Help with printing PDFs

[gogreen1]

Suppose I have a 5-page PDF document. I can't find a way in Mac OS X to print, say, 1-2, 4-5 (omitting page 3, for example). I can move the document to PDF Toolbox Star app or a similar app and in that app extract PDF pages and recombine them for printing. But is there a way to do that in native Mac OS X?

 

[chscag]

Which application are you using to do the printing? I believe both Preview and Adobe have the ability to print separate pages. I just tried this using Preview to open a 20 page PDF and it does allow printing separate pages or in batches as you suggested above. My printer is an HP LaserJet but I'm certain most printers are able to do the same thing.

 

[gogreen1]

I'm using Preview with a Brother MFC-L2740DW printer. I hate to ask a dumb question, but where does Preview allow one to print pages such as 1-4,7-9,12-16, and 19-20 in, say, a 20-page PDF document?

 

[hummerchine]

I'm using Preview with a Brother MFC-L2740DW printer. I hate to ask a dumb question, but where does Preview allow one to print pages such as 1-4,7-9,12-16, and 19-20 in, say, a 20-page PDF document?

In the print dialog box that shows up immediately after you select "print".

"Pages", from _ to _

 

[Dave Braine]

In the print dialog box that shows up immediately after you select "print".

"Pages", from _ to _

However, you have to print each page group as a separate job: ie, print pages 1-3, then print pages 5-8, etc.

 

[chown33]

I think Preview may still allow you to edit PDF documents it has open.

In the sidebar, the one that shows the pages, click a page and press the Delete (Backspace) key on the keyboard. If the PDF is editable, the page should be deleted.

At this point, if you wish to preserve the original PDF, DO NOT choose Save or ⌘S.

If the page was deleted, then go on to select and delete other pages. Repeat as needed. Use Undo as needed.

Then choose "Print..." and look at how many pages will print. It should be less than the total number of pages in the original document. The pages you deleted should not print.

EDIT

I just checked Apple's support documentation, and it confirms that Preview.app can still delete pages from a PDF file in both High Sierra and Mojave.
https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/add-delete-or-move-pdf-pages-prvw11793/10.0/mac/10.13

If you click the Table of Contents link on that linked page, you'll see a much more extensive list topics for what Preview.app can do.

 

[chscag]

However, you have to print each page group as a separate job: ie, print pages 1-3, then print pages 5-8, etc.

That's correct. I assume the OP is attempting to do it all in one batch job which is not possible.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If you command-P the document and get the print dialog you can then choose "Open PDF in Preview" in the PDF popup menu. From there, make sure menu item View>Thumbnails is checked. Start at the END of the thumbnails (to preserve page numbering), delete your unwanted pages and then print. All done in macOS.

 

[gogreen1]

Thanks, all. I had hidden thumbnails and then by way of this thread rediscovered it. It's a convoluted way for Mac OS X to print. Wish they'd change that. In Windows, I used to be able routinely to print a 10-page document by omitting some pages in a single dialog box, like 1-4, 6-7, 9. Thanks again.