why can't I save pdf from chrome?

Question

Level 1

5 points

why can't I save pdf from chrome?

I use Chrome v36 on mac OSX 10.9.4

Until recently, saving pdf to file was easy - either using the 'export as pdf' function in preview, or printing to my Epson and saving as a pdf from there. Now neither of these work.

When I try to save from Preview, the file opens in my printer application (to print), rather than save to file.

When I try to save from my printer app, the file refuses to save with a 'filename must be of 31 characters or less' error, then cancels the save action.

What the **** is going on? This all worked fine before, and I have to be able to save receipts etc for my business.

Any help gratefully received.

Marc

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Aug 11, 2014 7:10 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Aug 11, 2014 2:15 PM in response to marcbuck

Try using another browser, either Safari or Firefox, to see if it is a Chrome specific problem.

Firefox

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Answer 2

Aug 11, 2014 2:38 PM in response to marcbuck

I have Google Chrome ver. 36.0.1985.125, OSX 10.9.4, and I can save to PDF or open in Preview web pages from Chrome

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Answer 3

marcbuck Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 14, 2014 2:18 PM in response to Eric Root

Thank you Eric. I tried Safari as you suggest, and it seem this is a problem with Preview. Whenever I try to save as PDF it sends the file to my printer application, and does not save anything to computer.

Any ideas?

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Answer 4

Aug 14, 2014 2:43 PM in response to marcbuck

Ok, like Adobe Reader browser plug-ins for Safari, Chrome has written its own print/save dialog, and keeps the save button hidden. When you roll over the lower right portion of a PDF document displayed in Chrome, the following floating toolbar appears. The red arrow will get your PDF saved for you. No need to launch Preview. The print button is adjacent.

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Answer 5

marcbuck Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 14, 2014 2:50 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you VikingOSX

Chrome does not open the pdf - when I select it it downloads to my downloads folder, from which it opens with preview (when I try to open the pdf with chrome, it just downloads it again).

However, I can just drag the file from downloads to documents I suppose, but it's still a pain I can't export as pdf 😟

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Answer 6

Aug 14, 2014 3:04 PM in response to marcbuck

On the right side of Chrome, next to the favorites star, is the 3-bar menu. Click that, and click on Settings near the bottom of that menu.

Under Privacy, click on Content settings…

Under Plug-ins, I have click to play set. Beneath the Manage Exceptions button is the Disable Individual plug-ins… link. Click it.

If your Chrome PDF Viewer line is grayed out, click Enable. It will work, even if you do not select Always Enable.

Close this page/tab. Click the Done button on the Settings panel.

I have Chrome 36, and when I click on a remote PDF, it downloads and opens in the browser, not to Downloads. The only way I could force a PDF to Downloads would be to right-click on it and choose Save Link As…

See if the above changes get a PDF to open directly in your Chrome 36 browser.

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Answer 7

Shanth31

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2014 8:25 AM in response to marcbuck

See whether the url is https. Chrome will disable Save button for such content.

You can still save when you click print and save as button.

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