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matt_and_187_like_this

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 8, 2015
588
2,034
Hi, how do I disable Safari to save PDFs as a one-pager? Can I split the one-page PDF in Preview? Can't find anything on this issue except going through print/save as pdf.
 
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chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,434
9,296
The number of pages in a pdf document depends on the amount of content. It's unclear to me what you're asking.

Preview is very powerful. Review Apple's guide to Preview, particularly about handling PDFs. I think you'll find what you want to know.

 

Artiste212

macrumors regular
Aug 26, 2012
143
73
Hi, how do I disable Safari to save PDFs as a one-pager? Can I split the one-page PDF in Preview? Can't find anything on this issue except going through print/save as pdf.
I see that when you go to the File Menu > Export, the PDF is all one page. This seems wrong but there are 2 ways to get a multipate PDF fairly easily:

1. Print the page using CMD-P or File > Print. Then choose "PDF" in the lower left corner of the right pane of the Print Dialog. Works great.
2. Use the share menu (icon in menu bar, or File > Share) and choose "Email this page". An email is created that contains a multipage PDF.

This is a very frustrating thing and I hate those long 1 page PDFs. I have no idea how to fix the File > Export menu item, and would love to know if Apple somehow considers this to be a feature.
 

matt_and_187_like_this

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 8, 2015
588
2,034
I see that when you go to the File Menu > Export, the PDF is all one page. This seems wrong but there are 2 ways to get a multipate PDF fairly easily:

1. Print the page using CMD-P or File > Print. Then choose "PDF" in the lower left corner of the right pane of the Print Dialog. Works great.
2. Use the share menu (icon in menu bar, or File > Share) and choose "Email this page". An email is created that contains a multipage PDF.

This is a very frustrating thing and I hate those long 1 page PDFs. I have no idea how to fix the File > Export menu item, and would love to know if Apple somehow considers this to be a feature.

Thanks, too bad there's no switch (quite surprising since it feels like they have a switch for everything nowadays)

I think it's useful for on-screen use, but it needs to be convertible. Once you've saved it as a one-pagers there seems to be no way to turn it back into a regular PDF, meaning you're unable to delete pages or print it.
 

matt_and_187_like_this

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 8, 2015
588
2,034
The number of pages in a pdf document depends on the amount of content. It's unclear to me what you're asking.

Preview is very powerful. Review Apple's guide to Preview, particularly about handling PDFs. I think you'll find what you want to know.


Safari exports all websites as a one-page PDF, no matter how much content there is.

It looks like this if you decide to print it:
 

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0128672

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Once you've saved it as a one-pagers there seems to be no way to turn it back into a regular PDF, meaning you're unable to delete pages or print it.
I'm not 100% sure what you mean, but if you use these steps (similar to what @Artiste212 suggested) when you're on the webpage and forget about the Export function in Safari:

1. Command-P or File > Print
2. In the print dialog where it indicates PDF (to the left of Cancel and Print), tap to get the menu and select Save As PDF (not the default PDF).

Doing it this way will give you all of the pages as a PDF file with which you can delete pages and print the whole PDF or selected pages, or whatever else you want to do to edit/manipulate the file.

Just let go of the idea of using Safari export and use the Print > Save As PDF function. This has worked for many versions of macOS over the years and still works in Monterey.
 
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chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,434
9,296
Safari exports all websites as a one-page PDF, no matter how much content there is.

It looks like this if you decide to print it:
Exporting to a single page is the preferred method of creating PDFs from webpages. It didn't used to be this way in the past, but the continuous feature was added a few years ago I think. It's on one page is because the print dialog is set to Scale to Fit. But if I deselect that and scale it larger, I still get one page. Hmmm...this seems strange.
 

Artiste212

macrumors regular
Aug 26, 2012
143
73
Exporting to a single page is the preferred method of creating PDFs from webpages. It didn't used to be this way in the past, but the continuous feature was added a few years ago I think. It's on one page is because the print dialog is set to Scale to Fit. But if I deselect that and scale it larger, I still get one page. Hmmm...this seems strange.
Now that many web pages are more than 10 printed pages, it makes little sense to put everything in a 1 page PDF with no ability to change the settings. This really makes the "Export to PDF" function in Safari nearly useless. Using the print dialog to save to a PDF provides the needed functionality, but having that Export command there really seems flawed.
 

chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,434
9,296
I'll play devil's advocate to your point. Safari offers both choices, so it's really up to the user to decide what they want. I suppose there could be a checkbox of some sort in the Safari print pane though.

The exported PDF isn't one page. It's just one document. There is no correlation between a PDF and a page until you put it on paper. This point is key.
 
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0128672

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Yeah, I could see that maybe someone might want it as a one page PDF, but I'd rather see Export options in that case.
 
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