Print to PDF Should Output as Selectable Text
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Many of us print pages to pdf files. Personally, I have two different pdf printers and two pdf editors.
IF you print a web page to pdf in Firefox and related browsers, the resulting file has character recognition. The result is also text editable at multiple levels -- paragraph, word, character.
IF you print a web page to pdf in Vivaldi or other Chromium browsers, the resulting file does NOT have character recognition. One then has to OCR the file, and the result is only text editable at the character level.
If Vivaldi could solve this issue for their browser, it would be a competitive advantage.
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That is a function I often use around INCOME TAX TIME :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye:
Having recently switched to Vivaldi, I will second your suggestion.P.S. I'm still moaning the loss of 'print preview'
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I'm surprised! I've never seen such a PDF file as this. Why aren't we able to select the text in it?
At first, I thought that was because the pages are stored as images in the PDF file. But, no. However big you magnify it to be, you still see the crisp lines, which indicates that those characters are rendered by fonts.
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I was able to copy text from the PDF of this page via Print, Save to PDF. Maybe it depends on the Chromium version. I use the latest Snapshot with Chromium to 71.0.3578.79.
Specs: AMD A10-6800K, 8 Gb on Win 10 64-bit build 17134.407 • Snapshot 2.2.1386.4 (64-bit)
Many of us print pages to pdf files. Personally, I have two different pdf printers and two pdf editors.
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I just tested on Vivaldi 2.1 Final, with the same results.
I wonder what is different for you?
Also working for me with Print to CutePDF writer or PDF995, but not with Foxit or PDF-XChange Lite.
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@Gwen-Dragon said in Print to PDF Should Output as Selectable Text:
That issue is a restriction of the implemented PDF renderer.
Since years 'Save as PDF' is the only way to get selectable text in the PDF output of Chromium browsers.
I have no information if Chromium developers will change this as there is a usable workaround.Where do you find the "Save as PDF" option? I find only "Webpage, complete" and "Webpage, HTML only" in the "File" > "Save Page As" menu.
So far, "File" > "Print" > "Open PDF in Preview" is the only way I've found to get a PDF copy of the webpage.
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@ryofurue It is on the Print dialogue: Change the destination.
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Gwen, Pesala--
The issue is not that text is not selectable but rather if, after selecting the text in the pdf output, if it can be copied into say Word as shown on the screen and have the result not be gibberish.
I have three options that I can use for print to pdf. The only one that works in Chromium is one that is built into printfriently (https://www.printfriendly.com --also has a addon for your bookmarks so you can just push a button).
However, all of my print to pdf options used in Firefox and related browsers result in perfectly selectable and non-gibberish copyable text from the pdf files.
May just be the engine.
Maybe my post here can help others. I noticed at least one other comment in support.
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Follow-on:
The Save as PDF in Vivaldi works too!!
Thanks!!!!!!!!!
For others, as stated above, just change the destination in the print dialogue. You'll see it.Love my Vivaldi!