Downloading a thread
- Thread starter Marcgt2
- Start date
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
Sorry to be so uninformed about this, but how is the "print to PDF" function accessed? I just started using MS Edge in Windows 11 for my browser, which is completely new to me. Vastly different from my old Windows 7 with Chrome browser, so I'm still trying to figure out how things work. Aside from 'click and scroll' over the entire document, how is the complete thread brought to a print option? Thanks
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Dr.Jeff
True Classic
Excellent, worked exactly as described. Nice to know, thanks again.
This reminds me that I still need to transfer some PDF files from my old computer to the new one. I chose not to mass transfer everything because I wanted to delete a bunch of old junk...more going away than retaining so easier to just move the good stuff.
This reminds me that I still need to transfer some PDF files from my old computer to the new one. I chose not to mass transfer everything because I wanted to delete a bunch of old junk...more going away than retaining so easier to just move the good stuff.
Ics19
belle macchine!
It might just be my machine, but when I've saved similar pages in the past, I've found it best to use the "Save as PDF" printer selection instead of the "Microsoft Print to PDF" choice. The reason being is that "Save as PDF" creates a PDF with real embedded fonts/text which is searchable using CTRL-F, where as the "Microsoft Print to PDF" creates a PDF with *images* of the text which can't be searched or indeed copied. On first glance, they do look similar but not when you try and use them 
It's worth a couple of tests to see the difference before embarking on a mass download 
It's worth a couple of tests to see the difference before embarking on a mass download
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
Just for fun I repeated the process, this time using the "save as PDF" option instead. I haven't played with either version to discover their real differences, but the "save to PDF" one included the native colors while the "Microsoft Print to PDF" was only grey scale. But that might be something in my settings and not the 'save' format.
Marcgt2
True Classic
I could only get it to work one page at a time. I guess I have to download each page separately?
Can anyone confirm this?
Marc
Yes, the forum default is to display 20 posts per page, so each page print would contain at most 20 posts. You would need to do larger threads 20 posts at a time. It is possible to have more than 20 posts per page, but unfortunately it's a global setting and increasing it would impact load time for every view.
There's no built-in way to other than this to save threads. HOWEVER.... I've just found an add-on that may accomplish this! I need to look and see if there's any other impacts. It's a paid add-on but may be worthwhile since it enables some other features too.
If you're considering saving threads, you might want to hold off until I try this out. More soon....
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
The sample download I did (of this thread) is only one page long, so I didn't realize it was limited to a single page. I have to agree that isn't ideal, as most of the highly informative threads tend to be rather long (many pages). It will be interesting to hear if there is a work around for that. Thanks again.
UPDATE: There's now an Export Thread selection in the Thread tools drop-down menu at the top of each thread. Choosing this will bring up a dialog box prompting for starting location how many posts you want to include. This will then generate a preview containing ALL the thread content - including images. With that displayed on screen, you can then print to a PDF/Save to a PDF using your browser as discussed above.
Several things to note:
Several things to note:
- This functionality is restricted to registered users
- The hard limit is 500 posts
- The export preview looks a little janky in dark mode, but will print preview/save just fine
- Generating the export can take a LONG time depending on size, image content, connection speed, server load, etc
- The export file has the potential to be VERY LARGE. The restoration thread from @Marcgt2 runs 825 pages and 300 MB when downloaded. Slower/limited resource devices may fall over. Use with care!
Marcgt2
True Classic
Ok Mark. Thanks for looking into making this feature available. It is appreciated.Sorry to report, I have this disabled for now while attempting to narrow down what keeps causing severe performance degradation of the forum today.
Marc
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
Understood.
If it helps any, for the past couple of months (pretty much since the latest general system upgrade) I have encountered random, intermittent issues. All have been minor but were never noticed before that. One is the "Alerts" notification in the top right corner (the little "bell" symbol) doesn't always show there is any for me (0), but in fact there are. Although I haven't seen that happen as much in the last week or two. Another related thing has to do with the "What's New" drop down for "New Posts". It will show new posts that I am subscribed to, but they did not show under the "Alerts" notification I just discussed. This occasionally happens even though the "Alerts" does show other posts. In other words, some are notified while others aren't. I may have noticed these two issues more due to them being the first two things I look for every time I log on. Aside from that, there have been random times when the system is very slow responding to inputs. This has also been going on intermittently (for me) ever since the last major system upgrade (in other words, not just in the past couple of days). At first I thought the 'slowness' might have been related to the fact my computer was really old, but it has been the same for my new computer (which is significantly faster in general than the old one). Seems like there was something else I have noticed that I don't recall at the moment. But I guess my main point is all of this appears(?) to be related to that last upgrade....at least to me. I have no idea, but perhaps that offers some clue to things for you?
If it helps any, for the past couple of months (pretty much since the latest general system upgrade) I have encountered random, intermittent issues. All have been minor but were never noticed before that. One is the "Alerts" notification in the top right corner (the little "bell" symbol) doesn't always show there is any for me (0), but in fact there are. Although I haven't seen that happen as much in the last week or two. Another related thing has to do with the "What's New" drop down for "New Posts". It will show new posts that I am subscribed to, but they did not show under the "Alerts" notification I just discussed. This occasionally happens even though the "Alerts" does show other posts. In other words, some are notified while others aren't. I may have noticed these two issues more due to them being the first two things I look for every time I log on. Aside from that, there have been random times when the system is very slow responding to inputs. This has also been going on intermittently (for me) ever since the last major system upgrade (in other words, not just in the past couple of days). At first I thought the 'slowness' might have been related to the fact my computer was really old, but it has been the same for my new computer (which is significantly faster in general than the old one). Seems like there was something else I have noticed that I don't recall at the moment. But I guess my main point is all of this appears(?) to be related to that last upgrade....at least to me. I have no idea, but perhaps that offers some clue to things for you?
The feature has been re-enabled and Marc reports it works as desiredSorry to report, I have this disabled for now while attempting to narrow down what keeps causing severe performance degradation of the forum today