firefoxpdfprint to pdf
I print a lot of web pages to pdf, using CutePDF. URLs are maintained as active links in the pdf document, but hyperlinks do not generate an active link.
Is there any, preferably free, pdf printer that maintains active hyperlinks, when printing webpages?
(And please, do not advice any tool that does not specifically do this)
I use Firefox, but don't think the browser should matter.
This should be possible by specifying /PrintScaling /None in the ViewerPreferences dict (see section 12.2 in ISO 32000-1:2008.
Update: Try this:
[ {Catalog} << /ViewerPreferences << /PrintScaling /None >> >> /PUT
pdfmark
See http://www.digipedia.pl/usenet/thread/1191/1835/
Update: From Poster
The final solution was to add the above postscript line into the postscript generated by PDF Creator using the "Actions" feature of PDF Creator. (Action Before Saving)
http://www.pdfforge.org/content/actions
I also used this link as inspiration for the action and looked at the preinstalled vbs scripts to figure out what needed to be done to add information to the convert to pdf postscript file.
PDFCreator Document View settings - It seems that a script similar to this used to be included in PdfCreator.
Anyway this is my final script that can be added to Pdf Creator to add the PrintScaling default property.
' SetPrintScalingNone.vbs script
' Author: Collin Kulbacki
' Version: 1.0.0.0
' Date: Oct 18, 2012
' Comment: This script Sets the ViewerPrefferences Print Scalling to none.
Option Explicit
Const AppTitle = "PDFCreator - SetPrintScallingNone"
Const ForReading = 1, ForAppending = 8
Dim objArgs, objNetwork, section, ini, fso, f
Dim fname, key, psFile, strTitle, printScalingFile
Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments
If objArgs.Count = 0 Then
MsgBox "This script needs a parameter!", vbExclamation, AppTitle
WScript.Quit
End If
fname = objArgs(0)
Set ini = New IniFile
ini.Load fName, true
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
printScalingFile = fso.GetParentFolderName(fName) & "\" & GenerateGUID & ".ps"
Set f = fso.OpenTextFile(printScalingFile, ForAppending, True)
f.writeline "[ {Catalog} << /ViewerPreferences << /PrintScaling /None >> >> /PUT pdfmark"
f.Close
Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
set section = ini.AddSection(GenerateGUID)
section.AddKey("SessionId").Value = " "
section.AddKey("WinStation").Value = " "
section.AddKey("UserName").Value = objNetwork.UserName
section.AddKey("ClientComputer").Value = objNetwork.ComputerName
section.AddKey("SpoolFileName").Value = printScalingFile
section.AddKey("PrinterName").Value = " "
section.AddKey("JobId").Value = " "
section.AddKey("DocumentTitle").Value = "PrintScaling"
ini.Save fName, true
WScript.Quit
Private Function GenerateGUID()
GenerateGUID = Replace(Mid(CreateObject("Scriptlet.TypeLib").GUID, 2, 36), "-", "")
End Function
' http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/21896/INI-Reader-Writer-Class-for-C-VB-NET-and-VBScript
' IniFile class used to read a nd write ini files by loading the file into memory
Class IniFile
'List of IniSection objects keeps track of all the sections in the INI file
Private m_pSections, OpenAsUnicode
'Public constructor
Public Sub Class_Initialize()
Set m_pSections = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
m_pSections.CompareMode = vbTextCompare
End Sub
'Returns an array of the IniSections in the IniFile
Public Property Get Sections
Sections = m_pSections.Items
End Property
'Load IniFile object with existing INI Data
Public Sub Load( ByVal sFileName , ByVal bAppend )
Dim intAsc1Chr, intAsc2Chr
If Not bAppend Then RemoveAllSections() ' Clear the object...
