# How do I print PDF files? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145 "2003-04-21T22:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/21 "2003-04-22T00:10:31Z")
There is a difference? I have never noticed a difference between Print as Image and regular printing. All it means is it’s not using post script and relying on your system fonts. Anyone want to test this for x-ray? I would but I have no ink ☹ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/22 "2003-04-22T15:12:03Z")
I looked at the form & the print form button is there ready to print. x-ray vision, I think your browser or your version of Acrobat is out of date. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/23 "2003-04-22T16:05:32Z")
It appears the PDF itself is at fault. When I try opening in in the full version of Adobe Acrobat 5.0, I am unable to use Acrobat and manipulate the file, even though there are no security measures in the document. The only other times I’ve run across this are when the creator did not know what they were doing. 🙂 You might want to argue the document doesn’t meet 508 accessibility requirements. The agency is then required to offer an alternate method for obtaining the information. ---
**Author:** ![bradwalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@bradwalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bradwalt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/24 "2003-04-22T16:49:19Z")
Wow! If PDF files are creating this much confusion, I urge everybody to reconsider the wisdom of distrubuting information in this format! I personally have had no problem PRINTING a PDF file, but I long-ago installed Acrobat Reader, and am proficient in what it DOES and DOES NOT do . But for my Grandma in Peoria ? I will always paste the text directly into the e-mail, or find the simplest common denominator to make sure my e-mails can be read and printed by my recipients. (Sorry Peoria, but that’s the first US city that comes to mind for a fictional grandma). ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/25 "2003-04-22T17:13:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > \*\*Apparently you can’t print PDF files by using your browser’s print command, you must use Acrobat reader’s print button. \*\* Is this a common belief, or does Adobe state this somewhere? Because I print PDFs all the time and I have never, ever, for any reason, used the print icon to print. Not for any type of file ever. I clicked on your link - we are talking about the DEA form, right? - and I open it and press Ctrl-P and print it and it comes out fine. Make sure you are using a PostScript printer, not PCL - there is a known conflict. That’s probably why you are getting the little boxes instead of text. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/26 "2003-04-22T18:15:44Z")
? This is complicated ? If you’ve got your browser set up to display PDFs inline, go back to the referring page and specifically tell your browser to download the little bastard (control-click or right-click and pick “Download”). Open file in Acrobat Reader. Go to File. Go to Print. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/27 "2003-04-22T23:07:24Z")
At [adobe.com](http://adobe.com) they have a pdf to html converter, its free. I don’t know how it does with forms…it’s part of their access solution. There should be pdf to html converters. Once its in html, you can print it. Adobe Acrobat - Adobe PDF Conversion by Simple Form … Document Format (PDF) file to HTML, simply type a URL for an Adobe PDF document into this electronic form and select Get This Adobe PDF Document as HTML. … > **[Adobe Accessibility](https://www.adobe.com/accessibility.html)** > > Adobe is an industry leader in accessibility and supports the creation of outstanding web experiences by encouraging developers to produce rich, engaging content that is accessible to all. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145/28 "2003-04-22T23:40:54Z")
Well, I uninstalled Acrobat reader and reinstalled it, and guess what? It works! Thanks to everyone for all your help; it was much appreciated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-print-pdf-files/170145.md?page=1)