kswebster
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Batch eml-to-pdf?

The big picture is that I'm dealing with file management for a discovery request in a lawsuit. I have several dozen (and counting) emails originating from Apple Mail (.eml format) that are saved on a thumb drive. Their file names are sequential (e.g. DR1_1.eml DR1_2.eml, etc). What I need is to batch convert these eml files to pdf and either retain the name of the locally-saved eml files (minus the extension, of course) or at least keep the files in the same sequence.

 

What I've established/attempted/been thinking so far through 7+ hours of frustration:

 

  1. The Apple Mail app supports eml-to-pdf through File > Export as pdf.
  2. Also, and as always with the Print Dialog Box, there is the option to convert the relevant file to pdf at the bottom left corner. Messages open in the Apple Mail app are no exception.
  3. This makes me think that the eml-to-pdf capability is within the OS as opposed to Apple Mail. (But if I'm wrong about something here, I'd put my money on this.)
  4. This can also be done using a print-to-pdf driver.
  5. Batch printing (and hence conversion to pdf via a print-to-pdf driver) can be done in OS 10.10.2--at least for a number of file types (e.g. .txt. .rft, .jpg)--via the Finder, simply by selecting the files to be printed, and then, just as when using a relevant application, going to File > Print or typing Command-P).
  6. This method of batch printing does not appear to work, however, when the file type is .eml.
  7. Changing the extension of the files to a file type that will batch print (.txt or .rtf) works to some degree, but there are too many conversion errors for my purposes.
  8. Using Automator I figured out that eml files can be batch converted to an Outlook format, and from there to pdf . However, in the initial conversion, the file name is replaced with the subject of the message. This doesn't work because I need to retain the files' established sequence. (Sorting by date/time does no good; either they aren't converted in order or some convert faster than others.) I couldn't figure out how to make Automator not change the file names.
  9. There's plenty of conversion software out there that will do this... as long as you're using Windows. I can't find any for Mac OS.
  10. Having purchased my macbook pro within the last 90 days I was hoping Apple could help, but I got preschool-level suggestions like "you need to download software called Adobe reader" or "try a Google search."

 

... surely there must be a way to do this that doesn't involve buying a new computer that runs Windows? I don't care if means buying expensive third party software or developing crazy scripts or workflows. Can anyone help? Thanks for considering!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), null

Posted on Mar 23, 2015 11:21 AM

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kswebster

Q: Batch eml-to-pdf?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by William Lloyd,Helpful

    William Lloyd William Lloyd Mar 23, 2015 11:26 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 7 (21,141 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 11:26 AM in response to kswebster

    Printing to/saving to PDF is built into OS X. It is a core component of the operating system; anything that can print, can also "print to PDF."

     

    I don't know how to do it in PDF, though I do know that David Sparks (aka MacSparky), does this regularly. He hosts a podcast called "Mac Power Users" and I know that he regularly saves/archives his emails as PDFs. I'd wondered why, because an .eml is as archival as a PDF, but I'm sure for legal purposes, a PDF of an email is more "official" than the .eml file, in terms of how it's recognized by the legal system.

     

    I'm sure there's an easy way to do it, but I don't know specifically. I think pointing you in the right general direction might help though:

     

    http://macsparky.com/blog/2013/8/pdfconvertme-pdf-conversion-service

  • by kswebster,

    kswebster kswebster Mar 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to William Lloyd
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to William Lloyd

    Thanks William!!!

     

    In case details would help anyone... Starting from MacSparky's website I downloaded an ebook of his on managing email, which in turn pointed me toward Email Archiver.

     

    While that app doesn't retain the original file names like I wanted, it does prepend the original date/time. Because the original naming scheme was done for the purpose of ordering the messages by date/time, they still came out in the desired order. Thanks to that, it's easy to get them back to their original name using the rename function, which is accessed by clicking the gear icon at the top of the window for the folder containing the files.

  • by William Lloyd,

    William Lloyd William Lloyd Mar 23, 2015 12:43 PM in response to kswebster
    Level 7 (21,141 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 12:43 PM in response to kswebster

    Perfect. I knew he had a solution somewhere, I just didn't have time to walk the path to find it exactly.

     

    I'm sure it would be relatively trivial for someone good at AppleScript to come up with something that would do this in an automated fashion. I'm not good at AppleScript, so it would pboably take me a day or two of hammering at it to make something work. A pre-done solution is always better

  • by MonicaGold,

    MonicaGold MonicaGold Jul 9, 2015 3:30 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 9, 2015 3:30 AM in response to kswebster

    For those who want the eml conversion solution for Windows can refer to this software as user can view read emails, header information and conversion capability in pdf format. For Mac use can continue refer to the recommendation already provided.

  • by louiswilliam.techie,

    louiswilliam.techie louiswilliam.techie Aug 6, 2015 10:32 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2015 10:32 AM in response to kswebster

    Do you want to convert Batch Mac EML to PDF?

     

    First, EML is the emails format, if you are using Mac OS X then your Mac Mail emails has been saved in EMLX file format. So if you have requirement to convert your EMLX emails into PDF format then you should use the third party utility to perform the task, you can use the EML to PDF Converter program that can convert batch EMLX files to PDF as well. But the tool is windows based so you have to transfer your Mac emails in Windows OS based machine then use the software and convert emails in PDF format and open it into any OS.

  • by rachel bilson,

    rachel bilson rachel bilson Jan 6, 2016 8:03 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2016 8:03 AM in response to kswebster

    There is another solution which i have tried and found it helpful you can also give it a try for your EML to PDF conversion.

     

    http://www.mboxtopst.com/eml-to-pdf/

  • by datarecoveryexpert,

    datarecoveryexpert datarecoveryexpert Mar 10, 2016 5:11 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 5:11 AM in response to kswebster

    I found a reasonable third party software named EML Converter Wizard to convert unlimited .EML files to .PDF (portable document format) including all email attributes. It is a multipurpose software that provides facility to convert .EML files in 9 different file formats inclusive with PDF format.

  • by DCElement,

    DCElement DCElement Mar 12, 2016 7:49 PM in response to datarecoveryexpert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 12, 2016 7:49 PM in response to datarecoveryexpert

    As a "hidden feature" in MSG Viewer for Outlook, you can also do batch EML to PDF conversion. Instead of drag/dropping MSG files, you can simply drag/drop EML files. It's also available in the App Store or via their website.

     

    http://msgviewerforoutlook.com/

  • by ImMaxSam,

    ImMaxSam ImMaxSam Jul 27, 2016 11:07 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 27, 2016 11:07 AM in response to kswebster

    Converting mails .eml to pdf in batch isn't easy, but i found a good tool when i searched it in Google and get one good solution which ease my day for converting my saved +17000 emails in PDF format without any problem. So try this EML to PDF tool to execute the batch eml-to-pdf process with ease, software will retains all your data intact. So don't wait get the tool now for your work

  • by poonamsharma0123,

    poonamsharma0123 poonamsharma0123 Sep 5, 2016 3:58 AM in response to kswebster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 5, 2016 3:58 AM in response to kswebster

    For batch eml to pdf, there is no direct way to save multiple eml files as pdf format, manual process is ok for saving 1 or 2 eml files as pdf format but for multiple eml files I am suggesting to go with third party tool for error free and complete solution. You can go with this product which is reliable and cheap as well. http://www.birdiesoftware.com/eml-to-pdf/