Dim objFSO : Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim tempsection : Set tempsection = Nothing
'Dim oReader : Set oReader = objFSO.OpenTextFile( sFileName, , , format )
Dim oReader, Stream
Set Stream = objFSO.OpenTextFile(sFileName, 1, False)
intAsc1Chr = Asc(Stream.Read(1))
intAsc2Chr = Asc(Stream.Read(1))
Stream.Close
' (255, 254 == FF, FE -> UniCode) Or (91, 0 == [ '\0' -> Widechar inf file from pdfcmon.dll)
If (intAsc1Chr = 255 And intAsc2Chr = 254) Or (intAsc1Chr = 91 And intAsc2Chr = 0) Then
OpenAsUnicode = True
Else
OpenAsUnicode = False
End If
Set oReader = objFSO.OpenTextFile( sFileName, 1, 0, OpenAsUnicode )
Dim regexsection : set regexsection = new regexp
Dim regexkey : Set regexkey = new regexp
Dim regexcomment : Set regexcomment = new regexp
regexcomment.Pattern = "^([\s]*#.*)"
regexcomment.Global = False
regexcomment.IgnoreCase = True
regexcomment.MultiLine = False
' Left for history
'regexsection.Pattern = "\[[\s]*([^\[\s].*[^\s\]])[\s]*\]"
'regexsection.Pattern = "^[\s]*\[[\s]*([^\[\s].*[^\s\]])[\s]*\][\s]*$"
regexsection.Pattern = "^\s*\[\s*(.*[^\s])\s*\]\s*$"
regexsection.Global = False
regexsection.IgnoreCase = True
regexsection.MultiLine = False
regexkey.Pattern = "^\s*([^=\s]*)[^=]*=(.*)"
regexkey.Global = False
regexkey.IgnoreCase = True
regexkey.MultiLine = False
While Not oReader.AtEndOfStream
Dim line : line = oReader.ReadLine()
If line <> "" Then
Dim m
If regexcomment.Test(line) Then
Set m = regexcomment.Execute(line)
'WScript.Echo("Skipping Comment " & m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(0) )
ElseIf regexsection.Test(line) Then
Set m = regexsection.Execute(line)
'WScript.Echo("Adding section [" & m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(0) &"]" )
Set tempsection = AddSection( m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(0) )
ElseIf regexkey.Test(line) And Not tempsection Is Nothing Then
Set m = regexkey.Execute(line)
'WScript.Echo("Adding Key ["& m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(0) &"]=["& m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(1) &"]" )
tempsection.AddKey( m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(0) ).Value = m.Item(0).subMatches.Item(1)
ElseIf Not tempsection Is Nothing Then
'WScript.Echo("Adding Key ["& line &"]" )
tempsection.AddKey( line )
'Else
' WScript.Echo("Skipping unknown type of data: " & line)
End If
End If
Wend
oReader.Close()
End Sub
'Allows you to do a save the IniFile resident in memory to file
Public Sub Save(ByVal sFileName, ByVal AsUnicode)
Dim objFSO : Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim oWriter : Set oWriter = objFSO.CreateTextFile( sFileName , True, AsUnicode )
Dim s 'IniSection
Dim k 'IniKey
For Each s In Sections
'WScript.Echo("Writing Section: " & s.Name)
oWriter.WriteLine("[" & s.Name & "]")
For Each k In s.Keys
If k.Value <> vbNullString Then
'WScript.Echo("Writing Key: "&k.Name&"="&k.Value)
oWriter.WriteLine(k.Name & "="& k.Value )
Else
'WScript.Echo("Writing Key: "&k.Name)
oWriter.WriteLine(k.Name)
End if
Next
Next
oWriter.Close()
End Sub
'Returns the IniSection object associated with a section name
Public Function GetSection(ByVal sSection )
Set GetSection = Nothing
sSection = Trim(sSection) 'Trim spaces
If Len( sSection ) <> 0 Then
If m_pSections.Exists( sSection ) Then
Set GetSection = m_pSections.Item(sSection)
End If
End If
End Function
' Adds a section to the IniFile object, returns a IniSection object
Public Function AddSection(ByVal sSection )
Set AddSection = Nothing
If StrComp(TypeName(sSection),"IniSection",1) = 0 Then
If Not sSection Is Nothing Then
' Only purpose is to be used by child to re-insert
If Not sSection Is Nothing Then
If Not m_pSections.Exists( sSection.Name ) Then
Set m_pSections.Item( sSection.Name ) = sSection
Set AddSection = sSection
End If
End If
End If
ElseIf StrComp(TypeName(sSection),"String",1) = 0 Then
sSection = Trim(sSection)
If Len( sSection ) <> 0 Then
If m_pSections.Exists( sSection ) Then
Set AddSection = m_pSections.Item(sSection)
Else
Dim s : Set s = New IniSection
Call s.Init( Me , sSection )
