Is there a way to set up a bunch of files to all print in OS 10.3? I’m specifically concerned with PDF files, because I often need to print out a bunch of hi-res ones, and it takes time. I’d like to just set up a batch of them to print while I’m at lunch or something. Is that possible?
I know about making a desktop printer and dropping files on that, but if there’s a way to alter the settings when doing that (like making the file fit-to-page, or the color output settings) then I haven’t found it.
Thanks in advance.
Open a Terminal window (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal) and change to the directory where your PDFs are (e.g. cd /Users/friedo/Documents/myPDFs).
Then type:
lpr doc1.pdf doc2.pdf doc3.pdf
Or, to simply print every PDF in that directory, type
lpr *.pdf
I’m afraid of Terminal. 
Will that allow me to change the printing settings?
OK, here’s another way.
Open Printer Setup Utility (Applications -> Utilities -> Printer Setup Utility)
You should see your current printer in the list. Select it, then select “Create Desktop Printer” from the Printers menu. Then click save. This will put a printer icon on your desktop. Now you can simply drag documents to the printer icon, and they will print. You can drag as many documents to the icon as you want, at your convenience.
Look, guys, this is a Mac we’re talking about here – the easiest way is the most intuitive way. To wit:
When you submit your print job and you get the dialog box for print options (colors, copies, etc.), click on the drop-down menu listing the various options available. One of those options is “Print scheduling.” Enter the time when you want the document to be printed (or choose “Print later” if you want the job to be queued but held).
When you’re all set, click “Print.” When your requested time comes, the print job(s) will get sent to the printer.
Similarly, if you specified “Print later,” you can go to the Printer Utility, click on a queued print job, then choose to either print it, schedule it for a later time, or to cancel it.
I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at, rjung. The OP wanted a way to batch print a large number of documents with one action, not schedule print jobs.
Sorry, I misunderstood the question. I thought the problem was that FlyingDragonFan wanted to print a bunch of stuff when he wasn’t around (like lunchtime), and wanted a way to do that easily. I was thinking he could just submit his print jobs during the morning, queue them all up for 12:05pm, then return from lunch and pick up the printouts.
rjung’s solution essentially does do what I wanted, although I was hoping to avoid having to prep each file individually.
I did set up a desktop printer, and it allows me to drop files on it and have them print, but I don’t know if there’s a way to alter the settings, so that it fits to the page size, for example.
Perhaps a combination of Adobe Photoshop Elements and a triggered AppleScript may meet your requirements. Elements allows for a batch processing function with limited image sizing manipulation. You designate an import folder, convert the PDF(s) to a specific dimension and resolution, optionally rename the file, and output to a targeted folder.
An AppleScript could be triggered so when that targeted folder exhibits a state change, the desktop printer function for the folder contents could happen.
Just a thought.