Best Way to Print Forum Thread 1

[structure_engineer]

Dear Engineers,

What is the best way to print the forum threads for keep sake? I have noticed the names of the posters disappeared if I print to Portable Document Format (.pdf) using Edge. So it is hard to keep track on where the posts ends, unless you turn background graphics on. I have tried copied into Notepad++ (an excellent alternative to Notepad, as you can view the files in a larger font but print in a different font, besides excellent editing choices like edit in column mode etc.), and print into .pdf format but that is too much work as there is also no clear distinction on where the replies starts. Not a real important issue but just wondering if you guys have a better way. Your input is most appreciated.

 

[IRstuff]

Have you tried saving as a single-file webpage?

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[structure_engineer]

I tried it. And it is still not what I am looking for. The names of the posters still is missing. I guess there is no "Printer Friendly" button for Eng-Tips? Just looking for a good way to print some of the threads into a format that I could keep track on where the post ends and where next post starts.

 

[Aesur]

I don't see a way to include usernames, however under print "more options" if you turn on background graphics it will at least add colors to see where they start/stop.

 

[Denial]

A straight-forward way to produce a black-and-white PDF'ed presentation of an entire thread would be a useful feature.[ ] Perhaps a site user who is a member of the group "where management is advised on site operations and proposed programming enhancements" could lodge the suggestion.

 

[kipfoot]

With firefox, the add-on PDF mage will include the links. It creates a pdf with the eng-tips margins on both sides, though I think you can pick which areas you want to include:

 

[ProgrammingPE]

When you are printing, the page header and sidebars get hidden. The usernames and times also end up getting hidden too (which I would guess was an unintentional side effect). Maybe this will get fixed at some point, but until then you can restore them by adding one line of code to the .css file.

Hit CTRL+SHIFT+I to bring up the developer tab (if you're using Chrome).
Click on Sources on the top bar.
Select the file -

http://www.eng-tips.com

- assets - printthread.css?v=122.

Copy and paste the following to the very first line of the code:

#thread header * {display: initial !important;}​

Try printing again

 

[IRstuff]

Attached is what I saved as a single webpage, and it seems to work for me. Below is the screencap of this page

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...b-e34b-414c-abc0-b1882043c179&file=page.mhtml

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[structure_engineer]

Mr. Denial: Bingo. I wanted to print a good thread and follow where the post end and where the next post start. We need a "printer friendly" version. The point is I don't want to add lines or do some programming to the webpage source code. That kind of defeats the purpose. I am already doing the option of turning on the "Background graphics" but that also uses extra toner. Thank you everyone for posting. A lot of good response. Great board.

 

[ProgrammingPE]

Modifying the code is obviously an annoying work-around and hopefully this thread flags the issue for the site administrators. Pasting that line of code, though, only takes 15 seconds and gets you exactly what you want for now:

 

[structure_engineer]

So ProgrammingPE, What is the procedure for Microsoft Edge? Do I also paste the same line of code into the very first page. I tried to do it and so far not able to do it. I have only used Edge here now and to use Chrome probably have to request for an approval.

 

[ProgrammingPE]

I just did it using Edge and the process is identical. The picture below shows where to insert the code.

 

[structure_engineer]

Got it. Thanks very much ProgrammingPE. I have posted the step by step for Edge here:

- Right click on any empty area and select Inspect from the context menu.
- Then click on ">>"
- Choose "Sources"
- Then expand assets folder by clicking the "downarrow"
- Choose printthread.css?v=122
- paste "#thread header * {display: initial !important;}" posted by ProgrammingPE in line 1, which was blank

 

[Compositepro]

I just tried a copy and paste of the thread, without the side bars, into Word and it work fine.