Set m_pSections.Item(sSection) = s
Set AddSection = s
End If
End If
End If
End Function
' Removes all existing sections (clears the object)
Public Sub RemoveAllSections()
Call m_pSections.RemoveAll()
End Sub
' Remove a section by name or section object
Public Function RemoveSection(ByVal Obj)
RemoveSection = False
If StrComp(TypeName(Obj),"IniSection",1) = 0 Then
If Not Obj Is Nothing Then
m_pSections.Remove(Obj.Name)
RemoveSection = True
End If
ElseIf StrComp(TypeName(Obj),"String",1) = 0 Then
RemoveSection = RemoveSection( GetSection(Obj) )
End If
End Function
' Remove a key by section namd and key name
Public Function RemoveKey(ByVal sSection , ByVal sKey)
RemoveKey = False
Dim s : Set s = GetSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
RemoveKey = s.RemoveKey( sKey )
End If
End Function
' Returns a KeyValue in a certain section
Public Function GetKeyValue(ByVal sSection , ByVal sKey )
GetKeyValue = vbNullString
Dim s : Set s = GetSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
Dim k : Set k = s.GetKey(sKey)
If Not k Is Nothing Then
GetKeyValue = k.Value
End If
End If
End Function
' Sets a KeyValuePair in a certain section
Public Function SetKeyValue(ByVal sSection , ByVal sKey , ByVal sValue )
SetKeyValue = False
Dim s : Set s = AddSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
Dim k : Set k = s.AddKey(sKey)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
k.Value = sValue
SetKeyValue = True
End If
End If
End Function
' Renames an existing section returns true on success, false if the section didn't exist or there was another section with the same sNewSection
Public Function RenameSection(ByVal sSection , ByVal sNewSection)
' Note string trims are done in lower calls.
RenameSection = False
Dim s : Set s = GetSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
RenameSection = s.SetName(sNewSection)
End If
End Function
' Renames an existing key returns true on success, false if the key didn't exist or there was another section with the same sNewKey
Public Function RenameKey(ByVal sSection , ByVal sKey, ByVal sNewKey)
' Note string trims are done in lower calls.
RenameKey = False
Dim s : Set s = GetSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Nothing Then
Dim k : Set k = s.GetKey(sKey)
If Not k Is Nothing Then
RenameKey = k.SetName(sNewKey)
End If
End If
End Function
End Class
'IniSection Class
Class IniSection
' IniFile IniFile object instance
Private m_pIniFile
' Name of the section
Private m_sSection
' List of IniKeys in the section
Private m_keys
'Friend constuctor so objects are internally managed
Public Sub Class_Initialize
Set m_pIniFile = Nothing
m_sSection = ""
Set m_keys = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
m_keys.CompareMode = vbTextCompare
End Sub
' Function only works once...
Public Sub Init( ByVal oIniFile , ByVal sSection )
If m_pIniFile is Nothing Then
Set m_pIniFile = oIniFile
m_sSection = sSection
End If
End Sub
'Returns an array of the IniKeys in the IniFile
Public Property Get Keys
Keys = m_keys.Items
End Property
'Returns the section name
Public Property Get Name
name = m_sSection
End Property
'Set the section name
'Returns true on success, False if key already exists in the section
Public Function SetName(ByVal sSection)
SetName = False ' Default
sSection = Trim(sSection)
If Len( sSection ) <> 0 Then
Dim s : Set s = m_pIniFile.GetSection(sSection)
If Not s Is Me And Not s Is Nothing Then Exit Function
Call m_pIniFile.RemoveSection(Me)
m_sSection = sSection
Call m_pIniFile.AddSection(Me)
SetName = True
End If
End Function
'Returns the section name
Public Function GetName()
GetName = m_sSection
End Function
'Adds a key to the IniSection object
'Returns Nothing on failure
Public Function AddKey(ByVal sKey)
Set AddKey = Nothing
' Is this a string or object of IniKey
If StrComp(TypeName(sKey),"IniKey",1) = 0 Then
' Only purpose is to be used by child to re-insert
If Not sKey Is Nothing Then
If Not m_keys.Exists( sKey.Name ) Then
Set m_keys.Item(sKey.Name) = sKey
Set AddKey = sKey
End If
End If
ElseIf StrComp(TypeName(sKey),"String",1) = 0 Then
' String was passed...
