# How can I make a whole web document fit on a printout? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647 "2003-04-23T18:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/1 "2003-04-23T18:05:15Z")
Sometimes when I print something from an Internet page, the right edge of the text is cut off, even though it’s visible on the screen. The problem is even worse if I’m trying to print a chart or something that’s oriented horizontally, so I have to use the left-to-right slidebar even to read it on the screen. How can I make a whole document fit onto a printout? ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/2 "2003-04-23T18:29:22Z")
If using IE “view,print” you may get a print popup, with properties/features etc. Choose landscape. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/3 "2003-04-23T18:29:48Z")
There is no easy answer and I use different techniques depending on the case. One is to cut and paste into a word processor if text is your main interest. Another option is to capture the screen as a graphic and use a graphics program. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/4 "2003-04-23T20:25:09Z")
Well, if you use Mozilla as your browser, you can do a “print preview”, and select a scale of “shrink to fit”. You can also choose landscape v. portrait from here. -lv ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/5 "2003-04-23T20:34:40Z")
In IE, it’s File \> Print prieview, then select from the dropdown list a scaling factor or Page Width (which fits the printed document to the width of the paper you’re using). ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/6 "2003-04-23T20:59:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > In IE, it’s File \> Print prieview, then select from the dropdown list a scaling factor or Page Width (which fits the printed document to the width of the paper you’re using). I am using IE6 and cannot find that. The only drop down scale is for the screen, not for the printing. can you explain more? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/7 "2003-04-23T21:35:06Z")
what’s your screen resolution set at? 800x600 is nice. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/8 "2003-04-23T22:28:01Z")
800 x 600 is nice on a 15" monitor. I am running 1152 x 864 but, that is irrelevant as many pages set their own width and do not adapt to your screen. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/9 "2003-04-23T22:34:29Z")
That dropdown _is_ for the printing. It shows on your screen what the printed output will look like. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-a-whole-web-document-fit-on-a-printout/170647/10 "2003-04-23T22:56:15Z")
sorry but in my case it does not change what the printed page will look like, it just enlarges or reduces it, like you can do in Word etc. Just zoom in or out, no change to the actual page.