special text for you). Save the modified bookmark address. Selecting this bookmark when a page of interest is opened is the same as adding the g letter in front of this page's address.

Please note that this technique doesn't always work with secure servers. If it doesn't, then try browsing for this file in GoodReader's built-in web-browser, rather than in Safari.

For what it's worth, I also tried the web browser "Start." It works well and exports to GoodReader (or wherever you want) very nicely. The problem is the obvious one--it's not the default browser, Safari.

Thanks to all for the work you have put into this thread.

Hope this helps,

Don

I just learned today that Google Chrome for iPad (available for free in the App Store) now has this function built in. The only requirement is that you have a Google account because it "prints" the PDF to your Google Drive.

Going to my MacBook Pro to pay bills or purchase something on the web (just so I can have a pdf receipt) was a pain in the butt.

Yes, some of the apps that have a built-in browser work just fine, but switching to another app just to pay a bill seemed silly. With Chrome you can use it for everything. No switching apps or browsers.

Thank you, Google!!!!!!

Steve