sKey = Trim(sKey)
If Len(sKey) <> 0 Then
If m_keys.Exists( sKey ) Then
Set AddKey = m_keys.Item(sKey)
Else
Dim k : Set k = New IniKey
Call k.Init( Me , sKey )
Set m_keys.Item(sKey) = k
Set AddKey = k
End If
End If
End If
End Function
'Returns a IniKey
'Returns Nothing on failure
Public Function GetKey(ByVal sKey)
Set GetKey = Nothing
sKey = Trim(sKey)
If Len(sKey) <> 0 Then
If m_keys.Exists( sKey ) Then
Set GetKey = m_keys.Item(sKey)
End If
End If
End Function
'Removes all the keys in the section
Public Sub RemoveAllKeys()
Call m_keys.RemoveAll()
End Sub
'Removes a single key by IniKey object by string or object
Public Function RemoveKey(ByVal Obj)
RemoveKey = False
If StrComp(TypeName(Obj),"IniKey",1) = 0 Then
If Not Obj Is Nothing Then
m_keys.Remove(Obj.Name)
RemoveKey = True
End If
ElseIf StrComp(TypeName(Obj),"String",1) = 0 Then
RemoveKey = RemoveKey( GetKey(Obj) )
End If
End Function
End Class ' End of IniSection
'IniKey Class
Class IniKey
' Name of the Key
Private m_sKey
' Value associated
Private m_sValue
' Pointer to the parent CIniSection
Private m_pSection
'Friend constuctor so objects are internally managed
Public Sub Class_Initialize
m_sKey = ""
m_sValue = ""
Set m_pSection = Nothing
End Sub
'Returns the key's parent IniSection
Public Sub Init( ByVal oIniSection , ByVal sKey )
If m_pSection Is Nothing Then
Set m_pSection = oIniSection
m_sKey = sKey
End If
End Sub
'Returns the name of the Key
Public Property Get Name
name = m_sKey
End Property
' 'Gets\Sets the value associated with the Key
Public Property Let Value( strKeyValue )
m_sValue = strKeyValue
End Property
'Gets\Sets the value associated with the Key
Public Property Get Value()
value = m_sValue
End Property
'Sets the key name
'Returns true on success, fails if the section name sKeyName already exists
Public Function SetName(ByVal sKey )
SetName = False
sKey = Trim(sKey)
If Len(sKey) <> 0 Then
Dim s : Set s = m_pSection.GetKey(sKey)
If Not s Is Me And Not s Is Nothing Then Exit Function
Call m_pSection.RemoveKey(Me)
' Set our new name
m_sKey = sKey
' Put our own object back
Call m_pSection.AddKey(Me)
SetName = True
End If
End Function
' Returns the current key name
Public Function GetName()
GetName = m_sKey
End Function
End Class
I can't take credit for the ini file class used to parse the output from PdfCreator that was provided via the existing vbs scrips in PdfCreator.
There are websites that will remove the security from a PDF for you, e.g. http://www.pdfunlock.com/.
Best Answer
First I have to assure you that it matters what browser you are using. Unless you are using the standard OS print dialog, the browser will use its own library to create the PDF. Results will vary between different browsers.
Just as experiment I have printed this page using Firefox and Chromium. Firefox did not save any clickable links. Chromium saved about 50% and the selection seemed to be pretty random.
I believe the best solution for you would be to install a browser add-on / extension that will do the job.
I made a quick search and for Firefox I have found this one: the unimaginatively named Print pages to Pdf. Direct link to the latest version: 0.5.0.6.
if you go through the list of features you will find what you are looking for:
I have tested it briefly and it printed the page correctly with all clickable links.