How to Set Default Save Location fro "Print > PDF > Save as PDFs" in Mac OS?

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Level 1

99 points

How to Set Default Save Location fro "Print > PDF > Save as PDFs" in Mac OS?

Hi,

How can I set the default save location for "Print > PDF > Save as PDFs" in Mac OS? (assuming it can be changed in some way)

This default seems to be controlled by Mac OS, not the application, say Word. Further, the folder it defaults to seems to be "the last used folder of whatever the application", leading to me often printed PDFs into shared folders by accident (shared with co-workers, clients, students) where I may have worked earlier but where that file should definitely not end up (in cases where I forget to manually change the folder or click save to quickly).

I am looking for a way to default (start) at Documents or the Desktop or any less potentially embarrassing (potentially shared) location, really. Even better would be to print the PDF right next to the DOCX (or whatever) that I am printing the PDF from, per default, because however can see the DOCX can also see the PDF. However, I understand from reading other forum postings that the application (say again Word) and the Mac OS Print dialogue might not exchange that information (why not?; it seems possible and useful).

Thank you for any help!

MacBook Pro, null

Posted on Feb 24, 2018 7:19 PM

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Answer 1

_daniel_ Author

Level 1

99 points

Feb 27, 2018 3:07 PM in response to _daniel_

Answering my own question (full credits to Phil on the MS forum): the default save location of an app on Mac OS, including Word and the Print dialogue, can be set to a default location via an third-party app called Default Folder X. This is what I use now; not affiliated in any way.

As per Country Girl's post, there is apparently no way to set this up with current Mac OS system functionality alone (Word also does not provide this functionality).

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

125,650 points

Feb 27, 2018 4:24 PM in response to _daniel_

What you need is an Automator Print Plugin. Here is the Automator action hierarchy:

Rename Finder Items
Apple's Pages embeds ".pages" in the middle of the PDF name, and I remove that.
Move Finder Items
Run AppleScript
1. Pages writes a PDF out with the extension hidden. Dumb.
2. Use AppleScript to get the PDF filename and tell Finder to reveal the PDF extension

Automator action Items 1 and 3 may not be necessary if Word writes out foo.pdf, and tells Finder to not hide the extension.

In my example below, I launched Automator : New… : Print Plugin : Choose. I saved Plugin with the name “PDF to Desktop,” and that name appears in the Print : PDF : sub-menu. With Pages and a document open, I can simply follow this menu hierarchy and a PDF appears on my Desktop, when the original Pages document is located elsewhere.

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Answer 3

Feb 24, 2018 7:32 PM in response to _daniel_

There is no way to set a default location. As you suspected the "Save as PDF…" dialog window opens to the last location that was used.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,630 points

Feb 27, 2018 3:40 PM in response to _daniel_

Just create an alias to whatever folders you want inside the PDF Services folder that is in your user Library folder.

When you select those entries, the PDF will be created in the folder that the alias points to.

While not dynamic, it does provide a quick way to save them in various desired locations.

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How to Set Default Save Location fro "Print > PDF > Save as PDFs" in Mac OS?

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